The result is strong competition between companies for qualified employees. In order to attract and retain talent in this situation, many companies are taking new approaches to increase their attractiveness as an employer. One measure is the option of working in a coworking space.

Why coworking at all?

For a long time, coworking spaces were seen as places to work that were only suitable for freelancers or creative and dynamic start-ups. The prevailing idea was that such spaces were open-plan offices or cafés with a few tables and power sockets, where those present in the morning had no idea what their working day would look like. However, this image has changed dramatically. Medium-sized companies are now also working in flexible spaces and large corporations are moving entire departments to the spaces. What are the reasons?

From an employer's perspective, the advantages are obvious: flexibility and cost efficiency. Coworking providers such as Mindspace also offer lockable spaces that can be used as permanent offices in addition to the classic flexible spaces. While the classic rental of office space is always linked to a multi-year rental agreement, companies can rent office space in coworking spaces for a much shorter period of time and flexibly rent additional space as required. If the number of employees increases, for example, the space can be expanded to include additional rooms. Coworking providers generally provide the entire infrastructure. Companies do not have to worry about the design of the office or things like internet access, printers and everything else necessary. They can simply move in straight away. Most spaces also have large kitchens and free drinks. Office management is also unnecessary. All of this can save a lot of operational costs for companies.

What makes coworking attractive for employees and potential applicants?

One of the most important ideas behind coworking is sharing ideas. As a rule, people from a wide range of industries work in the spaces - from freelancers to start-ups to huge corporations. The shared workspace allows them all to come into contact with each other. Coworking providers also encourage this exchange through offers such as organized breakfasts or other networking events. This helps employees to broaden their personal horizons and think innovatively. According to a survey conducted by Die Zeit in 2018, 74% of employees consider this opportunity for personal development to be important.

The immediate working environment is just as relevant. An international study recently found that 35% of employees find their working environment uninspiring. It's not just tech giants such as Google and Facebook that are now taking this into account. More and more other companies are also designing their spaces in such a way that employees are inspired and feel comfortable. Of course, this involves a certain amount of effort. Coworking spaces can be an uncomplicated alternative to offer employees the working environment they want.

Another point concerns commuting: industrial companies in particular are often located on the outskirts of the city (or perhaps even completely outside) and are not easily accessible for their employees. Coworking spaces, on the other hand, are usually very centrally located. This can shorten commutes for employees and thus increase satisfaction. While it is certainly not possible to relocate production facilities to a coworking space, it is certainly an option for departments such as sales, marketing or finance.

Overall, coworking spaces therefore also offer industrial companies alternatives to their own offices, which in the best-case scenario lead to more applicants and more satisfied employees.

Oliver Lehmann, General Manager Germany, Mindspace