A Guide To Hot Desks
The way that businesses work is changing. More and more people are working remotely and we are also seeing an increased number of people working as freelancers, taking control of their lives, and gaining more flexibility about when and where they are working.
These changes are driving the massive growth that we are currently seeing in the concept of hot desking. There are many reasons why people are moving towards the idea of hot desking, whether they are a sole trader, freelancer, or remote worker.
These include the flexibility that it gives to people, the financial benefits, networking opportunities, and motivational benefits. Hot desking is not for everyone, but for people in the right circumstances, it can be the perfect solution for them and their businesses.
What Is Hot Desking?
The concept of hot desking is based on the idea of using desk space as and when it is needed, in the location that is needed. Instead of having a fixed desk – or, indeed, a fixed address, you rent a desk whenever and wherever you want it. It is especially popular with freelancers, sole traders, entrepreneurs, and remote workers.
Hot desking creates a professional, productive environment, that is ideal for networking, for people who would normally be working alone. Working from home or in isolation can affect motivation and hot desking is an excellent way to counter this.
The Benefits of Hot Desking
For freelancers, sole traders, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and remote workers, there are a number of benefits of hot desking. Some of these benefits include:
Flexibility – One of the biggest benefits of hot desking is the flexibility that it gives you. It means that you are not tied down to a particular office – or even a particular city. You can work from where you like, from home, or in a professional environment.
It gives you a wide choice of different work environments to choose from, allowing you to make the decision according to your own specific requirements.
Cost – Renting a permanent office space can be costly – especially if you are looking for prime business locations with good travel links and networking opportunities. Hot desking means that you only pay for the time that you spend in the office, and can, therefore, be much more cost-effective.
Prime central London locations, for example, can be very expensive and wasteful when you are paying money for the time that you are not in the office, and hot desking enables you to work in these environments.
Networking and Collaboration – Networking and collaboration are important in the world of small businesses and freelancers. Instead of being surrounded by people you know – or, indeed, working alone, you could be working next to someone who either does a similar job to you or someone that you can collaborate with.
Hot desking provides a unique opportunity for this and is certainly a benefit that cannot be underestimated.
Equipment – When small businesses and start-ups begin, there can be a high amount of initial outlays. From products or parts that you need to actually do your job, to commercial premises, office equipment, and telephone lines, there are many demands on your money and Hot desking provides a great solution, especially at the beginning.
You can pay for your desk space as and when you need it, without the need to buy desks, printers, and chairs, or worry about installing telephone lines or the internet.
Professional – Even for freelancers and sole traders, it is sometimes important to be in a professional environment. Perhaps you want to work there personally, or perhaps you are meeting clients, doing interviews, or carrying out training.
If this is the case, hot desking is an excellent option, perhaps renting a meeting room for an interview or training.
Hot Desk vs Dedicated Desk
Hot desks and dedicated desks are two very different entities. Of course, different situations suit different solutions.
- Hot desks give you flexibility over where you are working whereas dedicated desks ensure that you have a permanent base.
- Hot desks ensure that you will only pay for the time that you actually spend at your desk whereas dedicated desks are there exclusively for you all of the time.
- Hot desks give you networking and collaboration opportunities whereas dedicated desks ensure that you are always sitting with the same people and are more suited for people who carry out confidential work.
How Much Does Hot Desking Cost?
The price of a hot desk varies according to several different factors, mainly the location of the desk and the amount of time that you spend at it. You can usually choose to pay by the day or on a longer-term deal, but this varies from location to location. Here at Spacepool, our hot desking opportunities range from about £50 per month to £450 per month.
Is Hot Desking a Good Idea?
Here at Spacepool, we think that hot desking is a great idea for many different people. That does not mean, however, that hot desking is suited for everyone. We think that hot desking is ideal for you if:
- You are a freelancer, start-up business, or entrepreneur
- You want flexibility over your office location
- You do not want to be office-based all of the time
- You do not have a great amount of starting up funds
- You want to network or work in collaboration with others
- You want to meet like-minded business-people
How to Find a Hot Desk Location
One of the best things about hot desking is that you have total flexibility over the location that you go to. This means that you can choose East London one day, and West London the next if you wish.
If you are visiting a new city, you can find somewhere to work there, or if you prefer to stick closer to home, there is also this option. Another factor that you might wish to consider is that we tend to see industry hubs around different areas.
For example, the Kings Cross area of London is becoming increasingly known for its tech businesses, the Liverpool Street area for the financial industry, and Old Street is known for its digital media industry.
Why not take a browse through our hot desking locations to find the perfect one for you?
Offices in London for Hot Desking
Here at Spacepool, we have a wealth of hot desking locations to choose from, both inside and outside of London. London is known for its excellent opportunities for prosperity, is served by a fantastic local, national, and international travel network, and has a wide range of different office facilities.
Alternative Locations to Consider
We love hot desking at Spacepool, and one of the main reasons why we love it is because it means that you can work in a professional environment anywhere that you like.
There are many reasons why you would choose to work in London, but there are also many other places where you can hot desk around the country. So why not take a look at the other places that you could go to work, and start planning a trip away?