July 2015 - Adelaide Business Events

Servcorp were kind enough the host us for the latest Jelly at their location at the top of Westpac House – the tallest building in Adelaide. Traditionally Servcorp have been leaders in serviced offices, virtual offices and meeting rooms but they’ve recently started offering coworking, although certainly with a more “traditional office” feel than some of the other spaces we’ve visited. The facilities are excellent, the staff are very friendly and professional and the views amazing (see photos below).

Our turnout for this meetup was a little low with only 5 people attending but it was still a great day, helped along by our excellent hosts who gave us free jelly! We had a great lunch at the Banana Leaf Indian restaurant on Currie Street.

Servcorp also have regular networking events which you should find in our calendar and weekly events email.

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I’m sure you’ve heard of co-working. Freelancers visit these designated workspaces for the day to curb their “cabin fever” or when their local coffee shop is too distracting.

The good news is co-working isn’t just for freelancers. People don’t want to work in tiny cubicles anymore. Co-working, surrounded by dozens of passionate people, is the future of how business is going to be done. Whether you’re an independent business owner with a small start-up, a contract worker or you’ve got a flexible boss, you could benefit from co-working.

Here are 10 reasons why.

1. Meet new people

Co-working spaces typically have hundreds of members – which means you have access to all of these diverse business people. Being a freelancer, a contract worker or a remote worker doesn’t mean you have to go it alone. If you’re looking for advice, seeking inspiration or wanting to validate your ideas, you can do it at a co-working space. Think of a co-working space more in the relationships you’ll build, rather than just the space itself!

2. Support

While working from home is great, it can get lonely. Co-working is a flexible, social option to help you feel like you’re still “part of a team.” Renting a co-working desk allows you to work independently either in an open or private office surrounded with like minded groups and individuals collaborating with each other.

3. Professional meeting space

If you work from home, it makes it difficult to meet clients. Yes, you could go to their office or meet in a café, but it doesn’t exactly scream “professional.” Becoming a member of a co-working space means you have access to meeting rooms, big and small, to entertain your clients. You’ll also have access to technical support if you have any issues.

4. Ongoing professional development

Most co-working spaces run weekly events for members – and the public – to build upon their knowledge and network. Guest speakers come in and talk about business topics such as marketing, creativity, productivity, building a team etc. These events are a great way to stay connected, especially if you only use the space sparingly.

5. Work-life balance

Having a separate space to work from, aside from your home, can help you maintain a healthy work-life balance. It’s easy to fall into the trap of working non-stop if you’re working from home – blurring the lines between work and your personal time. Using a co-working space will give you a dedicated place to complete your work. Plus, you’ll have fewer distractions so you’re more time efficient.

6. Find clients

You’re probably not going to find clients sitting at home – but in a co-working space you might. Lets say you’re a freelance graphic designer and there’s a web developer in the space too. You could team up with them and cross-promote each other. For example, when their clients need a developer, you recommend him – and vice versa.

7. Access to equipment

Do you need a printer or scanner for your business but you can’t justify buying it because you simply won’t use it enough? Co-working spaces have all the equipment you need to run your business – without the investment. You’ll have access to the latest technology, in return for your membership fee.

8. Save money

Renting a co-working space is much cheaper than a full office. Depending on the space, co-working can cost as little as $10 per day. Compare that to the cost of a 1-2 year office lease and the choice is easy!

9. Give back

Having access to not only shared space but also resources like mentors and peer-to-peer support is invaluable – irrespective of what industry you’re in. Having someone to support you through your journey and to be accountable to one of the biggest benefits of being a member of a co-working space.

Grab a list of all the members and reach out to the ones you think there might be opportunity to collaborate. It could be something as simple as grabbing a coffee and talking about any business challenges, and setting goals.

10. Have fun!

Many people who work in a 9-5 job find friendships in their co-workers – sharing morning coffees and talking about weekend plans. Once you leave this kind of environment, it’s natural that you’ll interact less with people. By joining a co-working space, you can bring that social aspect back into your work life.

Co-working in Adelaide

Adelaide is spoilt for choice for people looking to try co-working. You’ve got Hub Adelaide, Majoran Distillery, That Space, Sass Place and eNVIsion – just to name a few. You can visit all of these spaces and more by joining the Adelaide Jelly Coworking meetup group.

Archives for July 2015

Coworking at the Adelaide Business Hub (Todd Street, Port Adelaide)

Coworking at Servcorp Adelaide

10 Reasons Why Co-working Will Benefit your Business