Spadework - no Spaceworks!

We were telling someone about Spaceworks the other day and they said it all sounded great, but what do they all do? Spell check often comes up with spadework when it is mis-typed, which sounds satisfyingly like real work.

Sometimes a lot of modern businesses can seem like they are doing things that are less tangible than the good old days, but when you get to understand what they really do it all makes more sense. The nice thing about sharing is that you do get to find out about areas you had no idea about. Even better you get sent free pen samples saying Spaceworks! Now that is exciting.

If you want to come and borrow the pen or find out what we all do then contact us.

Re-inventing the wheel

Spaceworks overlooks a courtyard which is quite a sun trap once the clocks have changed. It also has some funny bits and bobs hanging around like these millstones. Apparently they were just hanging around and may have been in use when Little Mesters hired space in the local works.

The millstones could be quite a feature in the newly re-vamped courtyard that we are hoping to have later this year. One of our sharers is an architect and he is drafting some sketches which we will put on the blog soon. They are intended to kick start a debate about what people in the surrounding buildings would like in the courtyard. More posts on this soon.

Some new bike storage would be great ... which reminds me that our next Spaceworks bike ride is on Friday 21st at 9.30 from Bragazzis on Abbeydale Road. Arrive early and look at a Cycling Weekly (they have a subscription).

Egg, chips and 2011

First egg and chips of 2011 for Spaceworks sharers today. Not sure that it is all that impressive to have lasted until the 10th of January before succumbing, but it was very tasty. Having the Euro Cafe just down our steps is very handy for hunger and of course meeting clients and contacts.

The newspapers are full of articles suggesting that 2011 will be tough, especially for places like Sheffield where the public sector is relatively big. The answer for some will be to go freelance and we hope that people who have a part time base here will get some tangible benefits from sharing. It does not matter what your business a lot of the issues to be dealt with are the same for everyone.

For example, insurance, tax, writing bids, social media and and so on. So, good luck everyone in 2011 and give us a call if you want some allies!

More about us ... Spaceworks in Sheffield!

Be part of our friendly business community for people who are mostly work – or run their businesses - from home in Sheffield.

What are the benefits of joining?

1. Info and invitations to events at Spaceworks such as:

• Grow Your Business seminars
• In the Loop evening discussions
• Last Friday lunches
• Coffee and cake Tuesdays
• Social cycle rides

2. Use of members’ workspace to work, hold meetings or host your events. Workspace packages range from pay by the hour, to 24/7 access and include:

· Easy in, easy out terms

· 24/7 access – use it when you need it

· Printing and copying facilities

· Wi-fi and hard wired internet access

· Shared Kitchen

· Use of a business address

· Secure locker for storage

· Regular free taster days for members – try it out for a day for free

3. Sharing space (or co-working) is good for you and good for your business!

· Research shows networking can really benefit your business. Meet up with like-minded folks in the Spaceworks Community … you might be surprised what valuable know-how a bit of bartering of your skills could bring you and your business.

· Tired of making your own tea all the time? Share those drink making duties around sometimes!

Interested? Give us a ring or email us, have a look at our blog, follow us on twitter or drop in and see us. We’d love to hear from you.

Sophy sophy@spaceworkssheffield.co.uk 07967 144230

Alastair alastair@spaceworkssheffield.co.uk

@spaceworkssheff

Spacetowork.blogspot.com

Spaceworks, Harland Works, John St, Sheffield S2 4QU 0114 275 5571

spacewor kssheffield.co.uk

@spaceworkssheff

Spacetowork.blogspot.com

Spaceworks, Harland Works, John St, Sheffield S2 4QU 0114 275 5571

Bedroom to Boardroom

I love a catchy title for a blog post, or a presentation. Bedroom to Boardroom is neat, but not entirely accurate. In this case it probably does not matter, but it can.

When asked about a suggested title for a presentation on promoting enterprise for young people in deprived areas a few years ago I speedily came up with 'From Crack Den to Dragon's Den'. It was sort of a joke, but it stuck. At the end of the talk a puzzled drugs worker was not sure she had had that question answered ...

Back to the point. We don't have a boardroom and we still sometimes work in our bedrooms. People keep asking us about how Spaceworks works. There is a story and we will tell it on this blog, as it helps explain. The thing is it is not about giving up the slippers and duvet advantages of working from home. We still do some work from home too. It's about having the option of a space to work away from home. A change of scene, someone to make coffee for, share biscuits with and swap ideas with.

On a day like today not having to venture out of the house is very appealing and twitter is great for feeling in touch.

So, Spaceworks is not about giving up on working from home.

Our stories, that led to the setting up of Spaceworks will follow over the coming weeks, as well as more about storage options and events.

Get in the zone at Spaceworks

There are a few different places you can sit down to work at Spaceworks. There is the big big table in the centre of the room where you pick a spot and then crack on ... perhaps offering to make coffee/tea before you settle down.

You could sit on one of the armchairs by the window, perhaps for more reflective work.

You could go on a sofa to read that document you've been meaning to read for a while and check the small print.

Or you could go into the zone. Behind our curvy steel divider is a quieter area you can go if you must get that thing written and you must not be distracted. Its cosy and if you are in there then people know you are in the zone, or trying to be.

There is the phone box too if you have a few phone calls too ...

If you want to find out more and come and try a new kind of shared workspace email us: info@spaceworkssheffield.co.uk or call Sophy on 07967144230

thanks for coming

Thanks to everyone who came to the party last night. We really enjoyed it and plan to repeat it in the coming months.

Tidying up was not too bad, we all mucked in and did it and resisted the temptation to refresh with leftover cask ale and crisps.

Although work talk was only a small part of the evening, there does appear to be some support for the idea of providing a next step for bedroom entrepeneurs who want to enjoy some of the benefits of sharing a workspace without the high costs of a whole office lease ... although sharing your workspace if you work in a bedroom does sound like it might offer some opportunities too.

Off to eat some small pieces of cake from the coffee morning ... cup of tea anyone?

21st century works and Little Mesters

We are not keen on the hot-desking term, communal workspace is not quite right either and it is not just shared office space ... perhaps, building on the Sheffield tradition it is a 21st Century Works and the small businesses that work here are modern day Little Mesters?

An often used description of how they worked is remarkably similar to how Spaceworks will work 'A little mester is a self-employed cutlery worker who rents space in a factory'.

While you ponder that the picture is part of a new poster that we are making that celebrates our 21st Century take on the traditional Sheffield Works.