Whether you’re just starting out as a new business or have been established for some time, finding and managing a suitable office can be another stress to add to the list. coworking could be the answer.

Thankfully, due to their flexibility, collaborative nature, amenities and space for growth, shared offices are the perfect places for start-ups and small businesses to call home.

Around 10 years ago, co-working spaces were created to combat the problems faced by businesses trying to establish themselves in a world of crippling costs and unaffordable office solutions.

Coworking offices were immediately filled with otherwise isolated freelancers, exciting start-ups (Instagram and Uber both started life in co-working spaces) and small businesses with a handful of employees looking for that big company atmosphere.

Fast forward a decade and tech giants spearheading the digital world are now recognising the benefits of co-working spaces and are beginning to transition into collaborative offices, as an alternative to being based in corporate style HQ’s.

So far, Microsoft, IBM and Dell have all followed the trend and here in the UK Santander and Grant Thornton have embraced the movement. Even HSBC recently staffed 300 employees inside an office owned by WeWork in Hong Kong.

The power of their employees working alongside interesting creatives, tech wizards or business minded professionals is appealing to bosses at these giant companies.

Positioning their employees in coworking spaces alongside hubs of freelancers and innovative start-ups allows these bigger businesses to tap into their skills and thus increase the productivity and motivation of their workers. This is brilliant news for up-and-coming start-ups looking to get noticed.

For companies like Microsoft, keeping their ears on the ground and scoping out the businesses of the future is a strategy executed to ensure that they maintain a part of the community which feeds tech trends and influences masses.

We can all learn something from small and agile start-ups, no matter what their service is or what they sell and the big companies who acknowledge that are able to stay both current and dynamic in their business. It’s a common thought that where start-ups lead, corporates follow.

For large companies, embracing coworking can also be very cost effective. Finding the right co-working space at the right price, with the added amenities built in, can be much more practical than renting a bland office block.

Another benefit is that a coworking office may be closer to home for some employees. This, when paired with flexible working and a shorter commute, can certainly benefit employee happiness, which will ultimately result in greater productivity and a decrease in both sick days and staff turnover.

In America 65% percent of companies are expected to use co-working as part of their office portfolio by 2020. So, why not try co-working in Surrey? See our packages here...

If you are interested in finding our more about Accrue Workplaces and our flagship co-working building The Long Barn, click here. www.accrueworkplaces.co.uk