Meet The Member - William, CEO and Co-Founder of Co-Space
We caught up with William of Co-Space, a valued member of We Are St Albans, to hear how this design-led co-working community came to life. Founded to offer a flexible, inspiring workspace, Co-Space provides offices, hot-desking and meeting rooms where local freelancers, startups and established businesses can connect, collaborate and grow.
We are happy to have Co-Space as part of the We Are St Albans community. Could you share a little about how Co-Space began and what inspired the team to create a coworking community here in St Albans?
Absolutely, Co-Space was born purely because every time we were in London, there were so many great options to choose from, but every time we had meetings in more regional locations, we were stuck with one option, a pretty well-known operator. The space served its purpose, but we craved the feeling we’d get from a very design-focused workspace in London. Building a design-led regional workspace operator just made sense, and St. Albans stood out as a great commutable location people would choose not to leave if they had the chance. With that, Co-Space St. Albans was born.
Co-Space offers flexible workspaces, private offices, meeting rooms and hot-desking options. What do you find most rewarding about providing a professional and creative environment for freelancers, startups and established businesses alike?
Great question. Our space typically caters to a large range of occupiers. We love the fact that a 2-man team can spend time around the 50+ person corporate within the same space. It becomes almost aspirational. When we see members collaborate and support one another, it really drives home the whole purpose of going to workspaces like Co-Space or even another option. It’s about being around other ambitious people.
Being based in St Albans, what do you enjoy most about serving the local business community, and how does the area influence the way Co-Space operates?
Each location we operate in is unique in its own way. I would say compared to other markets, the community in St. Albans knows exactly what it wants and won’t settle for anything less. A workspace is more than just 4 walls; it’s a hotel-like experience designed to remove any friction you may be facing, and one that supports you to thrive.
Every coworking community has its own culture. What values and principles guide the way Co-Space supports its members, fosters collaboration and creates a positive workspace environment?
First and foremost, it has to be aspirational. It needs to be a space you want to, and look forward to coming to, work in. Ensuring members are aware of who’s in the space around them seems like a simple thing, but it can often be overlooked. Too many spaces try to force interaction. We focus on creating areas throughout the space where conversations and introductions can take place. We’re constantly adapting to our clients’ changing needs.
Co-Space is more than just desks and meeting rooms, it’s a place for connection, productivity and growth. How does the team help facilitate meaningful interactions and support members’ business goals?
As with the community piece above, the team focus on making meaningful introductions. If person A needs support from person B, we seek to understand what person B needs. It becomes almost a circular economy of people supporting each other. Understanding what each member is looking to achieve, both business-wise and personally, helps us to ensure we can provide support where possible. Outside of this, informal community events help ensure members unwind and reset from the day-to-day stresses of being in business.
Many people find co-working a refreshing alternative to working from home or a traditional office. What do new members often find most surprising or valuable about the Co-Space experience?
For me it’s coffee and a range of spaces to choose from. Firstly, if you get the coffee right, everything else should follow. It’s easy for us to stay home sometimes, the kitchen table is great for a day or 2, but the best co-working spaces offer a variety of workspaces to choose from. At our St. Albans space, you could be sitting in a booth on calls all day, or deep working on the 4th floor terrace with views from across the city. No 2 days should ever be alike, unless of course that’s what you want. I typically sit in the same space most days, haha!
Flexible working styles and business needs are always changing. How does Co-Space stay responsive to the evolving needs of entrepreneurs, remote workers and businesses?
It sounds simple, because it is, but we must listen to our members and their changing needs. Complacency kills most businesses, and ours is no different.
Looking ahead, are there any upcoming developments, events or enhancements at Co-Space that you’re especially excited about introducing to members and the broader St Albans community?
Our on-site team have curated an events timetable to cover the whole year, this is typically across all our sites, but is tailored to the community of each. For instance, at our Reading space, a large US corporation takes up c.60 desks. Each year, we host a Thanksgiving party for them and the rest of the site to ensure we capture a range of different cultures. As for exciting developments, we’re working with a few groups locally, so we’re excited to support and branch out further into the community.
For businesses or individuals who may be considering co-working for the first time, what would you say to encourage them to explore Co-Space and its community?
Good question, I think of it like a gym. Sometimes it can seem daunting at first, but I would recommend trying it out for a day, or even just a few hours, often just a simple change of environment can give your productivity a major boost. I will add, I’m of course biased, but personally, Co-Space was founded to support individuals needing a home from home, scale-ups, and anyone in-between.
Finally, when the Co-Space team or members aren’t working, what are some favourite local spots in St Albans to grab a coffee, unwind, network or relax after a day of productivity?
I’ve become mildly obsessed with Cote brasserie. I would also highly recommend Nkora as a major coffee lover. Anywhere open late gets a nod from me. Outside of this, I would say it’s hard simply because there are so many great choices to choose from. For instance, I’ve eaten lunch for 3 days in a row at Silver Palate. In short, you’ll never run out of great options!