Although the prevalence of remote and hybrid working sprang up in the wake of the pandemic, the real test of a smart SME is whether they’re still willing to stay adaptive and use that model to reap real rewards.

The technological advancements we enjoy today, like cloud storage, high-speed internet, and collaborative tools like Zoom and Slack, were always going to align and make hybrid work the way of the future. The pandemic simply sped up our widespread acceptance of it. For the SME that wants to stay agile, versatile, productive and positioned for long-term success, embracing coworking spaces for your hybrid staff is a no brainer.

Flexibility matters

A flexible workplace is now a huge factor in the hiring and retention of staff. The savvy SME can demonstrate its progressive approach by encouraging its hybrid workers to use coworking hubs for a set number of days per week. With 367 coworking hubs in the National Hubs Network, employees are minutes away from a comfortable desk, a professional meeting room, and even versatile conference and training spaces.

For the potential hybrid worker who’d like to keep home and work as separate as possible, knowing that the use of local coworking spaces is encouraged by the business is a real selling point. That flexibility can result in greater staff retention and even attract talent that may not have applied to an on-site only role. So something as simple as loosening the in-office reigns can widen your potential talent pool.

Savings for everyone

Perhaps the most tangible benefit of hybrid workers using coworking spaces are the savings that can be made – for both employer and employee. If hybrid staff are working from coworking hubs, there are fewer instances in which the whole team is present in the main office. This in turn can decrease overheads through the rental of a smaller core office and can also lower the associated office bills and utilities.

Using a coworking space also means that hybrid workers benefit from the hub’s own high-speed internet, printing services, meeting rooms, kitchen facilities and break out spaces, as well as the various kinds of workspace on offer. Some hubs can even provide additional amenities like video conferencing equipment, podcast studios, parking, and event spaces.

These days, businesses have access to a range of booking options for coworking spaces, from subscription-based models and concierge services to flexible, pay-as-you-go drop-in bookings. With Connected Hubs, it couldn’t be easier for an SME to rent a space with different billing options available to the company. The simplist option is where the hybrid worker simply books the required space, provides the necessary billing information and Connected Hubs creates an invoice for them to forward on to the SME. Or SME's can set up a business account which will automate the invoicing every month.

And the savings add up for the employee too. Being able to work from a coworking space close to home significantly reduces, if not eliminates, the dreaded commute and saves money on fuel, public transport, motorway tolls and even those occasional impulse-driven city-centre lunches!

A happy workforce gets results

A happy team really is a productive team and a flexible work environment is a huge part of modern-day job satisfaction. With fewer in-office days, the work that does take place in person can be highly-focused and super productive as everyone has the appetite to maximise face-to-face collaboration time.

Knowing that your employer values your work/life balance and the importance of flexible working can be a real boost to staff morale, which is a boon for staff retention. In today’s working landscape, prospective employees are drawn to progressive companies that prioritise team wellbeing and that work/life balance. So a happy workforce really is a win for all concerned.

Want to learn more about how Connected Hubs can support your business? To access our dedicated business support service complete the contact form and we'll be in touch.

Or email us at: info@connectedhubs.ie