tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781965574785099674.post711069135197073519..comments2018-03-21T00:20:09.630+00:00Comments on Southeastern highspeed trains for Deal, Kent: Highspeed DEAL can become a Hi-Tech hubUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781965574785099674.post-29408140394480909252012-05-31T08:00:13.010+01:002012-05-31T08:00:13.010+01:00definitely up for that idea. we need more hotdeski...definitely up for that idea. we need more hotdesking areas!Ursulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11392380171616170780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781965574785099674.post-47011544017877185242012-05-18T10:52:09.851+01:002012-05-18T10:52:09.851+01:00Hi James
Thats a very interesting idea, thanks fo...Hi James<br /><br />Thats a very interesting idea, thanks for bringing the post to my attention via Twitter!<br /><br />It's a concept that deserves exploring. The key ingredients we looked for when opening Fruitworks Coworking in Canterbury were:<br /><br />- An existing startup & freelance community large enough to support the lease payments<br />- A *social* startup & freelance community, which is a different thing<br />- Connectivity to London<br />- Internet connectivity<br />- Affordable space (prime A1 space with high spec interiors will never financially work for coworking)<br />- A confirmation of interest in the idea<br /><br />The last point was the most crucial. I did a lot of work at local networking events, and then started building a mailing list, and did a lot on twitter. By the time we opened, we already had 10 or so people who wanted to sign up.<br /><br />My advice would be to run some "Popup Coworking" sessions and organically grow the idea from there. Steps to do this would be:<br /><br />1) Promote the idea at networking events, twitter, blogs, fellow deal bloggers<br />2) Find a venue that's willing to play ball. A local coffee shop (an independent would be best) and agree with them a weekly time slot, wifi and maybe a little 'package deal' like get a coffee, muffin, wifi for £5<br />3) Start turning up and start coworking!<br /><br />Don't lose heart if your first session gets only 1 or 2 people, or none at all! The idea of getting work done together is something that takes education and experience before people 'get it' but once they do, word of mouth is your biggest ally! Soon you should be getting attendance of ~10 people to each weekly slot (from a total pool of about 30). Coworking tends to be rul of 1:3 for us - for every person you see in the space at any one time, there's another 2 members outside the space.<br /><br />When you get that attendance of ~10 people each week, a pool of about 30 total attendees, and a mailing list of around 50, then you're in a good position to start looking for a suitable office space to create a dedicated Coworking space!<br /><br />I'd love to keep updated on your progress. For more info on Popup coworking, checkout Jelly - http://www.uk-jelly.org.uk/<br /><br />(Although personally we found it a lot easier to explain as 'Popup Coworking' as Jelly isn't really a well known brand)<br /><br />Good luck<br />Liam GoodingFruitworks Coworkinghttp://fruitworks.conoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781965574785099674.post-56724456917734115512012-05-04T19:46:45.706+01:002012-05-04T19:46:45.706+01:00I'm in ecommerce and work 3-4 days a week from...I'm in ecommerce and work 3-4 days a week from home, which is now Deal. I'd certainly be interested in a meeting of my IT, design & ecommerce neighbours. Who knows where it might lead?Simonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781965574785099674.post-33118885378313272772012-05-04T13:26:40.099+01:002012-05-04T13:26:40.099+01:00I think Deal is perfectly placed communications, t...I think Deal is perfectly placed communications, technology, skill and transport wise to have a remote working set up. <br /><br />I'm lucky enough to have the ability to work from home on a regular basis, but would welcome the ability to have a local office in Deal which would have all the benefits of being in an office, without having to get up at 5:30am!<br /><br />I wonder how many other people would be interested in a communal office which could be used on an occasional basis at a reasonable price.<br /><br />PB.Horacebathttps://twitter.com/#!/horacebatnoreply@blogger.com