TBE is looking forward to completing a refurbishment of its Morningside co-working offices by August 2019, which will showcase the sophisticated and cutting-edge designs that can be found in its other prestigious locations.
Office Tips from The Business Exchange. 25 April 2019
The evolution of shared workspaces in Johannesburg has contributed towards an increase in business productivity, seemingly from an improvement in the overall levels of employee engagement and their resulting motivation. Several contributing factors include; the implementation of collaborative work practices, creating personalised workspaces and establishing flexible working hours, as well as the reduction of business overheads resulting from shared costs.
Collaborative Work Practices in A Coworking Office Create Valuable Business Networks
A collaborative workspace consists of a number of both private and public areas and offices, where tenants can meet, brainstorm, work or relax. The designs of these private and shared workspaces are purposefully planned to provide tenants with a connection to the outside by maximising the use of light, art and furniture.
Coworking offices offer ample creative spaces for comfort and utility, with an uplifting atmosphere which in turn creates a positive and powerful work culture.
Many landlords with shared office spaces to rent, such as The Business Exchange in Johannesburg, have recognised the potential of their spaces and offer tenants with numerous opportunities to increase their business networks.
These opportunities vary in tone and can be either formal or informal. The Business Exchange, for example, holds free monthly networking events for their tenants. These more formal type of events are usually hosted by a recognised business mentor who shares his or her work and life experiences to the benefit of the audience.
Less formal interactions also take place during meetups at onsite gyms, during pilates or yoga sessions or during coffee and lunch breaks at onsite venues and cafés, where opportunities for informal networking abound.
Flexible Working Hours Improves Employee Engagement and Production
Flexible working hours should not simply be regarded as a perk. LinkedIn released their 2019 Global Talent Trends Report earlier this year, which reported that 72% of professionals see flexibility in the workplace as vital to shaping recruitment processes in the future.
With a 78% increase in job advertisements mentioning “workplace flexibility”, it was also recommended in this report that companies embrace flexible working hours and remote working possibilities for their employees’ mental health and motivation. Companies should be encouraging their employees to produce high-quality work within set time-frames, rather than concentrating on soul-destroying clock-watching.
Reduce Business Overheads with Shared Workspace in Johannesburg
The advantages of sharing office space can only be fully appreciated in situ. Business owners are finding that they are not only saving costs on the rented facilities such as office space, furniture and business equipment but also on shared services such as; office maintenance and cleaning, professional reception and IT services and security.
Legitimate business expenses are also easier to claim when renting coworking office space, since everything, including all facilities and services, is itemised on a monthly invoice.
The Business Exchange offers upmarket, flexible, private and shared workspaces in and around Johannesburg for growing businesses in need of opportunities in a like-minded community.
For further information about other benefits, please email us.
April 2019 – A coworking office is a collaborative workspace which is ideal for any entrepreneur when you start looking for your first formal office. These types of shared workspaces are becoming more popular in South Africa with business centres such as The Business Exchange, opening up these coworking office spaces in Johannesburg and surrounding areas.
Coworking workspaces offer open plan office layouts which can be rented on a daily, weekly or monthly basis and which are a cost-effective alternative to traditional commercial office space.
Coworking offices are uniquely designed to attract entrepreneurs and offer them a full work-life balance. To this end, you will find them equipped with facilities such as private meeting rooms, events spaces, onsite restaurants, coffee shops and even gyms.
South Africa’s Entrepreneurship is Growing
According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor’s 2017/2018 report for South Africa, the country’s entrepreneurial activity is the highest it has been since 2013, with a significant increase since 2016.
In light of this, The Business Exchange is expanding its coworking office spaces from prestigious locations in Sandton, Rosebank and Morningside in Gauteng to Durban in Kwa-Zulu Natal. It has recently opened offices in Mauritius and will soon be extending its brand into Ghana, north-east Africa.
A Flexible Way To Conduct Business
All office spaces offered by The Business Exchange also provide tenants with virtual workspace, if they are not yet ready to take the step from a home-based business to a formal office, but yet still require a formal business address and professional reception services.
Private office space is an additional option for entrepreneurs who have already established their businesses and who want a more formal office structure.
Affordable Office Space Rentals
The Business Exchange currently offers coworking office space from R2000 per month, and private office space from R9500 per month. It also offers business centre memberships from R250 per person which combine access to a co-working office space as well as the use of meeting rooms at any of its office locations for a certain number of set hours every month.
Whether you, as a new entrepreneur or an established company, are looking for virtual, private or shared office space, The Business Exchange offers all tenants access to a prestigious office address, state-of-the-art technology with high-speed fibre-optic connectivity, professional reception services and meeting rooms fully equipped with the latest audio-visual equipment.
As a tenant of The Business Exchange, you will be well looked after by a dedicated onsite Office Manager who will take care of your every business need. Regular networking events for tenants are hosted by The Business Exchange where guest speakers provide valuable insight and share their knowledge to help you progress in your everyday business activities.
The flexibility of these co-working offices spaces is without a doubt, a valuable asset for any entrepreneur or business owner. The spaces are quickly and easily scaleable, whether you need bigger or smaller premises at short notice. These offices are also idealfor short-term projects or satellite offices.
Email rent@tbeafrica.comfor more information on the type of office spaces offered by The Business Exchange.
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March 2019 – Coworking office space is not merely a trend anymore, but is fast becoming an acceptable and cost-effective place where entrepreneurs, SME’s and even satellite offices of large corporates can conduct their business from.
Coworking or sharing office space entails people from different companies renting an open office area and sharing amenities such as the internet, Wi-Fi, office furniture, meeting rooms, copiers, scanners, etc.
Ideally, this is the next step for any entrepreneur or small business who feels the need to get out of their “home office” or coffee-shop meetings and to engage with their clients in a more sophisticated environment.
Commercial office space can be prohibitively expensive, so the concept of coworking space is very appealing to entrepreneurs as it often includes a range of additional benefits that small business may not be able to afford on their own, such as;
In addition, quality coworking office spaces – such as those offered by companies like The Business Exchange, expose their tenants to many free business networking opportunities held monthly. During these events, coworking office tenants are able to share knowledge as well as establish and grow their own networks in these conducive environments.
Aside from the social benefits, these networking events are also highly strategic and provide valuable learning opportunities for tenants of shared office space as they are able to gain valuable insight from talks and presentations from invited guests and business mentors.
10 Questions to determine if you are ready to share office space?
If you are already considering the benefits of sharing office space, then you may want to ask yourself the following questions;
Coworking or sharing office space will help you to build your business by exposing it to many other types of businesses and like-minded people. In addition, if you have employees – they will benefit from the many perks that come with your flexible, coworking office lease, such as free coffee, snacks, gym access, etc.
For further information about the benefits of co-working office space, please call us on +27 72 928 2127 or email us.
View this recent article by Fast Company in which Co Founder & CEO David Seinker talks about The Business Exchange and how it creates workspaces that inspire success. See what David Seinker says who believes a productive workspace is driven by special design and community collaboration.
September 2018 – When searching for office space to rent in Johannesburg, it is important to consider, not only the office space that you will be paying for but also the extra benefits that are included in your contract. The Business Exchange (TBE), a provider of virtual, private and co-working flexible workspace in Sandton and surrounds, is an excellent example of a service-orientated landlord who puts their tenants first.
TBE not only provides shared workspace and the standard benefits that come with it, such as fully furnished offices, professional reception areas, on-site canteens and coffee bars, gyms and showers but also provides meeting rooms and events spaces for hire, as well as office space memberships to maximise its offering to you.
Rent Meeting Rooms On Demand From R500 Per Hour
TBE is all about flexibility. Whether you need to rent office space or a meeting room for a short or longer term, TBE will assist you. Our in-house App makes it easier to view available meeting rooms, make bookings and connect with our vibrant tenant community. On arrival for your meeting at one of our designer workspaces, you and your guests will be greeted and assisted by our professional Receptionist. For the duration of your meeting, you will be able to enjoy some of our many facilities which include on-site restaurants, coffee bars, whiskey lounges with full bar services as well as our super-fast Wi-Fi. Our professional meeting rooms are suited for board meetings, presentations, workshops and other off-site meetings and include full audio-visual facilities. Read more about our Meeting Rooms.
Hire A Venue For Your Next Event From R1500 Per Hour
TBE has recently extended its event venue hire to non-tenant Corporates and SME’s. We have beautiful events spaces, equipped with the latest technology at all our office locations. These spaces are perfect for product launches, year-end events, seminars, gala dinners and much more. You can read more about our Event Spaces here.
Flexible Office Space Memberships From R250 Per Person Per Month
TBE offers two monthly business memberships, Platinum for R250 per person and Black for R450 per person, which provide access to any of our fully-furnished prestigious workspaces and are great for non-tenants who simply need an office space or a meeting room for a few hours a month. These memberships include access to coworking areas and meeting rooms for a limited amount of hours every month. You will also have an opportunity to join our numerous business networking events and have the option of upgrading to a full-day co-working or private office, with an additional 10% discount on future bookings. You can read more here about our Platinum or Black memberships.
With all its additional benefits and offerings, The Business Exchange enables professionals like you to conduct your business cost-effectively and achieve maximum business exposure while you take advantage of some of our many offerings.
August 2018 – Coworking is a style of work that involves sharing a workspace, office equipment and a working environment with a number of people who are usually self-employed or employed by a number of different companies
Co-working business centres, such as The Business Exchange, are growing in popularity with small business owners, freelancers and remote office workers. This can largely be attributed to; lower operating business costs – thanks to a number of shared office resources, as well as extensive business networking opportunities that co-workers enjoy.
Although co-working or shared office space may be great for business, some employees, especially those with a more introverted personality-type, may at first experience apprehension about this new working style.
In order to alleviate some of this initial stress, it is necessary to professionally personalise your allocated workspace as much as you possibly can. We’ve put together a few suggestions for you.
1) Get Comfortable
We’ve mentioned that you need to personalise your allocated workspace, and this is where adding a few of your personal effects makes all the difference. A special hand cream, photo frame or small plant will add a little of your own personality to your surroundings. Since air-conditioning is centrally controlled in business centres, a wrap or jacket could be left at your desk for colder days. If you don’t occupy the same workspace every day, then keep your desk paraphernalia in a small, stylish tote bag which you take home with you at the end of each day.
2) Shut Out the Noise
Open office spaces may tend to be a bit noisy from time to time, so it’s worth investing in a set of high-quality noise-cancelling headphones, or even earphones with your own playlist to help you better focus.
3) Take a Break
Well-equipped business centres offering shared office spaces should have a number of options in which to work, other than open office spaces. A quiet place to work is vital from time to time, as is a suitable place for a bite to eat or a coffee break.
David Seinker, CEO of The Business Exchange says, “A successful coworking office environment should be able to meet a variety of business needs during the day.” The Business Exchange business centres have a variety of small, private meeting areas, lounges, boardrooms, on-site coffee shops, restaurants and even gyms where tenants can take a well-deserved break or relieve their stress.
This popular business centre, which has offices in Sandton, Rosebank and Morningside, also offers private offices for companies who prefer an alternative to co-working, or virtual office space for entrepreneurs who are not yet ready to take on a formal office space, but who require a professional business address and call-answering and directing service.
23 Aug 2018 – The popularity of shared workspaces is increasing as younger professionals enter the workforce in search of a company where they can align their personal values in a positive environment.
Leaders of every size of company, from small businesses to large corporates, need to understand how a great company culture can become one of its strongest assets, improve collaboration and foster communities, especially within coworking workspaces.
The Business Exchange, a provider of cost-effective private and co-working office space in Gauteng, understands this principle very well and has successfully assisted its tenants to create their own unique corporate culture through a range of services and activities on offer. This cultural difference is clearly seen in each of their business centres.
The company’s CEO, David Seinker says that their business is not just about providing flexible office workspace to companies.
“We value our tenants as individuals and take a personal interest in seeing their companies succeed. Our staff are trained to provide a competitively high level of service and, as a business centre offering flexible workspace, we provide the resources and opportunities for our tenants to grow and the space in which to create their own corporate culture.”
Culture provides a purpose and connects management and staff with a shared set of beliefs. A healthy and vibrant company culture ensures that employees are valued, regardless of their position.
If building a workspace culture isn’t a priority for you, it should be.
Increase Productivity – and Your Bottom Line!
Creating a stimulating culture that you can all be proud of produces loyalty amongst your employees, which means that they will probably enjoy coming to work, resulting in less sick leave taken. By taking pride in their work, they will become more productive – which is great for your business targets.
Culture Creates Innovation in Your Workspace
A positive company culture can contribute greatly towards your business’s success by allowing employees to perform at their best. This is done by promoting your company values and designing your company policies around these values, which in turn have a positive impact on your employees’ attitudes. Ultimately this is reflected in the high quality of innovative work generated by them
Promote Cohesion in Your Shared Workspace and Increase Loyalty
A great company culture is a platform for your guiding principles and also an extension of your company’s personality – which both your employees and clients will see. It will create collaboration not only between your own employees, but also between yourself and your clients, as well as other companies occupying the same shared workspace as you.
Attract and Retain Valuable Talent
It goes without saying that the right set of skills and experience is important. However, by creating a unique culture, your company will be able to both attract talented candidates and keep them in your company.
Employees want to feel that they belong and that they are valued. An effective company culture can be the foundation of a successful, niche community in your workspace!
June 2018 – Although it may be very tempting to rent traditional office space soon after you launch your business, it can be very risky when your business is still starting up since it adds pressure to your monthly expenses.
“As much as one wants to warn against moving into offices too soon, it’s also understandable why a lot of businesses decide to do so. They want a Receptionist who can answer the phone, they want a nice boardroom where they can meet with clients — it all adds to the level of professionalism a new company can offer,” says David Seinker, founder of The Business Exchange.
Seinker believes that a flexible working environment should easily allow start-up businesses to move from cost-effective virtual offices to shared offices or co-working spaces. Once they are more firmly established, a private office should then also be an option, without the aggravation of stringent leases and lengthy documentation to be completed again.
In line with global demands, workplace specialists, such as The Business Exchange, who offers flexible office space solutions providing private, virtual and shared office spaces, have also experienced an increased uptake of these spaces since 2017 as more people realise that co-working is not just for sole-entrepreneurs or millennials.
Many companies are acknowledging the impact that a diverse working environment can have on their growth, and larger businesses are increasingly making use of co-working spaces to lower their property costs, improve recruitment efforts and increase employee satisfaction.
Another trend coming through into the flexible office space environment is an emphasis on health. “We have added fully-equipped gyms with showers to some of our business centres and are currently offering Pilates classes to our tenants in an effort to reduce working isolation, increase community spirit and improve mental health,” says Seinker.
Technology is also an added benefit when businesses share office space. The rate at which technology is advancing with regards to connecting marketing efforts, security, meeting room bookings, environmental monitoring and other daily business elements, sometimes makes it impossible for a smaller business to keep up with or even to afford the technology. Sharing flexible offices space reduces these costs, yet still allows the benefits to be experienced.
“Each one of our business centres has its own personality,” says Seinker. “They are unlike because of the dynamics of the different people at each centre and the exchange of values between the various companies, which emphasises the important role that our tenant community plays. This dynamic also allows for a platform for business networking.”
The flexibility provided by shared office spaces means that a virtual or co-working tenant who only pops into the business centre for a few days a month may eventually become a long-term tenant after experiencing the tangible benefits that this flexibility offers.
To find out more about how flexible office spaces can benefit your business, contact officespace@thebusinessexchange.co.za.
10 April 2018
It has been proven that people who work in a flexible office space are happier, and happy employees are up to 12% more productive.* A survey conducted in 2017 indicated that over 44% of corporates were already using some type of flexible office solution and this number was expected to increase to 66% by 2020.**
The job market has become highly competitive, skilled workers can afford to pick and choose where they want to work. Companies are creating flexible office spaces that are comfortable, creative, productive, and environmentally conscious in order to make themselves more appealing to potential employees. Common additions include lifestyle elements such as child care services, healthy food, spas, gyms and other exercise spaces. These spaces also allow better access to innovators, talent and to reduce real estate costs.
“This is a very exciting time to be a business owner,” says Michael Baretta, managing director of [dot]GOOD, South Africa’s first and foremost cause-marketing agency and tenant at The Business Exchange in Rosebank, a flexible office space in Johannesburg. “With a staff contingent that fluctuates between 20 and 50, flexible office spaces allow us to ebb and flow as we need. For-good marketing also requires high levels of collaboration and creativity; which these spaces are perfect for,” he continues.
“I think that work spaces have come to reflect our cultures, behaviours and norms as a business. The office design and structure are incredibly important features which promote certain kinds of work and behaviour. As the nature of our work is knowledge-based, innovative and collaborative, we needed a workspace that mirrors the way we conduct business,” says Baretta.
“One of a company’s most important resources is its employees. The incoming workforce is incredibly concerned with feeling good about the work they do,” says David Seinker, founder of The Business Exchange. “The latest flexible workspaces are employing millennial-pleasing technologies such as LED lights, recycling, new-age aircons and water supply plants to be more environmentally sustainable,” he says. “All The Business Exchange buildings have been ‘Green Star Rated’. The Green Star Rating is a system that has recently been launched in South Africa, where buildings are rated on how environmentally sustainable they are,” he continues.
“The business world has long been viewed as static, and beyond reproach. Flexible office spaces are changing the narrative by making employee’s happiness a priority, ” concludes Baretta.
References
* Revesencio, J., 2015. Why Happy Employees Are 12% More Productive, California: Fast Company.
** The entrepreneur.2017. https://www.entrepreneur.com/article [accessed 03 April 2018]
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MEDIA CONTACT
Tiffany Mac Sherry
084 423 3466
ABOUT [dot]GOOD
[dot]GOOD is South Africa’s leading for-good marketing and PR agency. They engineer platforms and opportunities for brands and not-for-profits that reach organisational objectives, whilst giving back at the same time. Their mission is to create a community of social change makers that are driven by purpose as much as they are by profit.
ABOUT The Business Exchange
The Business Exchange is located in Rosebank Central, Rosebank CBD, Morningside and Sandton Central.
They provide cost-effective membership and co-working offerings, which means travelling employees are able to access any of locations around the country. If you’re looking for fresh talent, the collaborative energy at TBE is the perfect resource to tap into. You’ll get access to the TBE app, which allows you to connect with an entrepreneurial ecosystem of members – as well as book conference and boardrooms and seek assistance from on-site managers. Ultimately, it’s about providing inspiring spaces that allow your employees to work with purpose. The companies who realise this will own the future – and at TBE, they already do.
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