While during the pandemic, workers and employers got familiar with the benefits of working from home, in the post-pandemic era, we may be looking toward more hybrid approaches to earning a living—from permanent remote working to work-near-home concepts. An example of the latter is championed by workspace brand Patch which recently converted a former brewery in Chelmsford, Essex into "a co-working space that aims to offer its members a positive work-life balance."
The innovative work-near-home concept is exactly what one may think it means—it offers individuals a space to conduct their business that is nearby one's space of living. This takes away the need for tedious long commutes which can certainly be draining, and it also offers individuals a change of scenery from their home environment.
Modern Work-Near-Home Concepts
Patch Converted a Former Brewery into a Co-Working Space
Trend Themes
1. Hybrid Workspaces - The trend towards hybrid workspaces, combining remote work with nearby co-working spaces or other work-near-home concepts, presents opportunities for innovative solutions that cater to the changing employment landscape.
2. Work-life Balance - The focus on work-life balance in work-near-home concepts like Patch's co-working space highlights a need for disruptive innovation in this area, potentially involving technology and flexible scheduling solutions.
3. Alternative Office Spaces - As remote and hybrid work arrangements become increasingly popular, there is growing demand for alternative office spaces like Patch's converted brewery, offering unique and comfortable environments for people to work in.
Industry Implications
1. Co-working Spaces - Industries related to co-working spaces, including real estate and property management, stand to benefit from the rise of hybrid work and work-near-home concepts like Patch's innovative co-working space.
2. Technology - As hybrid work arrangements become more common, there are opportunities for technology companies to create innovative tools and platforms that facilitate remote collaboration, productivity, and work-life balance.
3. Transportation - As work-near-home concepts like Patch's co-working space reduce the need for long commutes, there may be disruptions in the transportation industry and opportunities for new solutions to emerge, such as micro-mobility options and flexible public transportation alternatives.