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Working near home versus working from home

Having a place of work near to where you live has several advantages, as does working from home. But what about the disadvantages? Is one ‘better’ than the other, or does it not matter when it comes to productivity, convenience, and mental health? Let’s look at each option below.

Working from home

The advantages here are quite clear. No commute, not having to dress for work, and more time for yourself family, friends, and home commitments. Working from home usually means commandeering your spare bedroom, or the kitchen/dining room table to use as your office. Or, if you’re lucky some of you might have a purpose-built garden office. Whatever your situation is, your commute is likely to only be a few seconds.

You’re unlikely to need to pop on your suit, smart jeans, or stick to your office’s dress code either. You’re at home, so comfy sweatpants and a hoodie are acceptable attire, especially if you don’t need to speak to any customers on Zoom or Teams calls.

One of the biggest gains of working from home is time, and we all know how precious that is. Instead of sitting in your car or on public transport at the start and end of your working day, you can skip the commute and get straight to it. And once your day’s over, you can close your laptop and start relaxing. The rest of the day is yours. You can spend time with the children, go for a walk or to the gym, watch TV, or anything else that takes your fancy.

Another big saving is money. You don’t need to nip out for a fancy coffee and sandwich. Just pop to your kitchen and make them at home instead. Of course, you can always treat yourself to something once or twice a week if you’d like to. You also don’t need to buy new work outfits or other items specifically for the office, so you can make good savings there too. And of course, there are savings to be had on fuel and train or bus tickets, which can help you do your bit for the environment too.

Now. Onto the disadvantages. Working from home can be lonely and isolating for many people. Team building with your colleagues is much more difficult, and you can feel less motivated than in the office. These can take a toll on your mental health if you’re not careful.

Separating work and living areas can also be an issue if you’re tight on space, and distractions from pets and children can affect your productivity.

Working close to home

Again, there are obvious advantages here too. Being in a workplace close to home means you can walk or cycle rather than taking the car, which is also much better than the environment than driving.  It’s a great space to meet colleagues and create a clear distinction between your home and work life. Your health – both physical and mental – will benefit as a result.

Brainstorming and collaboration are easier face-to-face too. Not just with your team, but also interacting with other businesses in your building. The best partnerships are sometimes formed over a morning brew in the kitchen, or from chatting in corridors.

There’s also no more battling with technology and dodgy wi-fi connections or having to share your screen just to look at a document in the office. As well as good wi-fi, most offices have specialist equipment you might not have access to at home, like printers, projectors, and video conferencing capabilities.  The main advantage is that you don’t have to use any of your own stuff like you might at home – it’s all provided ready to use at the office.

Having onsite meeting rooms, breakout spaces, and catering facilities are an advantage too. They can help with productivity, getting your team together, or for grabbing a quick coffee to perk you up in the afternoon.

So, let’s talk about the disadvantages. Obviously, you won’t have as much time as you would working from home. You still need to travel, even if it’s a short distance. And sometimes you might need peace and quiet to get on with your work, which you can’t always get with people around you. There’s also the cost of coffees and canteen meals. They can soon add up if you’re not careful.

Now you know the pros and cons of working near home versus working from home, you can choose which one’s right for you, or whether a hybrid approach might suit you best.

Want to know more about The Base?

The Base is a Grade-A office and co-working space in the centre of Warrington that’s home to many market leading digital technology and advanced engineering companies. Whilst calling The Base your home, you will have access to free business support, including marketing, tax, legal advice, as well as help with innovation, research and development.

Contact us for more information.

When you think about the perks of office life, things like free tea and coffee (and even biscuits), chill-out areas, and bringing your dog to work are likely to be high up the list. Aside from a nice desk, a working computer, coffee break area, and other features, what else are employees be looking for?

One you might not think about – or even be aware of – is the presence of natural light.

Natural light is something many people take for granted. You open the curtains or blinds and it’s there, streaming through your window. But not many people know about the real benefits it provides, especially in the workplace as many offices rely on lights powered by electricity. They choose to keep the blinds, or the curtains always closed. If the office features floor to ceiling glass windows, these are usually heavily tinted to keep too much sunlight away. However, natural light is the top perk any employee can get in an office and you can find out more below.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is when you feel a change in mood as the days get shorter. This is to do with the effect of the reduced amount of natural light in the hypothalamus in the brain as the darker evenings kick in. You might know this as your internal body clock – darker evenings make you feel more tired. Being exposed to natural light can keep this feeling at bay and make you feel more energised and improve your mood.

Natural light also provides vitamin D, which is essential for health benefits. If you don’t get enough, it can lead to serious problems with your bones, muscles, and teeth. It’s particularly important to keep your levels topped up during the shorter Autumn and Winter days, so having a reliable source of natural light is very important.

Another added benefit of natural light is that it can help you sleep better (and don’t we all need some extra sleep). It makes you feel alert in the day and sleepy when it’s dark, so your body is ready for bed in the evening, this is thanks to something called the circadian rhythm, which naturally follows sunrise and sunset. Only being exposed to artificial light can interfere with this and upset your sleep pattern.

Too much artificial light can also cause eyestrain and headaches, known as Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), which – according to a study by Cornell University in 2017 – affects around 70 million workers globally. It can also increase incidents of SAD in people. Long workdays spent indoors with no or little access to natural light can leave you feeling fatigued, down, and less positive about coming to work. That will lead to decreased productivity and possible absences among employees.

So, there you have it. Natural light really should be your number 1 office perk. It can improve productivity, creativity, collaboration, and boost employee wellbeing and health. And the good news is that it’s free for everyone too. Simply having offices with lots of windows is one straightforward way to make sure your employees can get access to it, for example, as can encouraging them to spend outdoors at lunchtime.

Want to know more about The Base?

The Base is a Grade-A office and co-working space in the centre of Warrington that’s home to many market leading digital technology and advanced engineering companies. Whilst calling The Base your home, you will have access to free business support, including marketing, tax, legal advice, as well as help with innovation, research and development.

Contact us for more information.

Ever thought to yourself “I don’t need a co-working space; I have a home office“?

Here’s 5 reasons you can benefit from a co-working space…

1. Working from home can sometimes leave you feeling isolated. Being in a co-working environment can end this feeling of disconnection. Throughout the day, you will have the opportunity to work alongside a room of skilled co-workers whom you can interact with and be inspired by.

2. The networking opportunities are endless. Having a shared space at The Base and creating a sense of community is another reason why people choose co-working with us. Being in a co-working environment ensures you surround yourself with goal-oriented and high-achieving professionals. You never know who you will meet in our space as we have such a wide array of professionals under one roof who can help move your business forward. 

3. The power of flexibility. Let’s say one day you may want to work early in the morning, and the next day during the afternoon into the evening. Here at The Base, the opportunities are endless, and you can choose as long or as short a stay as you please. As a professional, you decide when and where you work.

4. Productivity is increased when you co-work in our space. The buzzing social atmosphere here at The Base can be the incentive you need to produce some of your best ideas. The distractions of working from home are decreased and being surrounded by committed professionals every day is a great motivator.

5. Co-working spaces like ours have their perks. There are some aspects of the office environment that just can’t be replicated from home. For example, The Base offers Free Wi-Fi within meeting and communal areas, a fully-equipped kitchen on each floor, shower and locker facilities, a range of meeting room facilities for hire and external cycle storage. 

Do you have any thoughts on the benefits of co-working? Let us know in the comments.

Want to know more about The Base?

The Base is a Grade-A office and co-working space in the centre of Warrington that’s home to many market leading digital technology and advanced engineering companies. Whilst calling The Base your home, you will have access to free business support, including marketing, tax, legal advice, as well as help with innovation, research and development.

Contact us for more information.

How is technology improving the workplace?

One thing about technology is that it keeps evolving to provide us with ways to make our lives better by speeding up and simplifying everyday tasks and processes. It can also help us communicate, get organised, and keep us safe. The same applies when it comes to the workplace, so let’s look at just how technology is improving the workplace.

Staying connected

One of the biggest ways technology has improved the workplace is how easy it’s made communication. Whole teams or organisations can meet online instantly or collaborate and work on projects together more simply than ever before. All they need is a PC, laptop, or smartphone. Employees don’t even need to be in the same location to work together or review tasks.

Boosting productivity

This links to the previous point, as ultimately, improved communication leads to better productivity. Technology can also help employees manage their workload more efficiently and concentrate on jobs with pressing deadlines or those that are the most urgent. Getting people involved earlier or getting management sign-off is easier with improved technology too, so more tasks can be completed on schedule.

Enhancing security

Technology can help here, as it can give the right people the right level of security they need. It can also speed up sign-off on projects by reducing the manual processes often associated with it. Errors are reduced too, as technology will have stricter parameters and protocols that are impossible to bypass. Technology can also help spot phishing attempts and train your team on what to look out for to reduce security breaches.

Better workplace environment

Technology plays a part here too, as many workplaces now have sensors installed capable of controlling noise levels, temperature, and lighting to create a comfortable environment for people working in the building. This helps make people feel more productive, as well as improving their wellbeing.

Improving employee experience

Employees are the same as everyone else. They want their lives to be as easy as possible when at work and they expect technology to help them do this. Most are used to using smartphone apps and online systems and will be able to use them at work too. But they will want the systems in their work lives to be as intuitive and advanced as those in their home life.

Using it to meet your needs

Most technology can be used to fit your business model. You might not need every feature a programme offers, or you might need to adapt here and there, but you can find ways to improve every aspect of your workplace. You can encourage teamwork, promote collaboration, and improve efficiency and output through the right technology in your workplace. And that can only be a good thing.

Want to know more about The Base?

The Base is a Grade-A office and co-working space in the centre of Warrington that’s home to many market leading digital technology and advanced engineering companies. Whilst calling The Base your home, you will have access to free business support, including marketing, tax, legal advice, as well as help with innovation, research and development.

Contact us for more information.

The people who work at The Base are really important to us. Our team come from all sorts of backgrounds and bring their own characters to whatever job they are doing. They’re positive, good organisers, great communicators, real team players and are proud to say ‘we work at The Base’.

Meet Alison Tennant, our Business Development Manager…

If you could write your own job title that best describes what you do at The Base, what would it be?

Trouble shooting Guru – (ever the optimist I like to think I can always find a solution and guru because I am a yogi!).

When did you start at The Base and what was your first role?

Started at Langtree Property Partners on 9^th August 2021 as the Business Development Manager at The Base.

What led you to this career and wanting to work at The Base?

Having worked in Property for more than 20 years I was looking for a new role that I could bring my marketing and business background into on a part-time basis, I was aware of Langtree and was attracted to it by their reputation.

What’s a work-related accomplishment that you’re really proud of at The Base?

Being told by the deputy chairman of Peel that I had more of a scientific approach to business than any other department – a BIG win at a time when marketing was seen as “fluffy”!

Tell us some of your previous experience before working at The Base?

I spent 19 years as the Marketing Director for Peel L&P, working across many exciting businesses including mediacityuk, Liverpool John Lennon Airport and the retail division.

What’s the best advice you were ever given and who was it from?

Don’t complain and don’t over explain – a senior board member at Peel gave me that advice when I first started the company.

What’s one thing you saw recently that made you smile?

Anything involving memes with dogs or cats makes me laugh and social media is full of them!

What’s your favourite way to unwind after a busy day or at the weekend?

I’m also a yoga teacher so spending time on my yoga mat is my favourite place to unwind, followed by a walk in Delamere forest with my two spaniels and a nice G&T.

What are your top 3 favourite films?

The Greatest Showman – Dirty Dancing – Moulin Rouge(I wouldn’t have said I liked musicals until I looked at that list!!)

What’s your favourite place that you’ve ever visited?

The Seychelles – was lucky to have it as my last holiday before all the lockdowns grounded travel – picture perfect beaches, rainforests, great weather, lovely people.

The 10 best business apps for 2021

There are thousands of apps that can help you successfully run your business. They can help you be organised, allow you to communicate more efficiently, synchronise files across devices, and even provide your employees with company benefits. But, with so many to choose from, how do you know which smartphone apps are the best for your business?

Here are the top 10 apps we think you should consider for 2021…

1. ShipStation

This app is a handy tool if you buy and sell products online. ShipStation is compatible with well-known platforms, such as Amazon and eBay, to help you process orders, track your shipments, and just about everything else you need with ecommerce.

2. FreshBooks

You might already know about this cloud-based accounting app. If not, it’s worth a look if you want to set up automatic billing and create invoices from any device, and even accept card payments from your smartphone.

3. Unifyle

This free app lets you unite files (as you might have guessed from the name) stored separately on other online storage apps. It’s compatible with DropBox, Sugarsync, Access Box, and many more. It also handles security for you, and you can use it to give your employees mobile access to all their files in one place.

4. DocuSign

Got important documents you need clients or employees to sign quickly? Then DocuSign could be for you. Send quotes, contracts, letters, or anything else you need signing and get an e-signature back. It’s secure and simple to use.

5. SOS Backup

This award-winning app protects precious personal data, particularly that of your customers. All information is stored securely on the cloud with multiple layers of encryption across multiple devices. A free trial’s also available if you’re not sure it’s for you.

6. Fuze

Need to talk to your team? Grab a video-chat anytime anywhere on any device with Fuze. You can get up to 1,000 people together on a conference call if need be, in full HD. It’s also fully compatible with Microsoft Teams.

7. Expensify

Help your employees keep track of business expenses easily. They can scan and upload unlimited receipts, link bank accounts and corporate cards, and submit their expenses from their smartphone. Expensify can detect duplicates, verify transactions, and simplify your auditing processes.

8. TripIt

Another app that’s as useful to your employees as it is to you, TripIt puts all business trip details in one place. Flights and train journeys are stored alongside meeting times and itineraries, plus extra details like maps, directions, weather forecasts for the trip, and even what terminal flights leave from.

9. Slack

This nifty app is great for collaborating on projects, or for communicating within teams. You can send messages to individuals or groups of people, edit documents, and get live notifications on things you’re working on.

10. Buffer

Schedule social media posts, including video and pictures, and track engagement stats on multiple accounts on your mobile. Buffer’s perfect for business owners who want a simple way to manage their social media marketing and have all the analytics at their fingertips. 

Missed your favourite from this list? Tell us which business apps have changed the way you do things.

Want to know more about The Base?

The Base is a Grade-A office and co-working space in the centre of Warrington that’s home to many market leading digital technology and advanced engineering companies. Whilst calling The Base your home, you will have access to free business support, including marketing, tax, legal advice, as well as help with innovation, research and development.

Contact us for more information.

Warrington technology hub The Base has revealed a trio of lettings as the post-pandemic recovery gathers pace.

The 50,000 square foot grade A building focuses on attracting digital and engineering-led business and, says Stacey Marsh of Langtree, which manages the building for owners Warrington & Co, the deals demonstrate Warrington’s economic resilience.

“Our tenants are nimble, fast-growing and entrepreneurial businesses and their confidence is indicative of the wider health of the Warrington economy,” said Mrs Marsh.  “Warrington is stepping up to the plate again as the north west’s most dynamic business location, just when we need it most.”

The deals will see digital marketing consultancy Vision 51, online publisher Riqueza Group and property services business TFC Homeloans join the building’s growing tenant roster.  They will occupy just over 5 per cent of the building’s space, taking occupancy to 73 per cent.  There are now 26 businesses employing more than 240 staff in the Dallam Lane premises.

Commenting on the deals, Eleanor Blackburn, business growth and investment lead at economic development agency Warrington & Co said: “Warrington’s appeal as a hub for digital businesses continues to grow, with The Base as its nexus.  What’s particularly encouraging is that, as the town’s economy emerges from the pandemic it seems to be attracting more high-growth businesses with the potential to transform our economy and skills base.”

The Base has a comprehensive building management regime in place to ensure its hygiene and cleanliness during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.

Want to know more about The Base?

The Base is a Grade-A office and co-working space in the centre of Warrington that’s home to many market leading digital technology and advanced engineering companies. Whilst calling The Base your home, you will have access to free business support, including marketing, tax, legal advice, as well as help with innovation, research and development.

Contact us for more information.

The people who work at The Base are really important to us. Our team come from all sorts of backgrounds and bring their own characters to whatever job they are doing. They’re positive, good organisers, great communicators, real team players and are proud to say ‘we work at The Base’.

Meet Stacey Marsh, our Building Manager…

If you could write your own job title that best describes what you do at The Base, what would it be?

Chief Fixer

When did you start at The Base and what was your first role?

I started in March 2020 in the same role.

What led you to this career and wanting to work at The Base?

I began in serviced offices 12 years ago in Warrington and Langtree had always been “one to watch” as one of my competitors so when the role came up at The Base I couldn’t wait to apply!

What’s a work-related accomplishment that you’re really proud of at The Base?

Bonding a new team throughout a year of COVID.

Tell us some of your previous experience before working at The Base?

I worked in retail when I first left school and always wanted an “office job” whilst still meeting people which is when I started Front of House for Whitbread. The first Hilton in Liverpool was then built, and I started there as Front Office Supervisor where I stayed for a few years before moving to serviced offices.

What’s the best advice you were ever given and who was it from?

Always appreciate how far you have come, and then keep going – from my dad.

What’s one thing you saw recently that made you smile?

The lovely lunch that a member of my team had just treated me to!

What’s your favourite way to unwind after a busy day or at the weekend?

Favourite music and a gin on a Friday night!

What are your top 3 favourite films?

Nobody could every pick 3 surely…but at the moment, I’d have to go for American Gangster, Shutter Island and Calamity Jane!

What’s your favourite place that you’ve ever visited?

I’ve been lucky enough to go on some amazing holidays but one of my favourite places is the Lake District.

Using tech to hold hybrid events

One of the things businesses haven’t been able to do during the pandemic is stage events with lots of people there. Restrictions, in England at least, have now been lifted of course, but you might not feel totally confident hosting a large-scale event just yet, and many employees won’t feel comfortable mixing with too many people either. The answer could be hybrid events, and the good news is there is lots of tech out there that can help you do it, and you can make a high-quality event with accessible technology that’s relatively simple to use.

What is a hybrid event?

Quite simply, it’s a mixture of live and virtual things happening all at the same time, with some people physically attending and others watching on a screen remotely. You can have speakers, guests, presentations, and interactive activities just like you can with any in-person event. It’s an effective way of keeping numbers down while still involving and engaging everyone who’s attending virtually. Your audience can participate, wherever they are.

Benefits of a hybrid event

There are many benefits to hybrid events. You can reach a much larger audience than if it was only in-person, give people a choice of how to attend (including different device options), and customise their experience of the event. The analytics side of the event is easier to track too, as you can capture data and audience engagement during and after the event with follow up polls and emails.

Use tech you’ve already got…

You might be able to hold a hybrid event with tech you’ve already got. Teams, Zoom, and even Skype can do the basics, but you’ll need to set a laptop up where the camera can capture all the action. A USB camera you can plug in might be better though, but you won’t be able to do much on an interactive basis. There’s also the Zoom and Teams fatigue factor to consider too – some people are fed up with using these for meetings.

… or try speciality software

There are software packages available you can try for hybrid events. They can spice things up with virtual display backgrounds, stop presenters fluffing their lines with autocue, and even have professional video directors on hand. Most will also integrate with existing tech, like Teams and Zoom for those watching online, which is useful for Q and A sessions, live polls, breakout rooms, and other features.

Speciality software packages for hybrid events include Hubilo, Hopin, and Cvent.

Be immersive

Immersive technology is becoming more popular than ever with all sorts of businesses. And it’s perfect for hybrid events too. It takes virtual reality a step further by combining it with wearable tech like smart glasses, apps for watches, and even special gloves that allow people to ‘touch’ their surroundings. Mixed reality, where you combine physical and digital worlds, is also great for hybrid events. For those not there in person, they can become immersed by viewing events through web cameras with special filters or using specialised smart phone apps.

Suitable for just about every kind of event

Whether you’ve got a conference, team meeting, away day, product launch, or anything else, a hybrid event will work for you. You can bring everybody together or showcase your company to potential customers. Just make sure your internet’s up to scratch and you plan things thoroughly before you start. And, as with any new software, test it thoroughly before you use it on the day.

Want to know more about The Base?

The Base is a Grade-A office and co-working space in the centre of Warrington that’s home to many market leading digital technology and advanced engineering companies. Whilst calling The Base your home, you will have access to free business support, including marketing, tax, legal advice, as well as help with innovation, research and development.

Contact us for more information.

What will offices of the future look like?

So, now we’re all starting to return to the office following months of working from home, will the physical office as we know it be different? And what about in 10 years’ time, how will the office of the future look?

Starting with the first question, most businesses still see the need for somewhere for everyone to get together. However, instead of everyone being there all at the same time, the office is now becoming somewhere employees meet up to collaborate, innovate, and have team meetings a few days a week rather than working there 9-5, Monday to Friday. Going to the office to work every day isn’t the expected norm. Employees might not even have their own regular desk or workstation and will have to hot desk when they’re in the office.

This move to a more hybrid way of working means the physical look and layout of offices are changing too. Fewer desks and more social spaces will be the order of the day, as will a more open plan look. Digitisation had already started to shape this change, but Covid-19 has undeniably accelerated it as people were forced out of their offices.

Tech will continue to play its part in the near future, and innovations like touchless entry points, automated temperature checks, social distancing sensors, and automated cleaning systems will become more prevalent to help employers keep their employees safe. And facial recognition may soon replace swipe cards and intelligent signage will be installed to help people find their way around.

Flexibility of space will be important too. Closed offices can become open spaces at the click of a mouse and configuring areas to fit how many employees are in on an individual day will be instantly possible. Presentation screens can be hidden away when not needed and connecting everyone together, whether they’re in the office or working remotely, will be much simpler than it is today with immersive and virtual technology.

It’s also possible offices will have more integrated facilities than now. We’re used to coffee shops and cafes, but as our lifestyles change, services like childcare, laundry, and hairdressers could become a regular fixture as employers put employee convenience at the forefront of their thoughts. Employee well-being will continue to grow in importance too, with green spaces, gyms, and other health and leisure resources common place in offices of the future.

And taking things a stage further, could we see bedrooms and quiet spaces where people can refresh and recharge themselves, or go and prepare for a meeting?

Want to know more about The Base?

The Base is a Grade-A office and co-working space in the centre of Warrington that’s home to many market leading digital technology and advanced engineering companies. Whilst calling The Base your home, you will have access to free business support, including marketing, tax, legal advice, as well as help with innovation, research and development.

Contact us for more information.