[Accurate]

Hi peeps,

I posted a thread about a month ago about looking for possible designer workspace. I had a few links to look at, and I found some good hints and tips.

It's almost a month on, and I'm now ready to get setup with some desk space somewhere! Now, ASAP, yesterday. Etc.

My problem: I can't find any!

I'm looking for desk space rental. A desk, somewhere that I can continue to design so I can split up the working/home life thingy.

I live in Chester, Cheshire. If anyone knows of a company/place in or around the area, let me know!! Thanks.

[Accurate]

Anyone? Thanks!

[seen.to]

Can offer nothing other than this which I'm sure you've already tried. Or maybe this which came from this.

[freelancr]

You know more about whats going on in Chester than I do, so I'll just leave you with some general advice. Most of it is obvious, but a few points caught me out. Not sure what you are liable to pay if you are merely renting a desk in someone else's office, but I have just signed a contract to rent out a serviced office and I am liable to pay:

Serviced Office Rental
Advertised at a weekly rate, exclusive of VAT, remember there are 52 weeks in a year and not 4 weeks in a month!

Business Rates
Council tax for business property, is about £800 a year, though I do qualify for a 50% discount as I am a small business.

Water Rates
Even thought here is no water actually coming into my room, I am liable to pay for the removal of rain water that lands on the roof above my rental. This is a bloody con considering the office is 180sq ft, costs £90 a year! Christ I pay £20 a month and I bath in the fucking stuff at home!

Electricity
Luckily for me this is included in my rent, but most of the other blocks have to pay their own bills, someone I know who works from a smaller room pays about £50 a month on electricity.

Phone
The business centre I am moving into has its own phone system which I have to use to make voice calls, this costs the same as BT line rental but they do give you a phone, and will answer your calls and take messages if you are busy. Calls are charged at BT rates.

BT Line Rental
I had to get a bt line put in so I could actually get a broadband connection, this is £124.99 installation and £11.75 monthly.

Broadband
You don't necessarily need business broadband, and if you use the same supplier you are with at home you may get a discount or free installation.


All in all I have budgeted £400 per month inclusive of VAT, and that's cheap, apparently. The room has enough space for 3 desks, or possibly 4 at a push. Only little old me in it at the moment.

[Accurate]

Cheers for the heads up!

I'm come to the decision there isn't much about in Chester for this type of thing, and so looking further towards Liverpool and Manchester. I don't mind the commute!

So if anyone knows of any in those two areas, that would be great!

Still looking.

[Accurate]

This is what I'm after but in Chester/Liverpool/Mancester - Desk Space to Rent in Soho, London W1 at Soho Desk Space

Gotta be something around...

I saw something called yellow offices or something like that posted here a few years ago that was in the area I think!

[Accurate]

Sorry to be a pain with this thread...

I havn't had any luck finding anywhere in the Chester/Liverpool/Manchester area that offers desk space rental.

If you work in the Liverpool / Manchester area and know of a spare section in your studio that would be suitable for a freelancer (I'm just looking for a desk and connection)... let me know!!

Thanks

[Narate]

If it were me I would get in touch with companies in the area to see if they have space in their offices for you to go. We had one girl from the D&AD in ours and a small company called The Neighbourhood (who aint that small anymore!). Great for getting some new work in and atleast you are around people. I hear that a lot of other agencies share office space n'all. I can imagine it would be a fair whack cheaper then hiring one.

[Accurate]

cheers Narate. Gonna send out a bunch of e-mails to a range of companies in the area.