When you’re a small business owner or a freelancer, working from home can get lonely very quickly. If you’re not ready to hire your own place yet, a shared office could be the perfect option. Check out these best co-working offices for small businesses in Edinburgh!
Until 2020, shared office space and co-working was generally seen as something for freelancers/small business owners only. However, COVID has certainly changed that! The impact of the pandemic on workspaces has been monumental, with more and more people switching from a traditional office to working from home. When you’re not used to it, it can be quite a shock to the system.
If your work situation is looking to be “out of office” for the foreseeable future, co-working could make a real difference. While working through emails at the dining room table works for some, staring at the same four walls all day can be difficult for others. Whatever your circumstances, if you’re based in Edinburgh, I hope these co-working offices for small businesses give you some new options – and help you make some new work friends along the way!
Why co-working?
I’ll preface the following by stressing the importance of following all government Covid-19 guidelines when considering coworking for the foreseeable future. Most of the businesses linked below have their own guidelines linked on their websites, so do take note when enquiring.
A co-working office is a collaborative space where lots of different businesses can hire an individual desk, room or hot-desking area without committing to a long-term contract. But there are many other benefits to co-working offices, including:
- Being able to separate your work and home life
- Networking opportunities with other businesses in the office
- Having access to office resources like meeting rooms and mail/call forwarding services
- Flexible options in terms of costs and contracts
I personally love having like-minded people around me, so I started Co/Space, a small but perfectly shaped creative coworking space in Edinburgh. Find out about the studio and any availabilities here.
Otherwise, if you’re a small business owner looking for company in Edinburgh, I’d recommend checking out these great co-working offices for small businesses in the Scottish capital!
The Melting Pot
15 Calton Road, EH8 8DL
Currently: Open and following government guidelines
Services: coworking, virtual coworking with The Virtual Pot, venue hire, virtual Office for business address
Rates: all-day pass £22, virtual office package from £25 per month, membership packages on request
Established in 2007, The Melting Pot is one of the UK’s oldest co-working offices for small businesses in Edinburgh. Due to the massive changes imposed by social distancing in 2020, however, they have made the difficult decision to close the doors of their Rose Street venue. But they have found a new home on Calton Road, just across from Waverley Station!
With the introduction of the The Virtual Pot, you’ll be able to cowork safely from the comfort of your home. It’s perfect if you’re looking to do some networking with new people.
They are also undertaking a massive research project to find out what you, small business owners looking to cowork, want moving forward. To take part in their Future of the Office survey, click here.
You can apply for their coworking membership here.
Read more about the pros and cons of working from home vs getting an office for your small business.
Kingsford Office
26 Dublin Street, EH3 6NN
Currently: Open and following government guidelines
Services: fixed desk, hotdesk, meeting rooms, virtual office, serviced office
Rates: from £250 (+VAT) unlimited hotdesk or £90 (+VAT) hotdesk (5 day pass)
Love the luxury feel of Edinburgh’s New Town but don’t want to spend thousands of pounds on your own office space? Try the Kingsford Office co-working space instead.
As well as the usual hotdesking facilities, Kingsford Office offer serviced offices for larger teams and virtual office services (like mail handling and call forwarding).
They have a detailed run through of their Covid-19 safety measures on their website to put your mind at ease. You can check it out here. Masks must be worn in common spaces, social distancing guidelines followed and the building will be regularly deep cleaned.
Tribe Porty
19 Windsor Place, EH15 2AJ
Currently: Open and following government guidelines
Services: fixed desk, hotdesk, office and studio space, event space hire
Rates: from £190 fixed desk (pcm – 12month minimum contract), £30 hotdesk (for two days a month) or £150 unlimited hotdesk (pcm). Office/studio space from £250 (pcm – 12 month minimum contract)
Located in Portobello for a more relaxed office environment, Tribe Porty has a great community feel to it. Perfect for creatives and makers, this co-working office has been designed to encourage creativity and collaborative projects. They are currently open, with full safety check information listed on their website here.
There are a range of co-working options at Tribe Porty including fixed desks, hotdesking, meeting rooms, office spaces and venue hire. They offer a free trial day, letting you go in and test the water, to figure out if it’s the right co-working environment for you!
Tribe Porty also host a lot of events which, due to the pandemic, are mostly operating virtually for now. Check out What’s On in their upcoming events here! These events can be a great way of connecting with other freelancers and small business owners.
Custom Lane
1 Customs Wharf, EH6 6AL
Currently: Open and following guidelines
Services: fixed desk, hotdesk, studio space, event space, meeting rooms
Rates: from £200 fixed desk (pcm), £150 hotdesk (pcm) or £10 hotdesk (per day)
Looking for a trendy co-working space in Leith? Custom Lane could be just what you’ve been searching for!
Located by the water at Customs Wharf, Custom Lane is an incredibly creative space. It’s described on their website as “an evolving, collaborative experiment in creating the most engaging, enriching and enjoyable work environment for designers and design-led makers in Scotland” – a really lovely summary, which highlights the strong feeling of community found here.
Custom Lane also has fantastic exhibition space, making it an ideal fit if you work in design. Collaborating and co-working with fellow designers could be endlessly inspiring! Right now, Custom Lane is slowly “waking from her slumber” after lockdown – get in touch for more information.
Strathmore
10 South St Andrew Street, EH2 2AZ
Currently: Open to current members, with a waiting list for new members.
Services: fixed desk, hotdesk, meeting rooms, serviced offices, virtual offices
Rates: £285 (+VAT) fixed desk (pcm), £125 (+VAT) unlimited hotdesk (pcm), £150 (+VAT) flexi hot desk (10 days)
Based in the city centre, just a few minutes away from Waverley Station, Strathmore offers extremely flexible co-working options. Their flexi package has been designed very much with independent workers and freelancers in mind, allowing you to book ten days at a time, and “top up” at reception whenever you like! What’s more? There is no set contract, meaning you can use your ten days within a month, or split them across the year, using them whenever you need to.
Not only does Strathmore offer great fixed or hotdesking options, but they also have a business lounge where you can relax, mingle with other business owners, or even have an informal meeting. And, if you like the vibe and you’re looking for a more permanent option, they also have serviced offices available at four other Edinburgh locations. As far as co-working offices for small businesses go, this ticks all the boxes.
Much like other spaces, Strathmore has thorough Covid guidelines in place, which you can read here.
Codebase
37a Castle Terrace, EH1 2EL
Currently: open and following government guidance
Services: fixed desk, hotdesk, meeting rooms, office hire, events and workshop space
Rates: from £240 fixed desk or £50 hotdesk (pcm) or £10 hotdesk (per day)
Codebase could be the perfect co-working office for you if you’re a startup, a tech company or a small business involved in the digital sector.
There are several flexible options here to suit your needs and budget. You can, for example, hire a fixed desk or pay for monthly or daily hotdesking.
Codebase host lots of events so it’s great for networking or meeting like-minded small businesses.
Pre-pandemic, they hosted a weekly Yoga class every Monday – the perfect opportunity to take some much needed time out, away from your desk (£25 for a month of classes). Something to keep an eye out for in the coming months.
Spaces
1 Lochrin Square, 92 – 98 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, EH3 9QA
Currently: Open for enquiries
Services: Dedicated desk, hot desking, private offices, mail handling, meeting rooms
Rates: Starting at £90 for 5 days per month co-working, from £240 per month for a dedicated desk, from £93 per month for virtual office and starting at £250 for a private office
Located in the heart of the city, the Spaces Lochrin Square co-working office is open for enquiries and a great option for every need. Again, they are following government guidelines and have a full Covid-19 response outlined on their website here. The space remains open 24/7 for all members with the exception of when the building is being deep cleaned. So whether you’re a night owl or an early bird, Spaces can accommodate!
While in person events are more difficult at the moment, under normal circumstances Spaces host regular events to allow members to mingle. Ideal for those of us who work solo most of the time!
Another perk of Spaces is that they offer a free trial or tour, allowing you to get a feel for the place before signing on the dotted line. So if you’re keen to dip your toe into co-working in 2021, this could be a great fit.
As a quick final note, the Scottish Coworking Network is a great option to look into in the future. They are currently closed, but provide community workspace in Edinburgh Central Library for freelancers and entrepreneurs (£35 per month + VAT for hot-desking)! Their waiting list is now open, so click here to join or find out more!
There you have it – my top picks for co-working offices for small businesses in Edinburgh! Whether you’re looking for somewhere to set up a regular base, or an office to pop in and out of whenever it suits you, there is an option in the city to suit every need.
KEEP READING
To read more about this topic, have a look at these:
The Best (Online) Networking Events in Edinburgh
Where to Get Small Business Support in Edinburgh
Edinburgh’s Best Work-Friendly Cafés
Should You Work From Home or Get an Office?
