Generally considered the UK’s second city, Birmingham is home to a broad selection of coworking spaces that cater to its community of freelancers, self-starters and entrepreneurs.
(Photo: Cubo)
With numerous Industrial Revolution-era landmarks that recall its 18th-century heritage as a manufacturing powerhouse dotted across the city, it’s little surprise that Birmingham has remained at the vanguard of that most modern of vocational environments: the coworking space. If you’re staying in Birmingham and need a communal work space for anything from a handful of hours per week through to full-time use, then we’ve done the research so you don’t have to and picked out 7 of the best coworking venues the city has to offer.
Cubo
Offering spaces that combine the traditional requirements of functionality with a new focus on enhancing member experience, Cubo is synonymous with the future of work life. Whether it’s flexible co-working or a private office, they provide spaces designed to create comfortable environments in which members can both interact socially and network professionally with each other. Their Birmingham venue offers 24/7 secure access, and members enjoy all-year-round flexibility in their working lives. But, as we know, all work and no play simply won’t do; luckily Cubo has this covered. From the in-house baristas to the beer and fizz on tap, the regular events and pop-ups, and the countless member discounts, offers and benefits, Cubo offers that work/life balance employers now recognise is both a key talent attraction and staff retention consideration. Hotdesking membership, starts at £199 per month.
4th Floor, 2 Chamberlain Square / www.cubowork.com
Alpha Works
(Photo: Alpha Works)
Nestled high up in Birmingham’s iconic Alpha Tower with panoramic views over the city centre, Alpha Works is set across two floors of contemporary-styled office space. Here, they offer two membership packages, with the option of switching between the two at any time. The first is a flexible hot-desk membership priced at £105 per pass, which allows you to come and go as you please, mixing with a diverse community of freelancers, entrepreneurs, start-ups and small businesses in a supportive and collaborative space. Alternatively, for £195 per month you gain unlimited access. All members also benefit from a range of on-site services and facilities.
Alpha Tower, Suffolk Street Queensway / www.alphaworksb1.co.uk
Regus
One of the biggest names in the coworking sector, Regus have a large presence in Birmingham, with each of their 10 venues across the city offering a choice of hot desks, permanent desks and private offices. Membership includes access to facilities such as printers, scanners and photocopiers, plus invites to networking and community events. Contracts are available on a monthly rolling basis, or you can ease your payments by locking into a long-term contract. Coworking prices vary depending on location, but start at £129 per month for full-time access to their Edmond House office in the city’s thriving Colmore Business District. Five or ten-day-a-month packages are also available for cheaper rates.
Venues across Birmingham / www.regus.com
The Old Post Office
(Photo: The Old Post Office)
A co-working space and community organisation located on Stirchley High Street in the southwest suburbs of the city, The Old Post Office has space for 12 co-workers set up for hot-desking. Open from Mondays to Fridays, the space offers teas and coffees to all guests and there’s also a small kitchen area, while the owner can also provide laptop stands. Pricing is split into either residential (for self-funding guests) or commercial (for those whose business funds them), with rates starting at £8 per half day for residential and £11 for commercial.
1533 Pershore Road, Stirchley / www.theoldpostoffice.space
x+why, Foundry
A tech-forward base located in the heart of the Brindleyplace canalside development in the city’s Westside district, the Foundry is x+why’s only venue offering coworking. Alongside a thriving community are amenities that the largest of corporates would be proud of – ranging from event space to a state-of-the-art gym, free parking and bike storage, wellness rooms, and an eye-catching atrium featuring a ‘jungle’ of plants and a giant scale mural by a local artist. Coworking rates start at £70 per month which includes 24/7 access and there are also day passes for £25 per day.
6 Brindley Place / You can get a free tour of this space via Rubberdesk
The Transfer
(Photo: The Transfer)
Situated four miles south of the city centre, The Transfer is a vibrant community space that caters primarily to designers, makers, and all types of creatives. A quiet and professional but friendly co-working environment, the space is ideal for those who feel distracted at home or want to avoid travelling further to work. Open Mondays to Fridays, the venue offers a choice of highly affordable monthly, weekly or one-day-a-week membership packages, as well as day passes, with prices starting at £75 per month for standard full-time membership. Amenities available to all members include two private meeting rooms, a printer, a community café, bike parking, and a terrace.
506 Moseley Road, Balsall Heath / www.oldprintworks.org
Bruntwood
Bruntwood’s two coworking spaces in Birmingham allow members to tap into the energy of the city. You’ll be working in impeccably designed, flexible offices, with all the amenities you need to turn out your best work. The spaces are conveniently located near Birmingham New Street and Birmingham Snow Hill train stations and in close proximity to art galleries, museums and other attractions. Membership starts at £95 per month for hot-desking in the lounge area or for £195 per month you can get access to the venue’s shared desk workstation in a dedicated coworking office for up to three days per week. All memberships also include meeting room discounts and access to networking events and social programmes.
Two venues across Birmingham / You can get a free tour of these spaces via Rubberdesk