Ian Waller enjoys a day at the latest co-working space in Bath, with great facilities and a friendly atmosphere
With more and more mums, dads and carers across the Bath region now working from home, sometimes it’s so important to have somewhere to go, away from the household chores and distraction, to get your head down, focus on with the work at hand and enjoy some grown-up work conversation with other business owners and managers.
That’s where Rengen House, just off Pulteney Bridge, comes in, a new co-working space right in the heart of Bath where desks and office space are available to rent by the day and half day, there’s meeting rooms available, events to enjoy, the wi-fi’s fantastic, the atmosphere is ideal and the free drinks and pastries only add to the appeal.
Rengen House is the latest in a growing number of co-worker experiences that are perfectly suited for business-mums and dads who share their working day with family duties. For many, this has meant finding space in the corner of the bedroom or under the stairs for a desk and office chair, and working around the inevitable distractions of family life and needs of their children.
Now we all love our children and it’s the best thing to spend as much time as possible with them, but with six weeks of summer holidays around the corner, suddenly the need for some office space away from the family home can become more important than ever.
For dad of three, management consultant and freelance project manager Mike Besant, the need for co-working space became most apparent during lockdown.
“I’ve worked in what is now recognised as hybrid working for the last 10 years in a variety of roles,” explained Mike. “During lockdown I worked solely from home and missed the opportunity to meet with other people in an office. We also have a lively six year old and twins who are three and a half, so working at home be challenging at times!”
The result is that Mike now uses Rengen House four or five times a week, combining his working day with taking the twins to school and co-ordinating parenting duties with his wife, who works as a remote locum specialist dietician.
“Rengen House offers the opportunity to meet with other people in a working environment and be much more productive as it’s equipped with the same equipment as modern offices, so it feels like you are in a proper workplace. Whilst working there, I have also met people who will be able to offer services for future business growth or opened up doors that would have been more difficult to open when working from home.
“I also make sure to recommend the free coffee and pastries that are available each day! As these are included in the cost they save me money on breakfast too!”
Alongside the drinks and snacks, Rengen House offers a variety of working spaces, private spaces for meetings and calls, a garden area and a series of evening events that members are welcome to attend. Laid out over three floors, it means that the ground floor provides a casual more communal area, while the lower ground floors offers traditional workspaces. During my recent, I chose to work in the modern setting of the lower basement, which provides a light, airy and very comfortable environment, complete with plenty of natural light, excellent wi-fi and spaces for meetings.
The space was shared between occasional visitors booking by the day and a small number of companies who have rented out permanent work places. The result is a friendly and busy working atmosphere, and a great way to create a positive disconnect between home and work life.
Rengen House offers a number of memberships, ranging from a pay as you go option, to full time dedicated desks. For more details on the membership packages, click here.
For parents and carers sharing family and work time, co-worker space such as that offered by Rengen House is providing a perfect way to share the responsibilities of both roles with crucial time for space, quiet and getting the job done. For more information, click here