The best co-working spaces in Manchester

Co-working spaces can be a wonderful option for freelancers and in Manchester you’re spoilt for choice.

Co-working spaces offer an abundance of benefits, from giving you the opportunity to meet other likeminded people in your industry to providing a creative realm for optimum concentration. Co-working environments strike up the perfect balance between a corporate office and working from home.

To make finding a co-working space in Manchester easier for you, we’ve rounded up ten of the best spaces the city has to offer. Keep reading to discover how price, location and benefits compare.

1. Work.Life

   With offices in Manchester, London and Reading, Work.Life first opened its doors in 2015. Its founders focus on designing work spaces that increase happiness and engagement through networking opportunities and wellness events. As you can see from the pictures, their Manchester office is a treat for the eyes, with indoor plants, geometrical prints and graphic illustrations aplenty.

   Location:
   Core, Brown Street, M2 1DH

   Prices:
   Flexible hot desking: (from £3+VAT an hour)
   Unlimited hot desking: £175 a month
   Dedicated desk: from £275 a month
   Private office: from £360 a month

   Benefits:
   – Pay as you go option for freelancers (minimum £3+VAT an hour)
   – Private phone booths
   – High speed Wi-Fi
   – Fully equipped meeting rooms
   – Reception & mail handling
   – Printing
   – 10 minute walk to Manchester Victoria station
   – 12 minute walk to Piccadilly station

   

   

   

   
   

   

   
   

   To find out more, click here.

2. Beehive Lofts
   

   Beehive Lofts provide a luxury and spacious workspace environment with all the comforts of home. Compromising of seven lofts, Beehive opened their first loft in 2014. Their name is inspired by the location of the lofts – Beehive Mill in Ancoats, a grade II* listed former cotton mill. Its industrial interior uniquely includes fully functional kitchens with ovens and hobs, not just the usual microwave. Providing a luxury environment with all the comforts of home, Beehive Lofts is unlike any other space in Manchester.

   Location:
   Beehive Mill, Jersey Street, M4 6JG

   Prices:
   Dedicated desk: £275 a month all inclusive

   Benefits:
   – Large desks
   – Spacious lounges
   – Meeting rooms at no extra cost
   – Café
   – Phone booths
   – Pet friendly
   – 24-hour access
   – Printing
   – Event space
   – Fast Wi-Fi
   – Parking
   – Events, social & wellbeing calendar
   – Secure access
   – Reception
   – Coffee & tea
   – Bike storage
   – Spacious showers
   – Fully equipped kitchens
   – Micro-roasted coffee, hot chocolate, citrus water and speciality teas
   – Fresh fruit, cakes and biscuits
   – Daily breakfasts
   – Disabled access

   

   

   

   
   

   To find out more, click here.

3. Huckletree

   With offices in Manchester, London, Dublin and Oslo, Huckletree’s CEO Gabriela Hersham gained inspiration in 2010 while working from New York in the film industry. Motivated by the concept of people working separately but collaborating together, Gabriela leveraged this idea and brought the co-working concept to London. Their futuristic and boldly designed Ancoats office, including a plant café, is newly open for business.

   Location:
   Express Building, Ancoats, M4 5DL

   Prices:
   Hotdesking: from £195 a month
   Dedicated desk: from £300 a month
   Private studio: from £460 a month

   Benefits:
   – Podcast studio
   – Supportive community
   – Buzzing neighbourhood
   – Partner perks
   – Global access
   – Plant café
   – Meeting spaces
   – Imaginarium meditation room
   – Weekly wellbeing programme
   – Online members platform

   

   

   

   
   

   

   
   

   To find out more, click here.

4. Spaces
   

   Founded in 2008, Spaces provide offices all over the world. Here in Manchester, they have two centrally based offices. These creative and ultra-modern spaces attract a community of open-minded business thinkers across all industries.

   Locations:
   Peter House, Oxford Street, M1 5AN
   125 Deansgate, M3 2LH

   Prices:
   Hot desk: from £188 a month
   Dedicated desk: from £197 a month
   Office space: from £222 a month

   Benefits:
   – Four meeting rooms
   – High speed Wi-Fi
   – Networking events
   – 24/7 access with dedicated desks and office space
   – Fully serviced
   – On site café

   

   

   

   
   

   To find out more, click here.

5. Colony
   

   Founded in Manchester in September 2017, Colony has established a strong and diverse community of over 300 members across two sites. Their first location, a newly renovated Victorian worker’s hostel in Ancoats spread over two floors, is filled with an abundance of natural light and industrial character. There’s also a roof terrace with full Wi-Fi coverage, fantastic for working outdoors during the summertime. Their second location, which opened in November 2018, is just a stone’s throw away from Manchester Piccadilly train station. Colony will also be opening a third venue, based in the Northern Quarter, in November 2019.
   
   Location:
   Jactin House, Hood Street, M4 6WX
   5 Piccadilly Place, Aytoun Street, M1 3BR
   The Astley, Great Ancoats Street, M4 5BG

   Prices:
   Hot desk: from £200 a month
   Dedicated desk: from £250 a month
   
   Benefits:
   – 24/7 access via key fob
   – Access to multiple Colony venues and facilities
   – Business address with mail handling
   – Ready built business network
   – Receptionist & security guard
   – Free well-being programs
   – Free access to regular events
   – Free refreshments
   – Personal storage
   – Ultra-fast internet over Wi-Fi
   – Bike storage & showers
   – Free printing allocation
   – Access to a variety of collaboration spaces & meeting rooms
   – Sunshine roof terrace

   

   

   

   
   

   To find out more, click here.

6. Orega
   

   Launching their first business centre in 2001, Orega are based across the UK and provide three contemporary working environments in Manchester. One of which, their Media City office neighbouring the BBC and ITV, provides the perfect location for any broadcasting freelancers. Another one of their offices is located directly across from Manchester Piccadilly station which is handy for anyone commuting in from surrounding towns.

   Locations:
   Orega King Street, 76 King Street, M2 4NH
   Orega MediaCity, Blue Tower, Media City, M50 2ST
   Orega Piccadilly, 3 Piccadilly Place, M1 3BN

   Prices:
   Virtual office: from £39 per month
   Coworking: from £149 per month
   Private office: from £280 per month

   Benefits:
   – Air-conditioned offices
   – Professionally managed reception
   – Modern break-out space
   – Kitchenettes with free refreshments
   – Well-equipped meeting rooms
   – Showers
   – Free visitor Wi-Fi
   – IT and Telecoms
   – 24-hour CCTV
   – Secure on-site parking
   – Bicycle storage (King Street)
   – Roof terrace (King Street)
   – 10-minute walk from Piccadilly and Victoria stations (76 King Street)
   – Opposite Piccadilly station (Piccadilly)

   

   

   

   
   

   To find out more, click here.

7. Headspace
   

   With offices in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Belfast and Southampton, Headspace was founded in 2012. Their work and event space was specifically designed with the tech, media and creative communities in mind. Launching in Manchester in 2017, their office is situated just a few minutes from Albert Square and offers a modern workspace, looking out onto charming views of the city.

   Location:
   2 Mount Street, M2 5WQ

   Prices:
   Hotdesking: from £140 per month

   Benefits:
   – High-speed internet & calls package
   – Manned office reception
   – Discount on meeting rooms and member discounts
   – Refreshment bar
   – Shower rooms
   – Large event space
   – Social and business events from panel discussions to yoga

   

   

   

   
   

   

   
   

   To find out more, click here.

8. Use.Space

   This dynamic hub, just a short walk from Piccadilly train station and the Northern Quarter, was created with sustainability and innovation in mind. Its vibrant décor and anti-corporate approach make it the epitome of an ultra-modern workspace. Use.Space also offer mentorship opportunities to its members as well as the chance to gain support from connected investors.

   Locations:
   31 Ardwick Green, Thirsk Street, Manchester M12 6PN

   Prices:
   Visitor: £15 per half day, £25 per day
   40 hours access: £99 per month
   Hot desk: from £199 a month
   Dedicated desk: from £275 a month

   Benefits:
   – Family owned
   – Sustainability focused
   – Creative decor
   – Industry connections and mentorship
   – Secure on-site car & bike parking*
   – Communal cafe
   – Private walled garden
   – Dog friendly
   – Bookable boardrooms
   – High-speed internet
   – Printing facilities

   

   

   

   
   

   To find out more, click here.

9. WeWork
   

   With offices across the world, WeWork was founded in 2010. Originally created to provide shared workspaces for technology start-ups, WeWork is now an internationally respected co-working provider. Its five co-working spaces in Manchester deliver a creative and spacious oasis to freelancers, in a versatile setting.

   Locations:
   The Hanover Building, Corporation Street, M60 4EP
   Dalton Place, John Dalton Street, M2 6DS
   1 Spinningfields, Quay Street, M3 3JE
   One St Peter’s Square, M2 3DE
   Hyphen, 75 Mosley Street, M2 3HR (coming soon)
   
   Prices:
   Hot desk: from £250 a month
   Dedicated desk: from £350 a month
   Private office: from £500 a month

   Benefits:
   – Onsite staff
   – Phone booths
   – Conference rooms
   – High speed Wi-Fi
   – Professional & social events
   (Including yoga, meditation and massages)
   – Cleaning services
   – Fruit water
   – Printing
   – Micro-roasted coffee
   – Common areas
   – Pet friendly
   – Bike storage

   To find out more, click here.

10. Bruntwood

    Bruntwood are a long-standing office space provider who’ve been in the business since 1976. With co-working spaces in Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and Leeds, Bruntwood offer four co-working spaces in Manchester. With innovative and sustainably sourced facilities, you can overlook the city from a height in a business-like environment. Using the 360 degree tour, you can get a feel for the office online.

    Locations:
    111 Piccadilly, M1 2HY
    Lowry House, M2 3AW
    Neo, M1 4ET
    Trafford house, M32 0RS

    Prices:
    Hot desk: from £100 a month
    Dedicated desk: from £295 a month

    Benefits:
    – On-site car parking available
    – 24 hour access
    – On-site customer service team
    – Bike racks
    – Showers
    – On-site meeting rooms
    – Private phone booths
    – Business lounge
    – Disabled access

    To find out more, click here.

We hope that this round-up of co-working spaces in Manchester proves useful. For those who work from home on a regular basis, spending some time working in an inspiring new environment, like one of those listed above can be greatly beneficial for both productivity and wellbeing.

Do you have the right insurance for co-working spaces?

Portable equipment
Portable equipment insurance is a sensible option for any freelance professional based from a co-working space.

As a freelancer, your laptop and your mobile phone are some of your most vital assets when it comes to the running of your business. Portable equipment like a camera is essential for a photographer to do their job too.

When your equipment is damaged or stolen, it can make doing your job impossible. Having portable equipment insurance means your equipment can be replaced or repaired, fast.

Liability insurance
If you’re working in a co-working space and someone happens to trip over the wire of your laptop charger and hurt themselves, you would be liable. If you accidentally spill a coffee over someone’s laptop and damaged it, you would also be liable. Liability insurance protects you against these claims. Insurers will defend the claim and appoint a solicitor if necessary or if you are at fault the policy covers the third party’s legal costs and any compensation awarded.

Wherever you chose to work from, make sure you keep your freelance career protected from the unexpected. If you would like a quote for freelance professional indemnity insurance, please call our friendly award-winning team on 0333 321 1403

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The rise and rise of co-working

Are co-working spaces right for your freelancing career

Making the most of co-working communities

The best co-working spaces in Manchester

Three alternatives to working from your kitchen table

The world’s best locations for remote working

Disclaimer:

Caunce O’Hara & Co Ltd are not linked in any way to the featured organisations in this article. In no way does the company endorse or favour one over the other.

Caunce O’Hara & Co Ltd do not benefit financially from any of the featured organisations.

Prices correct at the time of publication 5.12.2019