We all know that working from home has its perks, but it can also sometimes be lonely, uninspiring and even distracting. Luckily, Scotland is home to a number of exciting co-working communities waiting to welcome you with beautiful workspaces, inspiring events, amazing fellow co-workers and plenty of delicious free coffee. Here’s our round up of ten of the coolest co-working spaces Scotland has to offer.
egg & co-working
Tucked away down a pretty cobbled street in Edinburgh’s New Town is egg & co-working, Scotland’s first co-working space for women. With hot desks, a private meeting room, a fab programme of events, a podcast studio and incredible roastery Santu Coffee on site, egg & co-working offers way more than your crowded local Starbucks ever could.
“This space will support women and their businesses as a creative hub that facilitates collaboration, sparks conversation, ignites friendships and breaks down barriers,” says Alex Dewar from the egg & co-working team.
“It’s an incubator and launch pad for ventures, instilling confidence and allowing more women to follow their dreams and make bold, brave moves.’ A confidence-boosting co-working space with amazing women and excellent coffee close by? Sounds good to us!
Hive Spaces
Are aesthetically-pleasing interiors as important to you as the speed of your wifi? Then design-led Hive Spaces in Edinburgh could be your ideal co-working spot. With multiple workspaces to choose from and a choice of membership options, Hive Spaces is all about flexibility.
Whether you’re looking to concentrate in the quiet of the bright and airy White Room, or fancy a flat white in their cosy Common Room, Hive Spaces manages to hit that sweet spot between work and socialising that we’re all looking for in a co-working space. At the end of the day, you can stop for a well-earned glass of something chilled in one of the many bars in nearby Stockbridge, or you can stick around for one of Hive Spaces’ regular evening events with the likes of Soho House.
Tribe Porty
“The people here are the nicest, most generous and creative people around,” says Dani Trudeau, Founding Director of Tribe Porty. If that doesn’t tell you enough about the vibe at this well-established co-working space in Edinburgh’s Portobello then we don’t know what else to say. Except maybe that Tribe Porty is not only home to everyone from photographers to behavioural scientists, but it’s also minutes away from the sandy (and often sunny) Portobello Beach.
“We are a community coworking space like nowhere else,” explains Dani. “A hub of activity supporting the circular economy, sharing resources and social capital.” Dani is also the founder of Keystone, an online business programme supporting women to make meaningful connections and lasting change in their working lives. If you’re looking for a co-working space with a solid social conscience, then Tribe Porty could be for you.
Collabor8te
Not sure if joining a co-working space is for you? Don’t worry, Collabor8te Coworking in Glasgow has got a membership for everyone. Situated slap-bang in the city centre, Collabor8te offers the co-working curious the chance to dip their toe in from just £10 per week. With a buzzing community of over 300 business owners, freelancers and remote workers, Collabor8te is the place to be for networking and making those crucial work-life connections.
Collabor8te’s fantastic programme of member events means that your work days will never be dull. Even the most dense spreadsheet in the world won’t look so bad when you’ve got film premieres, summer picnics, indoor climbing classes or a hike up Ben Lomond to look forward to! And if lacing up your hiking boots isn’t your thing, they often like to head to a local pub for a post-work drink too.
The Distillery at The Whisky Bond
Rated as one of the top co-working spaces in Glasgow, The Distillery is the place to be for freelancers, start-ups and creatives from all backgrounds. Part of The Whisky Bond, a seven-floor creative hub on the banks of the Glasgow Canal, it offers remote workers 24/7 access to one of the most exciting creative hubs in Scotland.
“We house a thriving community of artists, designers, photographers, cultural producers and software developers,” their Community Manager Finni tells us. “The variety and creativity of our coworkers generates a wonderful atmosphere to work in. We host monthly socials as a chance to chat, network and to be inspired by other freelancers.”
The Distillery’s neighbours also include National Theatre of Scotland, The Glue Factory arts venue and Glasgow Wake Park. So whether you fancy catching an exhibition or trying some urban wakeboarding on your lunch break, this cultural hotspot has got you covered.
Flour Mill Dundee
Huge windows, high ceilings, warm wooden flooring and plenty of lush plants…sounds like a dream workspace, right? If you’re looking for a co-working space in the east of Scotland, Flour Mill Dundee can offer all that and more. Set inside one of the city’s many 19th century industrial buildings, this old mill has been beautifully restored as a bright and modern workspace.
Whether you’re looking for collaboration in the open-plan Business Lounge, or a moment of quiet inspiration at your own desk, Flour Mill Dundee has three separate membership options and a range of community events to get involved in. Its central location makes it ideal for exploring Dundee’s cultural quarter, including the V&A Dundee and Dundee Contemporary Arts, not to mention the range of independent eateries to try on nearby Exchange Street. Dreamy indeed!
PULSE @ Heart of Hawick
If simplicity is your top priority when it comes to finding a co-working space, then PULSE @ Heart of Hawick could be the spot for you. Their mission is to create a professional but flexible workspace, where you can simply “book your spot, turn up and plug in”. Their hot desking offer starts from a super-affordable £50 per month and you’ll be working from one of the main cultural hubs in the Scottish Borders.
As well as your standard offering of speedy wifi, plenty of desk space and kitchen access, hot desking at PULSE also gives you discount at the Heart of Hawick café, bookable meeting rooms and an invite to their weekly networking event, the Friday Fix. Not to mention the range of theatre, cinema and live music right on your doorstep. Fancy unwinding after a day at your laptop with a film or a gig? PULSE @ Heart of Hawick is the place to do just that.
CodeBase Stirling
Stirling might be best known for its dramatic cliff-top castle and winding cobbled streets, but it’s also home to CodeBase Stirling, central Scotland’s top hub for the tech community. It’s also the ideal spot for some co-working in a vibrant and welcoming space.
“CodeBase Stirling is a great place for people of all sectors to come to hotdesk and meet our community of tech fanatics and creatives,” says Community Manager Lauren McLachlan. “Our space is open to everyone whether you need a change from working from home, starting your own business or interested in tech startups.”
Even if you’re not working in tech, there are lots of benefits to immersing yourself in a different working environment like CodeBase Stirling. “Overall we work to have an open and inclusive space,” says Lauren. “This ethos carries over into our events, keeping them more informal and inviting so everyone feels they can take up space in tech.”
Perth Creative Exchange
“Perth Creative Exchange is unique,” explains Danny Pollitt from Wasps Studios. ”It is the tenants that give each studio complex life and its own personality.” One of 20 Wasps Studios sites across Scotland, Perth Creative Exchange has gone from strength to strength since opening in 2019. If you’re looking for a diverse workspace where you’ll be rubbing shoulders with artists, charities, students and social entreprises, Perth Creative Exchange can offer you just that.
As well as studio space and hot desking, it’s also home to the Famous Grouse Ideas Centre, a business incubator that supports entrepreneurs at all stages of their business journeys. “Perth Creative Exchange is one of the first centres of its kind in central Scotland,” says Danny. “It has embraced the region’s spirit of creation, whilst inviting others to use the available spaces and facilities. Perth Creative Exchange is well placed to be a must visit attraction on anyone’s list.”
WorkSpace Highland
Imagine looking up from your laptop and out over the dramatic mountain landscape of the Cairngorms. That’s exactly what you can do at WorkSpace Highland, a co-working space near Aviemore that really puts the remote in remote working. Set in the pretty Inverduie House, WorkSpace Highland’s mix of meeting rooms and co-working facilities are perfect for anyone looking for a community space in a countryside setting.
Nearby neighbours include pony pals at Strathspey Highland Ponies and the stunning Rochiemurchus Estate, which is ideal for elevating your daily Hot Girl Walk. It’s safe to say that its romantic castles and woodland walks are way more inspiring than your usual stomp around the block.
