Business News

Tue Feb 18

Choosing the Right Coworking Space For Your Business

Written by Sarah Williams

As the capital of Victoria in Australia, Melbourne is inhabited by millions of people and is known as one of the most liveable cities in the world. The latter is due to the city’s diverse community, affordable healthcare, and economic opportunities. Melbourne is also considered an excellent place to start a business because of its rapid growth as a global city and transparent regulations.

In today’s modern business world, coworking has become more popular for entrepreneurs and business people who enjoy working collaboratively in a shared space. Coworking spaces have boomed in popularity since they provide a different atmosphere from regular offices and help people build a sense of community.

Finding the right coworking space in Melbourne will significantly benefit your work productivity and motivation. Aside from this, there are also practical benefits to coworking spaces. If your line of work doesn’t need a large office, then being able to rent only the space you need will help you save on costs. Not all coworking spaces are the same, however, so you have to consider several factors once you start your search.

Location

Similar to finding an office space, you also have to consider the location of your coworking space. Generally, it will be helpful to get a place that is easily accessible and easy to find. Make sure to find a place that is near transportation terminals or stops, so you or your workers will not have a hard time with the commute.

You may also want to look for a place that is near restaurants, cafes, or lifestyle places to help with day-to-day activities. Having a space near gyms or parks may promote a more active lifestyle in your workplace.

Size and Layout

Size is critical in any workspace because you want to make sure you have enough space for employees to work comfortably and for business operations to run smoothly. At the same time, the layout and design of your coworking space should suit your needs and your brand. For instance, if you want a more private space, then you will need to allocate a bigger space per employee.

Membership Fees

If you are trying to cut costs by getting a coworking space in Melbourne, you have to be wary about the membership fees and the inclusions. See to it that there are no hidden costs that may cause you to spend more, especially since some places may charge you additional fees for access to amenities like the kitchen, meeting rooms, and others.

If you are already well-versed with the coworking environment and are willing to commit to a more extended period, you can get it at a cheaper fee. Many places offer discounts if you can sign a contract for a longer period, such as 12 months. If you are new to coworking, however, it will help to start by getting a feel of the space you choose before committing to an extensive period.

Amenities

Having the right facilities may impact your line of work or your company’s culture. Most spaces will have basic amenities like bathrooms and a few kitchen supplies, but others have evolved to become more than just places to work. You may now find some areas that have nap pods, which may be handy for your workers’ lifestyles.

There are quite a few companies that allow you to share your workspace, like Altitude Cowork- a coworking space in Melbourne. In Australia, 60% of the coworking spaces leased in 2015 were found within the central districts of Melbourne and Sydney. This number can be attributed to the fact that employees are now looking for more flexible working environments and moving away from the mainstream office space. As a response, organisations are also jumping in the bandwagon to boost productivity within the workplace.

Mon Feb 10

What Should You Expect from A Carpentry Apprenticeship?

Written by News Company

Those wanting to pursue a career in woodwork, whether it be to make furniture, construct buildings or repair existing wooden structures, will have to first commence a carpentry apprenticeship. This is how you’ll be able to learn all of the skills necessary to manage all of these woodworking occupations and more and become a qualified carpenter. Then, once you have some mastery over your carpentry skills, you’ll be able to share your knowledge with carpentry apprentices of your own! But what does a carpentry apprenticeship involve, exactly? We’ve compiled a few important points to give you a good idea of just what it is you’ll be getting into in these apprenticeships.

The first steps involved in a carpentry apprenticeship

No matter whether you’re a carpentry apprentice in Melbourne, Sydney or Darwin, a carpentry apprenticeship is more or less the same. As an apprentice, you’ll experience a good combination of on-the-job training with a highly skilled professional carpenter, along with structured learning with a registered education provider. This provider will depend on where in Australia you are based. A carpentry apprenticeship usually takes the form of a Certificate III in Carpentry, and it is this certificate that will reflect the core knowledge you must have as a carpenter. This knowledge will be made up of important skills and technical knowledge about the industry standard equipment you will be required to use and the common hands-on processes involved with being a carpenter. There are no prerequisites involved when undertaking this certificate, but those who want a broader view of the construction and building industry may choose to take a pre-apprenticeship, such as Certificate II in Building and Construction. A carpentry apprenticeship will typically take three years to complete full-time, with 30 compulsory classes to attend each year.

What do carpentry apprentices do day-to-day?

One of the great things about being a carpentry apprentice is the sheer amount of variety involved every single day. It’s a healthy combination of hands-on work, the opportunity to build interesting structures regularly and, above all, the opportunity to do this with like-minded people. Tasks that a carpentry apprentice will commonly engage with include reading construction blueprints, measuring, cutting and assembling different kinds of wood, deciding which timber to use depending on the circumstances, crafting furniture including tables, chairs and cabinets, fitting exterior wall claddings and window frames, and repairing and making alterations to damaged structures. Although a lot of the apprenticeship will feel like learning, the beauty of an apprenticeship is that you also get paid to do it! An apprentice’s wage can vary greatly depending on the circumstance, but it can range from $22,665 – $47,012 per year in Australia, with earnings typically increasing over the course of the apprenticeship. To find out more, visit Keen 2 Work.

Take the plunge to become a carpenter!

In three short years, and after learning a significant amount of fascinating information, you yourself will be a full qualified carpenter (and will be earning the wage of one too!). As a qualified carpenter, you can then decide on the kind of carpentry career you’d like to pursue, whether you’d like to work as part of a company, or whether you’d like to be your own boss. The decision is completely up to you! No matter what you choose to do though, you’ll have a foundation that will make you highly desired in the building and construction industry.