While we’re all pretty confident that 2021 will be better than 2020, there is still uncertainty around returning ‘back to normal’. Will we feel safe enough to travel on a plane? Are we comfortable enough to attend a sold-out concert, or celebrate a holiday at a crowded bar? Those answers will vary for each of us, based on our own personal circumstances and experiences, but when we look at normalcy in regards to the workplace, where do we stand?
What does a new-normal look like?
Here in Western Australia, the majority of us have gone back to the office. However, it’s not the same office that it once was. This ‘new-normal’ demands increased flexibility, with a greater focus on wellness and a need for human interaction. With so many of us forced to work remotely for a large portion of 2020, employers and business owners have noticed an upward trend in productivity, resulting in them no longer needing a traditional office space, with a long-term lease.
Experts predict this year will see the increasing presence of a hybrid working week model where employees work some days each week in the office and some days from home. We’ve already started to notice this trend taking shape across our CBD spaces, with many teams on a rotating schedule for working within the office. Piers Higgs, CEO at Gaia Resources believes that the future of work for his team will focus on this hybrid strategy. “Our workspace is becoming more of a hybrid of people working from home, and coming into the office space to collaborate and to meet with clients.”
The benefits of embracing the future
When we look back on the challenges of last year, it’s important that we also notice how these unprecedented times pushed us out of our comfort zones. We were forced to rethink your strategies, and find new ways to survive. By embracing these changes, we’ve been able to step into the future of work much sooner than anticipated.
Here at Spacecubed, we have been working closely with government and local facilitators to assist business owners in preparing for the future. Through our regional arm, Meshpoints, we worked with 72 individuals in 2020 to deliver our free #AdaptDontStop workshops, as well as supported 67 business owners through Your Business Digital, a new program we launched to assist business owners go digital.
In our flagship programs, She Codes and Plus Eight, we saw incredible growth throughout some of the most challenging times of the year, as individuals continued to adapt and learn new skills. With She Codes launching two brand new courses, in addition to running their six month programs, one week tech taster and one day workshops, they were able to reach over 1,000 women in 2020 alone. And Plus Eight? The 2020 cohort saw The Ladies' Project double their paid user member base in six months and gain further investment from BetterLabs, DiGii Social won a range of awards while still in testing phase and Matter secured their first overseas contract in the midst of a travel ban.
So, what’s to come in 2021?
While we can’t predict what the future of this year holds, we’re excited to continue working with business owners, local professionals, industry leaders and the government to support the West Australian ecosystem.
If you’d like to partner with us on a project for 2021, send us an email at info@spacecubed.com to learn more, or click here to book a free tour of our spaces and discover why a new hybrid way of working is being approached by business owners across the globe.
