Reasons To Make West London Your Next Flexible Workspace Home

London is home to some of the capital’s most progressive start-ups and for good reason. As X+Why open up their latest modern development in the leafy heart of Chiswick, West London, we explore some of the reasons that moving Westwards could help your business find its true North today.

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West London office space has become a hub for entrepreneurs in the creative, media, product and technology sectors alike, with leading names such as Graze, Not On The High Street and Brompton Bikes all choosing to base their headquarters in this prime location - and they are not alone, with NOMIS figures suggesting that the West end is home to the second largest number of micro businesses and start-ups in the capital.

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Richmond and Chiswick have become a central location for fast-growth companies and established firms with over 5,000 businesses including Kodak, Ladbrokes, eBay, PayPal and the Securitas Group - mostly due to their good transport links into central London and attractive suburban surroundings.

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In terms of commercial footfall, West London co-working options also take the crown for having one of the highest densities of shops and shopping centres nearby, with Chiswick adding its own style of charm to the mix by boasting an extensive array of high street gems amongst contemporary design and industrial heritage.

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Top Talent

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West London has long been a fantastic area in which to live, work and play. Its leafy, suburban lifestyle is excellent for families, meanwhile its key economic drivers for businesses include one of the world’s biggest airports, Heathrow, the ‘Golden Mile’ and Sky’s creative cluster environment.

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West London has a large number of qualified workers with 50.2% in possession of NVQ Level 4 qualifications and above. Accessing this talent may be slightly more costly than if you started your business in the East, South or North of the capital as average weekly salaries are higher.

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In terms of accessing graduate talent, West London is also home to several well regarded universities including Brunel University and Kingston University and Kingston University also acts as a good resource for new businesses as it offers services to start and grow enterprises ranging from consultancy and research to facilities and equipment hire. In Hillingdon, Uxbridge College offers cost effective ways to hire apprentices or train staff.

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The eclectic mix of creative types remains strong in West London, with 41 new start-ups said to be operational per sq km across the region. Almost a quarter (23%) of all enterprises in West London are less than two years old, so there is no better place in the capital to find a community of like-minded entrepreneurs to be inspired by.

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Stellar Support

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There are many initiatives in West London to help start-ups both access talent and grow their business including Wembley Works in Brent which connects businesses with local people looking for work and Hammersmith and Fulham's Workzone, National Skills Academy which offers recruitment and training support to new and growing businesses. Brunel College also connects firms with students and is part of the Knowledge Transfer Partnership; a government-funded scheme that facilitates the transfer of knowledge from academia into business.

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In terms of accelerators and incubators, start-up entrepreneurs can access the Petit Miracle Hub which is an incubator/pop-up area with space for up to 20 local business owners at Shepherd's Bush West 12 centre. X+why also offer a range of flexible workspace options and co-working that provides members with access to an extensive network of purpose-driven businesses alongside events, networking opportunities and access to support such as applying for B Corporation certification.

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West London is also home to a wider array of business-friendly events, for example in Harrow budding entrepreneurs can pitch their business idea in ‘Harrow's Business Den' event to win a support package provided by Harrow in Business which also provides mentoring, advice and training. Hillingdon's Chamber of Commerce and Richmond Chamber of Commerce offer networking events for businesses across a series of business-related topics and in Hammersmith and Fulham a new business club has just launched which offers free monthly sessions and seminars on areas such as creating a website, SEO, and getting exposure.

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If you're looking to business libraries for resources and support, Richmond has a Reference Library which offers start-ups guides and business directories and it also offers its Complete Business Reference Adviser (COBRA) service which is free to Richmond Library members.

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Quality Over Quantity

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Basing yourself in a West London office space could improve your quality of life and living. According to latest Land Registry statistics, average house prices for West London are far cheaper than Central London, City of London and Tech City. West London is incredibly stimulating for the senses and features an irresistible mix of history, the arts and live entertainment.

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For things to do outside of business, West London has a wealth of parks, theatres, venues and bars and restaurants to suit all types. In terms of music, the area is host to Hammersmith Apollo in Shepherd's Bush and Wembley Arena while for those that love the theatre, Hillingdon has four venues; the Beck Theatre, the Compass Theatre, Winston Churchill Theatre and the Open Air Theatre while Richmond is well known for its Richmond Theatre adjacent to the much-loved Richmond Park

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Markets are a common attraction in West London and Richmond holds a Riverside artisan market every Sunday and a farmers' market in Heron Square on Saturdays, Kingston also has a daily market and as a young town it also boasts its fair share of nightclubs; Pryzm, Hippodrome and McClusky’s are three popular student favourites.

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Community Culture

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Given London’s density, it can often be a little difficult to find a like-minded community to call home. Passion and inspiration is where it all begins. Start-ups are innovative by nature, and rely on creative fuel to sustain their life-blood, particularly in the early years. It's therefore vital that they're incubated in an environment that doesn't stifle the flames. Traditional office spaces leave little to the imagination. Returning to the same cubicle every day is hardly reward enough for the commute.

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On the other hand, working from home can be isolating and without discipline, may encourage unhealthy routines. The compromise of café hopping offers novelty and choice, but often lacks the necessary facilities and equipment, particularly for tasks requiring greater attention and focus.

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A co-working space presents the perfect solution. Marrying the best of the office, with the autonomy of working close to home, and the vibrant atmosphere of a creative's café. Co-working spaces house some of the most exciting and inventive companies and employees alike. Meaning you'll never be short of enthusiasm, inspiration and energy when showing up to create.

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Put simply, it’s a no-brainer to set up in business within one of the world’s most dynamic regional economies. With fantastic green environments in which to live and work, a culturally and ethnically diverse population, rapidly advancing connectivity both in terms of transport and digitally, it’s an area that’s working hard to maintain its global economic competitiveness.

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