Coworking spaces have become increasingly popular over the years, as more people seek flexible and affordable workspaces. These spaces are not only a place to work, but also a community of like-minded individuals who share a passion for innovation, creativity, and collaboration.
Building community and culture within your coworking space can help foster a sense of belonging among members and create a more collaborative and productive work environment. One way to do this is by hosting events.
In this article, we’ll explore why you should host events in your coworking space and share eight event ideas that can help you build community and culture.
Why Host Events in Coworking Spaces?
Hosting events in coworking spaces is a great way to build community and culture. Coworking spaces are unique environments that are designed to foster collaboration and creativity. By hosting events, you can create opportunities for members to connect, learn from each other, and build relationships.
Events also provide a way for members to learn new skills and stay up to date with industry trends. By offering workshops, classes, and other educational events, you can help your members develop new skills and advance their careers.
In addition, events can help promote health and wellness within your coworking space. By offering fitness classes or wellness events, you can encourage your members to prioritize their health and well-being. This can be especially important for millennials, of whom 90% place a high value on work-life balance.
Finally, hosting events can help promote your coworking space and attract new members. By showcasing your coworking space’s unique culture and community, you can differentiate yourself from other coworking spaces in the area and attract new members looking for a collaborative and creative environment.
8 Event Ideas for Your Coworking Space
1. Networking Events
Networking events are a great way to bring members together and help them build relationships. A monthly networking event where members can meet each other, exchange business cards, and learn more about each other’s businesses is perfect for this. You can also invite guest speakers to share their expertise on a specific topic related to your members’ industries or niches.
2. Lunch and Learns
Lunch and learns are a popular event format in coworking spaces. They’re a great way to provide valuable information to members while also encouraging them to connect. Host a monthly lunch and learn where members can bring their meals and learn from a guest speaker or participate in a group discussion on a specific topic.
3. Happy Hours
Happy hours are a fun and casual way to bring members together and build community. Consider hosting a monthly happy hour where members can enjoy drinks and snacks and network. You can also partner with local bars or restaurants to offer discounts to your members.
4. Workshops and Classes
Who doesn’t love learning new skills? Hosting workshops and classes is a great way to provide value to your members and help them develop new skills in their industry or niche. You can also invite guest speakers or industry experts to lead the workshop or class.
5. Volunteer Days
Volunteering is excellent for building connections and giving back to the local community. Consider hosting a quarterly or bi-annual volunteer day where members can come together to volunteer at a local nonprofit or community organization. Not only will this help build community within your coworking space, but it will also help your members develop a sense of purpose and social responsibility.
6. Game Nights
Game nights are a fun and casual way to bring members together and build community. Try hosting a monthly game night where members can play board games, card games, or video games. You can also offer prizes or discounts to the winners.
7. Fitness Classes
Host a weekly or monthly fitness class to promote health and wellness within your coworking space. Great ideas are yoga or Pilates, but you can also organize something more fun, like Zumba classes.
8. Pop-Up Shops and Markets
Pop-up shops and markets are a great way to showcase local businesses and entrepreneurs. Consider hosting a quarterly or bi-annual pop-up shop or market where members can showcase and sell their products or services. This will not only help build community within your coworking space but also help support local businesses and entrepreneurs.
Tips for Hosting Successful Events in Coworking Spaces
Hosting events in coworking spaces can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it can also be challenging. Here are some tips to help you host successful events:
1. Plan Ahead
Make sure to plan your events well in advance to give yourself plenty of time to prepare. Create a timeline and a checklist to help you stay organized and on track.
2. Promote Your Events
Don’t forget to promote your events through your website, social media channels, and email newsletters. You can also partner with other local businesses or organizations to help spread the word.
3. Provide Value
Keep in mind that all of your events should provide value to your members. Offer workshops, classes, and other educational events relevant to their industries or niches. Consider offering discounts or other incentives to members who attend your events.
4. Encourage Participation
Make sure to encourage participation in your events. Create opportunities for members to connect and participate in group activities. Consider offering prizes or giveaways to encourage participation.
5. Have Fun
Finally, make sure to have fun! Hosting events in coworking spaces should be an enjoyable experience for both you and your members, so don’t forget to keep things entertaining.
Wrapping Up
Hosting events is an effective way to build community and culture in your coworking space. Whether you’re hosting networking events, lunch and learns, happy hours, pop-up shops, or others, events provide a platform for members to connect, collaborate, and learn from each other.
By following the tips in this article and leveraging the resources available on Coworker.com, you can plan and host successful events that will help your members feel more connected, engaged, and productive.
