International Women’s Day

Hannah joined One Hub in September 2022, following an expansion of the organisation in a newly created role as Operations Manager. Hannah has previous experience of working within the co-working industry and here she gives us an insight into One Hub and her role…

What is One Hub?

One Hub is a shared workspace provider located in Southend. The City’s entrepreneurial community is thriving, and we provide a home for small businesses, freelancers, start-ups and those that don’t want to do the long commute or work from home, creating a com munity of co-workers from arrange of different industries.

What does your role as Operations Manager of One Hub involve.

Well, firstly, my job involves people. It’s an all-encompassing role that at the heart of it, is about building relationships and putting the customer first.

You’ll find me out at Networking events and carrying out tours trying to drum up new business but it’s also my job to ensure our existing members are happy, that the space is safe and well presented, all of our facilities are in working order and most importantly the tea and coffee is fully stocked! My aim is to make One Hub a welcoming workspace for the businesses we have operating from here.

How do the different businesses interact in the coworking space?

One of the highlights of my job is seeing our members businesses grow and hearing about their successes. Co-working space’s foster increased collaboration and seeing client collabs within One Hub is so rewarding, whether this be the exchange of services, a spontaneous brainstorming session, sharing advice or working together on projects, this valuable interaction cannot be replicated working alone from home. As a manager of a co-working space, you need more than just a real estate mindset, I see how people and collaboration can add value for any professional or company.

What sort of Companies work from One hub?

Most of our members are freelancers or single entrepreneurs but there are also companies with small teams of 2 to 7 people, our largest office space can accommodate a team of 16. We have companies from creative, tech, charities, employability support, events, finance, sales, marketing  and property industries amongst others.

So the approach for each member is different, depending on their size, industry and their requirements but in general on speaking with our clients they value the social aspect of a coworking space the most, community makes the difference.

What do you see in the future of your role and that of One Hub.

Last year, One Hub underwent an expansion to include serviced offices for rent, so I would love to see more local organisations come onboard and fill the remainder of these units. I want to build more partnerships with outside organisations that can utilise our on-site meeting rooms and run masterclasses and workshops offering practical business support and advice, whether that be financial or marketing advice for example, for our members and the wider business community.

Personally, I want to continue building upon what we have already created over the past 6 months utilising all the skills I have developed so far in this role and previously, so One Hub becomes an established and trusted workspace provider. Also, to continue supporting our amazing members and watch their businesses go from strength to strength.

If you would like to find out more about One Hub, what available workspace options are suitable for your business or for more information about meeting room hire or future events, get in touch with Hannah at [email protected]