A perennial problem for freelancers and contractors is where to locate their business. The main options are a home office, a shared office or coworking space, or a dedicated office. While the latter is usually preferable (especially for those looking to grow their businesses), it is also the most expensive option.
There was a ray of hope for premises-seeking freelancers yesterday when David Cameron announced that the Government would be offering up its vast inventory of vacant office buildings to small businesses and entrepreneurs at subsidised rates, making a dedicated office space suddenly a more realistic proposition.
The Government will be offering up 300 office spaces that it says are currently under-used at a low rent for one year. Not only will the scheme help those on the hunt for bargain office space, it will generate some much-needed income for the Treasury.
Cameron said of the plans:
“The British government has a huge stock of buildings at our disposal. The first priority for the ones we are not using is to sell them off but, in the meantime, many are going to be sitting idle. So let’s match the capacity we have got with the need that is out there.
“Let’s provide office space where we can to those who can use it.”
However there was no mention of what will happen when the yearlong rental scheme comes to an end. Will the entrepreneurs and small firms involved simply be turfed out, or will they be allowed to remain paying full rent? Lets hope the scheme proves more successful than the Government’s abortive National Insurance Holidays.
