Currently, I work as a freelancer helping businesses grow by creating user centred software services. Due to the nomad nature of contracting and need to socialise with peers I booked an appointment at WeWork Aldgate, London. This article describes my rather weird experience in exploring WeWork as my new office.
Booking a tour at WeWork is straight forward
Select a day, time & location on their website — done! You’ll receive a generic email confirming the meeting. For some reason I received another personal welcome mail containing the same information this morning. On arrival at Aldgate Tower, I follow the steps outlined in the mail:
“check in with the building receptionist, head up to the 4th floor and ask for xxxxx at the front desk”
Enter the WeWork building
I’ll head to the general reception of Aldgate Tower as many companies don’t have a designated front-desk in shared office buildings. Registration is required due to “Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999”. It requires building managers to log the visitors name, time of arrival/leaving and the company name. You’ll receive a guest pass that needs to be returned before leaving and all is good. Not in this case.
The reception
After I provided my name and mission to the receptionist she looked at me and said I am not booked in the system. I’ll need to use the WeWork app to book myself in order to get in. — Huh?
I tell her that I am a prospective WeWork member and not sure why I need to get an app and book myself for the tour. I already booked the tour on the website, right?
So I showed her the two confirmation emails I have received, please note that in each email I shall meet different contacts -why?, and she says:
“This is an email but you need to get booked on the system to get in. You must call your contact to be put on the system.”
So simple is that — written in her eyes. Im dazzled.
No offer to call the WeWork office. Nothing.
I always understood that is what receptionists do.
Making sense
Something ordinary that worked for me across London for years just got complicated. Apparently, I need to book myself on the WeWork system, need the WeWork app or test my luck with the phone numbers in the confirmation mails. So I decided to leave.
Expecting WeWork to follow up with me due to my no show
Yes. This phone call happened 47 minutes later:
“Hey Sebastian, this is Raquel from WeWork, you’re booked for an appointment today. Are you going to make it?”
I told the lady that I wasn’t allowed in. She apologised and said this shouldn’t have happened and that she is going to speak with the reception. If I want to reschedule she asked. I agreed to the same time tomorrow as I already booked tours at 3 other WeWork offices in the meantime.
Are all WeWork offices as difficult to enter?
I wanted to find out if other WeWork offices will give me a similar experience. Before generalising my feedback across all London’s WeWork office I had to cross-check with other offices to put it in perspective. Nevertheless, at the end it’s like in wildlife — the first impression counts!
WeWork Moorgate, Spitalfields & Devonshire Place
Finding the Moorgate building wasn’t as simple as I expected. It’s hidden in a huge building between the office blocks of Moorgate and the Barbican. Anyway, entering the building finding a dedicated WeWork reception on the ground floor. Yay!
“Welcome to WeWork. Who are you going to see?”
Well, that’s a nice welcome. I was asked what kind of room I am interested in — hot desk, dedicated desk or private office. Next question required me to state my job role and what industry I am working in.
Please grab free tea or water and have a seat…
Five minutes later a lady approached me by name and confirmed my answers I had given at the reception. A short introduction to WeWork while sitting on the sofa. Followed by a walk to the 4th floor showing me available desks to my preference. Finally, showing the 9th floor with the community space and grand city view. Stories about social events, marketing pop-up stands and general utilities e.g. printing, book a meeting room and phone booths were answered. After 15 minutes everything was over and she asked if I have any more questions and when I would like to start. Last comment was that she will follow up via email and then goodbye.
The other two offices I visited offered the same routine, covering the same topics and total timing of about 20 minutes.
Conclusion
It was easy to uplift the experience I had earlier today. The summary will focus on general points that are interesting to me as prospective member. Contact with WeWorkers felt professional and welcoming.
Every tour featured the basic information that I already knew from the website e.g. printer credits, package handling and desk options. The real deal is to actually see the desk options in real, get a feel of the space, the people around and air quality in the office. I would certainly not just book a hot desk option as the lunch menu of many people stuck around in the room.
WeWork services
A very important part of the tour seemed to be around the extra WeWork services that are provided by partners that can be booked or consumed on marketing desks placed in the community areas. My first thought: I am here to work and not getting distracted by marketing stalls, in this case facial balm products.
Community — is the feeling that is transported at all time. New member lunch, business events, workshops, free food, free draft beer, ping pong, Friday parties and so on. I would have liked to get a glimpse into the actual community website/app to get a better idea what I can expect. Could the meeting offering change my decision which office to join?
Update: On my visit of the Aldgate office I actually got a demo of the community website and all my questions were answered by the fabulous community manager Rachel!
Do WeWork office have a industry focus?
The website states that WeWork is for everyone but walking through 3 locations I gained the impression that each had a non-intentional focus e.g. Spitalfields = finance focussed; Moorgate = insurance focussed. Knowing this might be of advantage for prospects to understand if they fit well. I believe this focus is due on the proximity of specific businesses in the surrounding area.
WeWork a truly global office?
Really, interesting to me is the fact that WeWork is a global company. Having the potential to have an office wherever I need one. I could gather very little detail in how to use my membership in various offices. You can book meeting rooms easily across London but it’s generally not appreciated if people use other offices too frequent. This is probably due to different pricing. It would be great to have an overview that describes to which extend my membership entitles me to roam around — that’s what I do and really looking for.
All in all the WeWork concept of global collaborative working is great. I had a bad start this morning but later I visited good looking, albeit busy offices that are in convenient reach for my clients and myself. Just make sure you find ways to handle the welcome experience in places with no designated reception operated by WeWork — first impression counts. Update: I’ll probably join WeWork Aldgate nevertheless. The atmosphere was the best.
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