The Covid-19 pandemic has prompted a shift towards home and remote-working. Between 2019 and 2022, it is estimated that the number of homeworkers doubled to 9.9 million, accounting for almost a quarter of workers in rural areas. As the number of people working from home has increased, so too has the demand for coworking spaces, largely driven by businesses and workers rethinking their working practices.
As well as offering shared work environments and meeting spaces, these co-working spaces may offer opportunities for users to interact with each other, network and generate new business ideas. They can help improve work-life balance, minimise commuting times, reduce the sense of isolation associated with remote-working and help strengthen the sense of identity within rural communities.