Manchester’s coolest coworking space – which comes with a Michelin-trained chef in the cafe – has a beautiful new office space up for grabs that offers the best of both worlds.
Use.Space’s brand new office within its building near Piccadilly is the perfect size for a small local business looking to take that little step up from hot-desking.
The space has room for six staff and is decorated in sunny yellow, with designer wallpaper and tonnes of natural light.
And while it comes with a door you can actually shut for some privacy, it’s right in the heart of Use.Space’s creative hub.
Other spaces in Use.Space’s Manchester office. Credit: The Manc Group
That means that you have access to all the facilities on offer, from the cafe (with food from Michelin-trained chef Laurie Curtis, of Manchester Pasta Co) to the Business Support Programme, where you can speak to experts in all sorts of industries for advice and guidance – while still having the peace and quiet and dedicated space needed to run a business.
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The dog-friendly building, just an eight minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly (but with free car parking for those who drive), is broken down into hot desks, private offices, event space, meeting rooms and breakout areas.
The private office space that’s up for grabs at Use.Space. Credit: Supplied
Beyond the six-seater private office set slightly back from the buzz of the coworking space, the spaces at Use.Space include the Mindful Green Room (with a meeting space inside an indoor greenhouse), the Meet-Up Cafe filled with colourful furnishings and plants, and even a ‘Garden of Wonderland’ outdoor space.
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Use.Space was founded in 2019 by Manchester entrepreneur David Walter, who wanted to create a coworking space that was also a community, a hub of information and a business network.
He said of the private office that’s up for rent: “The best of both worlds for you and your team, a stylish private office, in the heart of a thriving coworking community.
“Close your door and you have your own private and well-appointed office for six, with free car parking included. Open your door and you enter an inspirational coworking space with an active business community of SME’s, start-ups and freelancers and access to meeting rooms, breakout spaces, cafe area and kitchen facilities.”
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There’s a choice of memberships available. For more information contact Community Manager Archie Hyndman, email [email protected], call 07712 177701, or visit usespace.co.uk.
Featured image: The Manc Group
Business
Wetherspoons introduces new phone rule at all UK pubs after customers are ‘driven nuts’
Emily Sergeant
JD Wetherspoon has announced a major new phone rule in all its sites across the UK after customers complain of being ‘driven nuts’.
The pub chain – which has nearly 800 branches across the UK – announced earlier this week that it has made the decision to ban people from playing music or videos out of their phones, and from taking calls on loudspeaker.
The ban, which has been introduced effective immediately, follows a rising number of complaints from customers about the noise – with owners saying sounds from smartphones and tablet computers had become an ‘increasing problem’ in recent years.
Wetherspoon founder and chairman, Tim Martin, says he wants Wetherspoon pubs to be ‘an oasis of tranquillity and contemplation’.
Wetherspoons has introduced a new phone rule at all its UK pubs after customers are ‘driven nuts’ / Credit: Allan Rohmer (via Unsplash)
A formal statement from the company announcing the ban reads: “Following complaints from customers, who are being driven nuts by other people’s videos and amplified phone conversations, Wetherspoon has asked customers to switch their phones to silent or to use earphones.”
Tim Martin added: “In order to avoid customers being driven chicken jalfrezi by a cacophony of sound, we are kindly asking phone users to pipe down.”
Wetherspoon’s ban follows a YouGov poll conducted last year questioning public opinion on a proposition made by the Liberal Democrats of introducing fines of up to £1,000 for ‘headphone dodgers’ who play music out loud on buses and trains.
62% of people, on average, said they would back this move if it was introduced.
The poll, which surveyed 6,815 British adults, found that almost three-quarters of those over 65 would support the fines, while those aged between 18 and 24 were split 47% to 43% in favour of it.
Early public reactions to Wetherspoon’s ban appears to be overwhelmingly positive.
Featured Image – Jonathan Borba (via Unsplash)
Business
Trainline and Virgin Atlantic among companies being investigated for ‘misleading’ pricing
Emily Sergeant
A number of companies are currently under investigation for ‘misleading’ pricing practices.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched three new consumer protection investigations into Trainline, Virgin Atlantic, and RED Driving School over concerns that customers were not shown the total price upfront when buying things like train and coach tickets, holidays, or even driving lessons.
The investigations are part of a wider CMA clampdown on misleading pricing practices – in this instance, where mandatory charges are separated from the headline price, or added later in the buying process, which is known as drip pricing.
These practices leave consumers facing ‘unexpected’ costs or having to calculate the so-called true cost themselves.
Such practices can also impact competition between businesses, as a firm using drip pricing may falsely appear to be cheaper than a competitor pricing correctly, and therefore attract more customers.
Trainline and Virgin Atlantic are among the companies being investigated for ‘misleading’ pricing / Credit: Northern | Aric Cheng (via Unsplash)
Trainline is being investigated over whether all mandatory fees have been included in the upfront prices displayed to consumers buying tickets in advance on its app and website, while Virgin Atlantic’s investigation will focus on whether mandatory resort fees and local taxes have been included in the upfront prices shown to customers buying package holidays.
RED Driving School is being investigated over how a mandatory booking fee and ‘digital’ fee have been displayed to people booking driving lessons – specifically whether these fees have been included in the total upfront price.
“At a time when many households are watching every pound they spend, it is important that people are not surprised by extra fees,” commented Emma Cochrane, who is the Executive Director for Consumer Protection at the CMA.
“Clear pricing helps people compare offers confidently and choose the option that works best for them.
“Unexpected mandatory charges make this much harder, which is why the CMA initially put these firms on notice over concerns about their pricing practices and is now opening formal investigations.”
The CMA says it’s at the beginning of its investigations and has reached no conclusions about whether these firms have broken the law.
If it finds there has been an infringement of the law, the CMA can order businesses to pay compensation to affected customers or be charged up to 10% of global turnover.
Daisy Jackson -
13th January 2023 
