Private offices, coworking and meeting rooms in Finland

If the idea of working in an igloo seems too extreme, don't panic. In Finland, the trend is towards coworking rather than chasing ice floes to telework. Coworking spaces are springing up as fast as birch trees on the shores of Helsinki. Flexibility, inclusive services worthy of a Finnish three-star hotel (coffee, wifi and sometimes even a sauna): everything is designed to make you forget the classic office and its drab cups. Focus on the coworking market in Finland, where you can swap the noisy open space for Scandinavian calm, with the option of a meeting room or private office depending on your mood... or budget.

Why is coworking so popular in Finland?

The interminable winter might explain the Finnish taste for cosy interiors, but there's more to it than that. Finland, a land of innovation and companies that dream big, is now a fan of shared offices. With the spectacular rise in flexible office space, small start-ups and big names alike have found a shoe to fit (or a slipper to fit their sitting posture).

We're seeing this migration towards corpoworking - a revisited version of coworking where entire companies rent turnkey offices. Employees benefit from an active professional community, without having to put up with capricious air-conditioning or a colleague who's a champion of the coffee machine... well, almost. Flexibility is the name of the game, as each employee can choose an office rental to suit his or her needs and time commitments, while avoiding the hassle of traditional long-term leases.

Finland's big cities, a coworking paradise

It's hard to talk about Finnish coworking without mentioning Helsinki, Turku or Tampere. These three star cities have become life-size laboratories for new ways of working. On almost every street corner, you'll find coworking spaces that rival each other in terms of inclusive services, from industrial decor to Instagram-perfect Hygge ambience.

Even in regions such as Lapland or South Karelia, digital nomads and freelancers enjoy private offices and meeting rooms conducive to Nordic productivity. Why stay at home watching the snow fall when you can have an impromptu networking session and break the routine with a surprise business event?

Helsinki: capital of the flexible workplace

In Helsinki, coworking is a way of life. Workstations can be booked as easily as a streetcar ticket. Offers are constantly evolving, alternating between monthly subscriptions, flat-rate daily rates or packages that can be adjusted to suit the team. Of course, all these shared offices offer their share of included services: fast wifi (thanks to Finnish 5G), coffee worthy of a bearded barista, printers, privacy boxes and connected meeting rooms, ideal for avoiding awkward Zoom meetings from the family kitchen.

The professional community plays a central role here. Newcomers, local entrepreneurs or employees of international companies, all find answers to their questions atevents and networking sessions organized on a regular basis. Everyone ends up knowing the first name of the person in charge of "services included", so indispensable are they to everyday life.

Turku and Tampere: creative alternatives to a dynamic center

Turku, a university town, is home to a flourishing number of coworking spaces, like cocoons for restless brains. Shared workshops are home to tele-networks and crazy ideas, while meeting rooms are regularly squatted by teams who come to brainstorm over homemade vegan cookies. The sector hasn't forgotten turnkey office rental either, for local companies keen to grow without constraints. This formula is very popular, as it allows the premises to be adapted as the team grows or changes project.

Tampere relies more on flexible spaces and a mix of profiles. Weaned from solitude, consultants and employees enjoy a stimulating environment, far from the anonymity of conventional business centers. Community events punctuate the week, ensuring that no one slips under the comforter to hibernate without trying their luck at the local speed-networking.

What services can you find in Finnish coworking spaces?

These days, shared offices offer much more than just a wifi connection and three electrical sockets. The official menu includes top-of-the-range coffee machines, designer meeting rooms, secure lockers, showers, a Zen lounge (for meditating after a tough video) and even a panoramic terrace in Helsinki, weather permitting - i.e., every other Thursday morning.

An (almost) non-exhaustive list of the services usually included:

• ultra-fast wifi, ready to handle eight simultaneous Team meetings without a hitch
• unlimitedcoffee, tea and snacks worthy of a Nordic brunch
• color printer, scanner and express delivery of supplies
• meeting rooms equipped with interactive screens
• designer relaxation areas that can be transformed into impromptu music stages
• regular events and networking so you don't fall asleep on the mouse
• secure access, lockers and flexible "private office" options

And because more is always more, some sites add sauna, rooftop or electric bikes. Others focus on calm, subtly reminding us that Finland remains a master in the art of not disturbing its neighbors during a crucial videoconference.

Corpoworking or flexible renting: how to choose?

Underneath their casual exterior, coworking spaces are no joke when it comes to flexibility. Two major trends are emerging on the corporate side. Some companies prefer tailor-made office rentals: a team of fresh ideas can be more motivating around a table soccer table than in front of Auntie Ginette's photocopier. The possibility of moving from a shared workstation to a private office over the months brings a new level of comfort.

As for corpoworking, it provides a pragmatic answer to the real-estate headache. Companies, start-ups or departments just starting out can migrate together to a dedicated space, rent shared services à la carte, modulate the number of workstations or add a meeting room as required. This formula is very popular with managers weary of the untenable promises of a traditional commercial lease.

And there's nothing to stop you combining formulas, as most spaces offer daily, weekly or monthly rentals. So you can order your flexibility à la carte, depending on the season, internal project, social network call or simple need for a change of scenery. In short, everything becomes an excuse to explore the Finnish coworking jungle and its colorful offices.

Comparison of coworking spaces on the Finnish market

To find your way through this maze of offerings - and avoid choosing a workstation wedged between the kitchenette and the emergency exit - there's nothing like a clear picture. Here are a few key differences between the different types ofcoworking space in Finland:

Finding your way around is like a winter sport, but those who like to be on the move will appreciate the modularity offered by Finland. Options abound, whether you prefer to code in isolation under the pastel neon lights, or get involved in the professional community to boost your address book.

In all cases, simplicity reigns supreme: all solutions promise a turnkey office that can be booked and cancelled as easily as a ticket to a group sauna, for a definitively Nordic work experience.