Flexible workspace provider Orbit Spaces is offering affordable coworking memberships to startups and small teams across the North West. The company runs coworking space in Manchester, Stockport, Bolton and Warrington. Its newest space has opened at 55 King Street in Manchester city centre. Orbit says small businesses increasingly want a professional base without the commitment of a lease.
That demand is easy to understand. Most small businesses start at a kitchen table, and it works until the team reaches four or five. A conventional lease then asks for a long commitment, a deposit and fit-out costs, plus a guess at next year's headcount. Flexible coworking space memberships remove that problem, with access sold per person, per month and no long tie-in.
"Orbit Spaces has always set out to raise the standard of meeting and collaboration spaces, delivering a high-quality, design-led product at a more accessible price point than many premium providers," a spokesperson for Orbit Spaces said. The company describes the result as an alternative that bridges the gap between traditional serviced offices and high-end workspace brands.
What the membership includes
Orbit coworking memberships cover far more than a desk. Members get high-speed wifi, phone and Zoom booths, and access to the communal hub areas at each site. They also receive discounted rates on meeting rooms in the same building, which suits teams needing a proper room twice a month rather than every day.
Members can bring in up to one visitor, which changes how small teams meet clients. An awkward coffee shop catch-up becomes a professional conversation in a modern workspace on a recognised Manchester street. For young businesses competing against larger, better-known suppliers, that impression carries weight. Candidates invited to interview also arrive somewhere central and easy to reach.
Spotlight: New Manchester coworking space
Orbit's newest coworking space has opened at 55 King Street, one of Manchester's best-known commercial streets. The space is modern and recently fitted, on the same membership terms as Orbit's other sites. It gives a small team a prestigious city centre base without taking on a city centre lease. Clients and candidates alike reach it easily by train, tram or on foot.
"It's really important to us to create spaces that local businesses, and our existing clients, can both make use of," the spokesperson said. "This expansion into the city centre of Manchester, in the prestigious building of 55 King Street, gives us just that."
Demand drove the expansion. "Since opening our first meeting room at 55 King Street, we have seen demand from Manchester-based businesses grow steadily and significantly," the spokesperson said. At peak times, some customers could not secure space when they needed it. The site now adds coworking desks, a collaborative lounge and a multi-purpose event venue alongside its meeting rooms.
Community as part of the offer
Orbit also points to the social side of coworking as a draw for small teams. Members share a building with other businesses at a similar stage, which home working and coffee shops cannot offer. The company runs periodic and seasonal events, along with member discounts, to help those introductions happen. Founders who have spent years working alone tend to value that most.
There is a recruitment argument too. Younger employees in particular often dislike permanent home working. Somewhere to go, with people to see, makes a small employer more appealing.
Orbit describes King Street as its most comprehensive hybrid model so far. "We are highly confident in the product and, if successful, plan to continue expanding across the North West of England," the spokesperson said. The stated aim is a connected network of flexible, design-led workspaces.
Orbit Spaces offers affordable coworking memberships across Manchester, Stockport, Bolton and Warrington. Teams wanting to try a site first can book a coworking day pass before committing to a membership.
