Old Broadcasting House and Me
04/11/2010
by: Linda
On our third birthday, our first member Richard Garside talks about his experiences of coworking here.
Just over three years ago I took the morning off work to go to my first Open Coffee networking event. I'd pretty much decided at this point that I was going to leave my job and become a freelance web developer. No one at work knew this. I told them where I was going, but I told them I was just interested in meeting other developers. I certainly didn't tell them that I was hoping that I'd meet some people at Open Coffee who could help me get freelance work.
I didn't meet anyone falling over themselves to offer me a project. This was disappointing, but I did meet a lot of very nice people who gave me lots of encouragement. I also hoped that I was starting to build the connections I would need when and if I did take the plunge to become a freelancer. One of the people I met was Linda Broughton. I told her I was thinking about going freelance and she told me that she was setting up a place for freelancers to work in the old BBC building in Leeds. What a wonderful coincidence.
When I did hand in my notice a few months later I got in touch with Linda and became the first member of theOld Broadcasting House Coworking Space. Most of us just call it OBH now, for short. On the 1st November 2007 I sat down at my desk there to start work on one of my own projects. I didn't have any paying clients yet, but I was sure that I would have soon.
Things were initially a bit quiet at OBH in those early days. There were a few other members but we didn't always come in at the same time and it felt a bit lonely when you were there by yourself. It didn't really feel like a coworking space and I wasn't sure if I would stay.
I became busier and also got a short contract job where theclient wanted me to work from their office. I ended up not going to OBH for a while. While I was away something happened. A few more members joined the coworking space. I don't know what the magic membership number was, but the place reached critical mass. When I went back the place was buzzing. It was full of people working and chatting. They all seemed to know each other and I only knew a few of them. I felt a bit jealous, that I'd missed this happen.
It wasn't long before I felt part of that buzz. The people are what makes OBH and what makes any good coworking space. There's always someone there to share your ideas with or have a good whinge at when something isn't working. I look forward to coming in, which says something about how much I enjoy being a freelancer and how much I enjoy OBH.
Being a member here has led to lots of opportunities. One of my main clients this year has been Kensei who are also based here. I met Deb and after some excited conversations started a small business with her selling cardboard laptop stands .
I also met Stuart and Dave, and the three of us formed the Jam Jar Collective an art collective mixing tech and art.
Those are a few of the concrete things that Old BroadcastingHouse has made possible for me. The other benefits are less obvious. It's now the third birthday of OBH and it's also the third anniversary of me going freelance
I don't think I'd have done anywhere near as well as I have without the people at OBH. It's great to feel part of something and to be around people who are going through the same things you are. They've listened and encouraged me when I've had ideas or problems, and they've inspired me with their ideas and hard work. It just wouldn't be the same doing this by myself.
So, I'd like to end by saying thank you to Old Broadcasting House and to wish it a Happy Birthday.
Richard Garside @_richardg