Office work used to be undertaken in offices primarily because, like manufacturing, it made sense to have all the expensive equipment housed in one place and have the people travel to operate it. But in the 21st century, computers and communication tools no longer take up huge areas of floor space and usually fit into a briefcase or sometimes even into a pocket. It therefore makes sense from an individual, organisational, and environmental point of view NOT to have everyone travel to do their work all in one place, but to have their work distributed to them, wherever they may be.
Workspaces are now more varied. They could be an individual office, a hotdesk, a cybercafe, an hotel room, train compartment, as well as a home office, telecentre or business centre.
Telecentres
Our telecottage members must offer public access to computers and other IT equipment, provide training facilities, and supply services to assist other businesses. Here is an alphabetical listing of telecentres.
Antur Tanat Cain
Llangedwyn Mill, Llangedwyn, Powys SY10 0LH.
tel: 01691 780528, fax: 0169 1780601
email: mo@atc.ruralwales.org
Contact: Maureen Wilde
Community IT Learning
Bloomfield House, Redstone Road NARBERTH, SA67 7EP
tel: & fax: 01834 861712
email: Andrew.leach@pembrokeshire.gov.uk
Contact: Andrew Leach
Ewart Library Telecentre
CSU, Ewart Library, Catherine Street, Dumfries DG1 1JB
tel: 01387 253820, fax: 01387 260294
email: libs&l@dumgal.gov.uk link
to website
Contact: Alastair Johnston
Highland Business
Networks Ltd
Highland Telematics Centre, Tower House, Avoch, IV9 8PS
tel: 01381 622100, fax: 01381 622102
email: Douglas_MacLean@hbnet.com link
to website
Contact: Doug MacLean
Ilfracombe Pathfinder
Open Access Centre
1-3 The Candar, Ilfracombe, EX34 9DS
tel: 01271 855126, fax: 01271 855120
(There is a network of 4 Telecentres along the North Devon coast)
email: gcurry@path-finder.org.uk link
to website
Contact George Curry
Moira Telecottage
17 Ashby Road, Moira, Swadlincote, DE12 6DJ
tel: 01283 550196, fax: 01283 552251
email: info@moirareplan.org.uk
Contact: Graham Knight
Moorlands Telecottage
Manifold Primary School, Warslow, Buxton, SK17 0JP
tel: 01298 84336, fax: 01298 84784
email: Simon.Brooks@staffordshire.gov.uk link
to website
Contact: Simon Brooks
Naver Teleservice
Centre
Bettyhill, Thurso, KW14 7SS
tel: 01641 521460, fax: 01641 521460
email: mail@navertelecentre.org.uk link
to website
Contact: The Manager
Rachel Mallows Services
to Business
Arch Villa, 23 High Street, Bozeat, Wellingborough, NN29 7NF
tel: 01933 664437, fax: 01933 664556
email: rachel@rachelmallows.com
Contact: Rachel Mallows
Skills Station
416 Rayleigh Road, Eastwood, Leigh on Sea, SS9 5PY
tel: 01702 527258, fax: 01702 511803
email: sklstn@aol.com
Contact: Gwen Harper
Southwater Business
Resource Centre
23 Lintot Square, Southwater, Horsham, RH13 9LA
tel: 01403 734431, fax: 01403 734432
email: sbrc@horsham.co.uk link
to website
Contact: Ann Swain
Strathyre Information
Technology
Forestry Commission Log Cabin, Strathyre, Perthshire FK21 8UJ
tel: 01877 384616, fax: 01877 384294
email: contact@strathyrelc.fsnet.co.uk
Contact: Lesley Kettle
Support Shop Ltd
55 Broadway, Bracknell, RG12 1BB
tel: 01344 485111, fax: 01344 484830
email: supportshop@workcentres.com link
to website
Contact: Nina Reeve.
The Tottenham Green
Enterprise Centre
Town Hall Approach Road, Tottenham, London, N15 4RX
tel: 020 8375 3400 Fax:020 8375 3401
email: malcolm.gorman@tgec.co.uk
Contact: Malcolm Gorman
Business Centres
There are a huge number of business centres across the UK offering a variety of services that may be appropriate for teleworkers, homeworkers and flexible workers. Abacus Business Centres provides a free database of centres in England, Europe and further afield.