Earlier this summer, SFEDI’s Executive Chair Ruth Lowbridge was invited to the Edinburgh offices of workspace collective Desk Union, where she shared her favourite top ten tips for success with the team.

Desk Union is a young, dynamic enterprise that supplies workspace, meeting rooms, networking rooms and boardrooms to individual entrepreneurs and freelancers as well as larger businesses. Following an exciting Meet a Mentor event, Desk Union’s Victoria Arnold and her team (including office dog Alfie) showed Ruth around their quirky premises.

Once every one had a cuppa in their hand, Ruth began to share her pearls of wisdom for business success. As well as advising the group to stay in firm control of the basics, expanding on tips like ‘Keep an eye on the money’ and ‘Check the legals’, our Chief Exec also reminded them that the best entrepreneurs have a courageous streak, with tips including ‘Do something people don’t expect’ and ‘Trust your gut. Take a risk.’ The Top Ten Tips were well received at the informal get together, which was very much in keeping with the ethos of Desk Union. Victoria Arnold, CEO and founded of Desk Union, describes the thinking behind the business/told us what she thought of Ruth’s Top Ten Tips:

“Hearing from Ruth was a real pleasure. Ruth spoke from the heart and showed the kind of honesty that most speakers are afraid to portray. She spoke of the highs and lows of business in a very relatable way.”

For the price of a cup of coffee, Desk Union members enjoy a mutually supportive atmosphere, as well as total flexibility. It’s deliberately easy to set up and cancel membership so people can dip in and out as and when they need the service.

Jessica Armstrong, a freelance project manager, came along to hear Ruth’s Top Ten Tips and find out more about the Desk Union concept. She said:

“This evening with Ruth provided insight into the life and learning of a businesswoman who has established a useful entrepreneurial approach to business. She clearly defined 10 tips based on her own experience, my favourite of which was to spend time on the right opportunities. But the reminder that entrepreneurs work hard, take risks and don't give up gave me a buzz I hadn't otherwise felt when considering the business that I run.”

The opportunity to attend the event at Desk Union was a bonus. Sarah Trouten, CEO of SFEDI, who also attended the visit, said:
“Desk Union is a very forward-thinking, energising business that provides a hugely diverse set of people with a work environment that’s conducive to both personal productivity and fabulous networking opportunities. This innovative professional model could be the next big thing to redefine our working lives.”

To find out more about flexible, fun, productive workspaces in Edinburgh, visit www.deskunion.co.uk. Ruth’s complete Ten Tips are available to read here.