Bristol has established itself as one of the leading creative hubs in the UK outside London and it consistently attracts top talent from across the creative spectrum, encompassing both traditional and digital sectors.

If you’re a creative professional in Bristol or you’re keen to make the move to this vibrant city and now is the right time to search for your ideal creative workspace, here’s everything you need to know to make the right choices for your career and professional growth.

An Overview of Bristol’s Creative Scene

Bristol is home to more than 6,000 creative businesses and more than 190 production companies, including the world-renowned Aardman Animations. Other big names within the local digital media scene include Channel 4, Netflix and the BBC, which produces a number of its widely acclaimed factual, drama and radio programmes from its Bristol base.

Bristol is also one of just a handful of UNESCO Cities of Film, which highlights the city’s achievements in film and moving image, and it is also a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, which celebrates sustainable development and cultural diversity.

The city is also home to a number of other thriving creative sectors including:

• Gaming
• Architecture
• Publishing
• AR and VR
• Post-production
• Music and performing arts
• IT and computer services
• Advertising and marketing

Types of Creative Workspaces Available in Bristol

As Bristol is home to such a thriving creative sector, it also offers a varied selection of workspaces to suit all creative professionals.

Creative co-working spaces

There are a wide range of different co-working spaces across Bristol, with something to suit all creative professionals. Forming connections is a key part of building a successful freelancing career, and being surrounded by fellow creatives in a dedicated co-working space can be both inspiring and lead to new opportunities and collaborations.

Self-contained studios

If you need a larger space to work, explore new facets of your creativity and develop new ideas, a self-contained studio can be an excellent option. Bristol has many studio spaces, including those that form part of larger buildings that will allow you to become part of a like minded community.

Office spaces

Whether you’re looking for a spacious office to accommodate a large team, a smaller office space to support a growing business or the opportunity to lease desk spaces, there are plenty of options to choose from across the city.

Desk spaces, in particular, can provide businesses and freelancers primarily based outside of the city with the opportunity to start building their presence within the city and, in turn, have access to the wealth of opportunities that come from being part of such a vibrant community.

Workshops

There are also a selection of workshops around the city, many of which form part of larger warehouses and are ideally suited to a number of creatives, including musicians, artists and carpenters.

How to Choose the Right Workspace

With so many different options to consider, what is the best way to approach choosing the right creative workspace? Here are a few top tips to keep in mind.

1. Consider your needs

There are a number of considerations to make at the start of the process, including your budget, your preferred location, and the amenities you will need to aid your creativity. It’s also a great idea to think about what you might need as your freelancing business grows, as you will have access to a thriving community that will help you to make connections that will support the ongoing success of your business.

2. Call on the professionals

Whether you’re an established freelancer looking to scale up your work or you’re just starting out, there are professional teams that can offer affordable prices, access to a vibrant community of like-minded people, and flexible contracts.

Meanwhile Creative (http://www.meanwhilecreative.co.uk/) has a wide range of creative workspace solutions and can help to match your unique needs with an available space that will allow your creativity to flourish and your freelancing career to grow.

3. Don’t limit yourself

It can be helpful to approach the process of finding a creative space in a similar way to looking for a home to rent. While it is beneficial to put together a list of features and amenities you are looking for, maintaining a level of flexibility here will help you to ensure that you aren’t missing out on a potentially great space that perhaps doesn’t quite align fully with your initial vision.