TechHub

Very exciting news today, we can reveal the address and launch date of the first  TechHub space, TechHub London! Woo hoo!

We'll be opening the doors on Monday 12th July 2010 at:

TechHub
Ground Floor
76-80 City Rd
London
EC1Y 2BJ

We're almost on top of Old St tube (exit 5) and close to other transport, lots of great bars, restaurants, cafes and hotels - some of which we've already arranged excellent TechHub Member discounts with (announcing soon).

We'll be running some more open days during July, and applications are open for TechHub Annual Membership and TechHub Deskspace Membership for the London space.

Our launch party will be taking place on the evening of Friday 9th July, so pop it in your diary now and keep an eye out for details of the party and to RSVP. It looks like the guest list will be packed, so TechHub Members will of course get the first invitations before we open them up to all those on our email list. Join our mailing list now for news and updates, including details of memberships, desk spaces, how to apply and more.

See you all @TechHub very soon!

It looks like marketing guru Seth Godin is having the same thoughts as we are at TechHub about the future of working.

The traditional office is often not needed. Sure we sometimes need a place to meet, to collaborate, but does this need to be the same place, every day? Seth thinks not, and we agree.

Those of us who need only a laptop and an internet connection don't really need to be around our bosses or people from the same company all the time, in fact, some people never see their co-workers in person and get along just fine.

In fact, having like-minded people around you who are working on other things, in different companies can be thought-provoking and incredibly useful in terms of new perspectives and ideas.

Seth says:

"2. If you do work with a keyboard and a mouse, the items you need to work on are on your laptop, not in the office.
...
5. You can get energy from people other than those in the same company.
...
7. So go someplace. But it doesn't have to be to your office."

So where does TechHub come in? Crucially he says: 

"The gain in speed, productivity and happiness is massive. What's missing is #7... someplace to go. Once someone figures that part out, the office is dead."

I think we've figured it out...

We're busy, busy bees getting TechHub ready for launch, but we're not just focusing on the space itself, oh no! We're starting to book in some fantastic events for TechHubbers and guests and what we really want to know is: what do you really want to know?

Are there particular formats you like or dislike? Amazing entrepreneurs or other speakers from far flung places that you'd like to hear from? Questions burning in your brain that you'd love to have answered? Or perhaps there are some topics you just love to bang on about with great, like-minded people?

Tell us now! <- We want to hear from you, and please ask your other techie friends to tell us too. 

No? I for one am very excited about this big fat data pipe going in to TechHub London: fibre line, uncontended, 100 mbs down and 100 mbs up. Yeah baby!

Now to see how quickly BT and our new friends at Exponential-E can get it installed (Andrew, you've been a star).  C'mon guys, make it happen now!

If you're planning to upgrade your connectivity and want to hear more about our experience or would like an intro, drop Elizabeth a line at elizabeth[at]techhub.com

We have a couple of preview dates coming up to give you the chance to check out the TechHub layout, and hear more about our plans for the space. It is still work in progress though, so do be aware our lovely builder Steve and his colleagues may be beavering away while we're there.

We usually pop next door afterwards for a drink and a bit of impromptu chat and networking, but feel free to take off straight away if you just want to pop by for a quick peek. 

We'll only be taking through a limited number of people at once, so please do register if you'd like to attend.

NEW DATE
Fri 18th June, 10am: http://techhubpreview18-07.eventbrite.com

Fri 11th June: http://techhubpreview.eventbrite.com

Tue 15th June: http://techhubpreview2.eventbrite.com

Wed 16th June:  http://techhubpreview3.eventbrite.com 

Looking forward to seeing you @TechHub!

Got a great business idea? Developing a fantastic new product? Have awesome business skills but no project to apply them to? Really need a partner in crime to help you take over the world?

Finding the right person to co-found your business can be challenging - you know they're out there, but where? Well they might just be at TechHub on July 12th!

The fabulous people at Seedcamp, together with TechHub, are bringing you our first Tech Founder Speed Dating session. We'll select a great group of talented people and create the right environment for you to meet all of them in one go in the hope you'll find your perfect business partner.

So register your interest in taking part now and we'll do the rest.

We'll be trying to ensure a good mix of people at the same level (already started, starting soon etc) and we only have limited places, so we'll get back to you to confirm you for the event on the 12th. Rest assured that if there's a huge level of interest, we'll run more sessions in the coming months.

You have a fabulous business inside you, so get dating!

TechHub, the hub for technology entrepreneurs from around the world is launching early July. We need great staff to help us greet members, manage the space, set up events and more. We're have two permanent, long-term Reception/Host jobs available for the London space

This is a great opportunity for someone who loves people and is keen to work in a start-up environment and have the opportunity to move up within the company. 

Core duties of the roles:

Reception

• Greet members and guests, assign & monitor guest passes
• Manage the physical sign-in process
• Manage the online booking processes for the co-working space, meeting rooms and device-testing room
• Answer queries
• Book taxis

Facilities management

• Set up the co-working space in the morning
• Ensure kitchen is clear and cleaners have done their job
• Check meeting rooms & set up
• Oversee printing, consumables & maintenance
• Manage any technical issues & order tech support visits where necessary

Event management

• Oversee setting up the event space and catering (you’ll have assistance with the space/catering set-up)
• Greet speakers and attendees
• Manage the guest list

Role description

• TechHub is open 8am – 10pm, so you can choose from core working hours of either 7.30am – 3.30pm, or 2.30pm – 10.30pm, to suit your family arrangements or other commitments.
• Working on-site at TechHub London in City Rd, London EC1Y 2BJ

You’re an essential member of the TechHub team and we’ll be relying on you to be the friendly, professional face of the space. You’ll be genuinely valued – we want the benefit of your experience, skills and expertise to help us shape how the space is run, the processes that need to be put in place, and to come up with ideas to make TechHub even better.

You are:

• Punctual, with excellent time-keeping and completely reliable – you’re such an important member of the team as you’ll be opening up in the morning or closing up at night and trusted with important responsibilities. We need to know you’ll be there when you say you will and are totally trustworthy!
• Super organised – great at managing your time and workload to ensure everything gets done and that handovers with your counterpart are smooth and seamless.
• Friendly and personable with great communication skills – you love interacting with people and helping make their day the best it can be. Our members are lovely people and we know you’ll enjoy meeting them.
• Excellent at remembering names and faces – you’ll be getting to know the people who visit TechHub and everyone loves to be treated like a valued member, rather than a membership number!
• Great with using computers and the internet - you'll need to quickly get to grips with our booking and member-management systems, so good skills with the ability to learn new software, applications and technology is a must.
• Ideally enthusiastic about technology and entrepreneurship – this is what we’re all about and we’d love our staff to understand why tech companies need TechHub and to gain an insight into what it’s like to start-up run a company.
• Happy to muck in – as these are new roles, some duties might be unexpected, or there might be times when it’s all hands on deck. We’re looking for people who want to see TechHub succeed and will get the job done.
• Innovative, creative and proactive – you’ll be developing processes and working out the best ways of doing things. If you think something could be improved, we want to hear your thoughts, and we’d love you to anticipate issues before they arise, and take action where it’s needed.
• The kind of person who goes the extra mile – you’re genuinely helpful and committed and these qualities won’t go unnoticed at TechHub, we believe in giving credit where credit’s due.

While we're seeking people who will really love these roles, there are great opportunities to move forward with TechHub in time, either into events planning and management or into a more senior club management role for one or more TechHub spaces.

As these roles are very important to the company, we're looking for people who want to join the TechHub team and who are interested in full-time, long-term work  (not suitable as holiday temp jobs).

Important: To apply, make sure you do the following:

• email your CV to Elizabeth at hostjobs@techhub.com
• include a covering email telling us why you're interested in the role
• briefly detail your relevant experience and skills in the email. We want to see that you're excited by this particular opportunity.
• include your salary expectations
• tell us which role you're interested in (early or late)
• and include your earliest start date