Enterprise Doctor
Effective Help for your Business
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Laptop Monday
What is it? Laptop Monday is not a networking group, it’s a co-working group.
You get all the benefits of an office environment without the expense and commitment.
What’s that, then??
These days many people work from home, whether self-employed, regional representatives of national businesses or employees of businesses without office space. There are many benefits to working from home, but there are downsides too, including the lack of face-to-face human contact and the inability to bounce ideas off colleagues – those who work (or have worked) in open plan offices will understand these benefits.
Laptop Monday creates the environment where those who work from home can occasionally reap the benefits previously only available to those who work in an office with others.
While it’s not a networking group, there will be the opportunity to get to know those working in the same space as you, so who knows what might come of that!
The benefits for you
- Human interaction
- Collaborative working environment
- A change is as good as a rest!
- Free wifi
- Free parking
- Free tea/coffee/water
- Access to venue facilities including full range of food & drink from snacks to full pub meals
- No annual membership fees, contracts or subscriptions
- Ability to focus on work, not home or family
The venue
Our venue is a delightful 14th Century Country Inn with a history that spans 600 years, with a spacious free car park. When you step through the doors you catch a glimpse of the past, and walk in the footsteps of King George III. However, it does have all the mod cons - once you’re settled in, you can log on to the free wifi, settle down with a tea, coffee or water, and get to work! There are plenty of power points, so don’t worry about charging your laptop, your mobile or other devices.
The inn sits in a quiet rural spot in Berkshire, close to Twyford and Maidenhead.
It is an ideal venue for business meetings, with excellent facilities, a peaceful location and attentive service, all very easily accessible from the M4 and M40.
Want to schedule a meeting while attending Laptop Monday? Not a problem ... facilities are available including a range of office services along with an extensive menu for anyone wanting to arrange a lunchtime meeting!
When is it?
Broadly speaking, it takes place every other Monday, but due to Bank Holidays and occasional lack of room availability that might not be the case, so please do get in touch to check the schedule and plan when you’re going to join us.
The doors open at 09.30 and close at 16.30, so you can avoid the rush hour at both ends of the day, but you can stay for as long or short a time as you like.
What happens during the day?
Well, you get on with your work!
The etiquette is pretty much like any open plan office. If you’re going to make a load of phone calls, particularly noisy ones, it may not be the best place for you. If you want to occasionally talk to the people near you, to seek their advice, or help with a spreadsheet, or their opinion on a flier you just designed, then please do so, if they’ve made clear they’re open to a conversation (see What if I don't want to chat? below).
It is good practice to not hammer away at a keyboard all day – you need to take breaks. On that basis, there will be three breaks during the day – 11.00, 13.00 and 15.00. You don’t have to take a break if you don’t want to, but it’s the healthy thing to do!
Elevenses and afternoon tea will just be for 10 minutes each and you’re encouraged to chat to those around you, find out what they’re up to, what you perhaps have in common, what they think of last night’s Bake Off, or the big game – whatever you want to chat about really.
The lunch break will include a “lunch & learn” session, with a presenter for 10 minutes or so, imparting knowledge of relevance to your business. We will publish the topic in advance – have a look at some of our past Lunch 'n' Learn sessions. If you’d like that to be you, please let us know! If you don’t want to listen, that’s fine – there are plenty of places on the premises you can be instead.
What if I don’t want to chat?
You might not be the chatty type, or you may just want to focus on the work you’re doing.
You will be provided with a double sided sign and you should write your name and company name on both sides. On one side there will be a big green tick, which means you’re open to a conversation. On the other will be a ‘no entry’ sign, to make clear that at that moment you need to focus, so would rather not chat.
Please do respect the ‘no entry’ sign of others.
Do I need to book?
No, but it’s hugely preferable to do so
- You can pay by credit or debit card
- You get a £5 discount
- We can set up the room for the right number of people
What is the price?
If you book in advance, before 5pm on the day before the event:
- The price is £15
- There is no VAT
- Pay by debit or credit card
You can just turn up and pay at the door, but that’s £20 and is payable in cash only
It make sense to book in advance, doesn’t it?
Remember, this includes:
- Human interaction
- Collaborative working environment
- A change is as good as a rest!
- Free wifi
- Free parking
- Free tea/coffee/water
- Access to venue facilities including full range of food & drink from snacks to full pub meals
- No annual membership fees, contracts or subscriptions
- Ability to focus on work, not home or family
However you book and pay, you will be emailed a receipt no later than 2 days after the event.
When can I book?
Now!
- So long as the date(s) you want to book for are still available
- You can book in advance, guaranteeing your place
Can I cancel?
Yes.
- If it is 5 or more days before the event (i.e. the preceding Tuesday or earlier) you can cancel and receive a full refund, but we will be sad!
- If it is less than 5 or more days before the event (i.e. the preceding Wednesday or later) you can cancel and receive a 50% refund
- The date/time you send your email to cancel will be the determining factor. Or if you want to speak to a real person, just give us a call
How do I book?
Get in touch with the date or dates you would like to book and pay for
If there is space available for the date(s) you’ve chosen, you will be emailed confirmation that your place is reserved, along with your invoice
If you would like to go on a waiting list for a fully booked date please let us know. If a space becomes available and you’re next on the waiting list, you will be offered that place. If you accept it, you will then be charged and emailed a receipt
What do other people think?
One home-based consultant said "Today was quite a tonic being able to get some work done in a pretty unique environment for a home worker. It reminded me of revising for my exams, which I did by retreating to the library. I will definitely be booking the Laptop Monday event again."
Another regular said "Being your own boss is great and gives a lot of flexibility and choice. But I have missed those office moments when a conversation will just break out and we will look up from work to join in. It's a necessary part of the working day and Laptop Monday has restored that for me. I actually work more efficiently and, of course, while it may have the social atmosphere of the office, it has none of the office politics."
A local HR consultant said "Great session today at Laptop Monday, thank you. It was really good to be able to bounce ideas around with like-minded people, whilst also being able to get some work done that really needed doing today. The conversations were all interesting, and the ability to take part or not, based on what I was focusing on, really gave the feel of being part of a group of colleagues that I can’t get when working on my own. See you again soon for the next one."
A first-time attendee said "I would like to say thank you and how much I enjoyed my first experience at Laptop Monday– what a fabulous idea. It was great to meet other people in the same position, ie usually working alone in a remote office. The opportunity to meet, chat and bounce ideas off others is most welcome. I’ll certainly be back!"
What if I want to know more?
Just get in touch – we will be happy to answer any questions you have about Laptop Monday.