Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK
For members

WORKING IN SWEDEN

Ten great co-working spots across Stockholm for freelancers and entrepreneurs

In the past few years, the co-working scene has boomed in Stockholm, with dozens of shared workspaces set up to accommodate the city's growing population of entrepreneurs, creatives and freelancers. Each spot has a different vibe ranging from simple café spots where you're welcome to plug in, log on and spend the day, to more elaborate office hubs with extra perks and materials available.

Published: 13 August 2018 07:16 CEST
Ten great co-working spots across Stockholm for freelancers and entrepreneurs
Co-working can help you be more productive without the limits of a traditional office space. Photo: Melker Dahlstrand/imagebank.sweden.se
This article is available to Members of The Local. Read more Membership Exclusives here.

Whether you're a freelancer, student or office worker keen for a change of scenery, here's a rundown of some of the best spots to head to with your laptop.

Badabing, Tjärhovsgatan 5

This co-working café (formerly known as Coffice) is perfect for the casual freelancer umming and ahhing between a café or a formal workspace.

Refreshments include coffee and other hot drinks, ice cream, and baked things, all of which you're free to enjoy without worrying that the baristas are hoping you'll leave and free up a table – almost all the customers will be there to work or study so the ambiance should be calmer than the typical bustling Stockholm café. 

Cost: If you work from your laptop in the main coffee area, you simply pay for your food and drink. Meeting rooms cost 400 kronor/hour for up to four hours, or 300 kronor/hour for longer, and there's also the option of hiring an office there for a full year.

Hours: 7.45am-5pm (and 8am-6pm for the meeting rooms) on weekdays, 10am-5pm on weekends (meeting rooms not available)

Cafe&Co, Kungsbron 23 and Hornsgatan 47

Another cafe-coworking hybrid, Cafe&Co allows day or monthly memberships including private office space or hot desk options in the co-working area.

Conference rooms (with fantastic views) are also available, and the online system allows you to get in touch with other members to share expertise or promote your own work – you're sure to meet plenty of new people between the members and daily drop-in visitors. Members get free coffee and tea, personal lockers, and access to the Skype room and office equipment.

Cost: From 300 kronor/day and from 2,900 kronor/month (with discounts during summer). You also have the option of working for free from the café/bistro spaces if you just want to have a short working fika or lunch.

Hours: 8am-6pm on weekdays, Hornsgatan 10am-5pm on weekends (Kungsbron closed)

GoTo10, Hammarby kaj 10D

The big draw of this office space by the water is that it's free for anyone working on an internet-related idea to come and work here – you don't need a formal business or plan. Food and drinks are available from the attached café.

If you're looking for a longer-term spot (three months or more) for your internet-based project there's the chance to become a member and get access to a fixed space, office materials, and meeting rooms. There's also a whole range of events, including Pink Programming Sundays, a free monthly event for women and transgender people to work on coding and programming projects, and for beginners to get some help.

Cost: Free to work in the open area. Monthly memberships start at 1,250 kronor/month

Hours: 8am-5pm on weekdays

Impact Hub Stockholm, Luntmakargatan 25

Part of a global community, Impact Hub's focus is on social innovation and if you want to be a member, there is an informal interview to get through. The space includes free coffee, tea and fruit, showers, phone booths, and lockers, and during the summer you even have access to a roof garden.

One difference to many of the locations on this list is that there's no option for a fixed desk or private office space, although you can pay to book meeting rooms (co-workers and members get discounts). There are also regular events and talks.

Cost: Day passes (8am-5pm) are 300 kronor. Alternatively, there are several packages, with the 'global connect' option costing 190 kronor/month and reducing the cost of day passes (up to five per month) to 175 kronor. Memberships start at 1,990 kronor/month for startups, and include a 'global passport' to work from any Impact Hub location for up to three days for free.

Hours: 8am-5pm, 24/7 if you have a membership package


The Park, Sveavägen 98 and Hälsingegatan 49

There are two venues here with different working atmospheres: the 'Corporate New York' themed Sveavägen address, or Hälsingegatan with a more relaxed vibe. Members here benefit from reception service, Christmas and summer parties plus afterwork events through the year, Friday breakfast buffets, conference and meeting rooms, a gym at the Hälsingegatan address, and shower and kitchen access. 

Choose between a membership that gives you access to the lounge areas only, a fixed or flexible desk, or a personal office where you'll have 24/7 access. A unique feature of The Park is the 'virtual membership', which allows you to use the venue's central Stockholm address and they will forward your post – you can also book conference and meeting rooms at members' prices, from one hour to a full day.

Cost: Day pass from 200 kronor. Membership prices available on request

Hours: 8am-5pm for day passes or lounge membership, 24/7 for members

OpenLab, Valhallavägen 79

The requirement for joining OpenLab is that you, as a small business or entrepreneur, are aiming to improve society. You get access to the different workspaces (conference room bookings are extra, but members get discounts) plus free coffee and meet-ups with other members. OpenLab also training offers courses aimed at boosting your “innovation skills”. And if you're not a member, you can work from the Open Café for an afternoon. 

Cost: From 2,000 kronor/month (part time) and 3,000 kronor/month (full time)

Hours: Members have 24/7 access, cafe open 8am-5pm on weekdays

 

A post shared by Openlab (@openlabsthlm) on May 12, 2017 at 7:10am PDT

Lager46, Gotlandsgatan 46

If the attraction of co-working is to get away from the 'office culture' of suits and formality, this former warehouse location in trendy Södermalm could be perfect for you. There's 24/7 access, showers on site, free coffee and tea, printer and photocopier access as well as the chance to use the kitchen, lounge area and cosy inner courtyard. Lockers are also included.

Cost: From 3,000 kronor/month for a fixed desk

Hours: 24/7 for members

Kolonien, Telefonvägen 30

Telefonplan is in one of Stockholm's most up-and-coming neighbourhoods, and this is one of the best value office spots on the list. There are also options for companies to hire private offices. All the usual amenities are included: coffee, tea, an equipped kitchen, showers and a bike room, and you're well located for food and drink spots.

Cost: Flexible desk from 1,995 kronor/month, fixed desk from 2,995 kronor/month

Hours: 9am-4pm, but 24/7 memberships are available

No18

With two offices in the heart of town and a claim to being 'Scandinavia's most central business lounge', choose from the elegant Stureplan district or the convenient Central Station location. The Stureplan office is home to a gym, bistro and juice bar, and in total more than 170 companies call No18 home.

Becoming a member gets you discounts on conference spaces, access to events and the co-working community, plus all the office services you'd expect from coffee to phone booths. The Central Station venue is open 24/7.

Cost: From 2,500 kronor/month as a co-working member (two days per week, or 4,500 kronor/month for five days), allowing you to work from the lounges during office hours, and from 6,500 kronor/month for a private desk. Private office options are also available.

 

A post shared by linnherbertsson (@linnherbertsson) on Jun 8, 2018 at 5:15am PDT

The Castle, Slottsbacken 8

The organizers claim the aim is to create a “workspace of dreams” and it's a beautiful environment with five different floors, each with a different feel and working environment – not to mention the chandeliers and artwork. There are also social activities and the option of meeting the many other workers there, either in person at community activities or through the online portal.

Printer use, unlimited coffee and two hours a week of conference room use are included, and you can pay extra for other facilities such as lockers, gym classes, and an adjustable desk.

Cost: Starts at 2,500 kronor/month for a flexible desk two days a week, or 1,800 kronor/month for the two-day week option if you're on a low income, which is measured as under 144,000 kronor/year after tax. You can also get a discount as a group, by signing up for a room together, from 22,000 kronor/month each.

Hours: 24/7 access for members

Knackeriet

One of the most exclusive options on this list, this is reserved for long-term members only and you'll have to get approval from the members' committee. What you'll get for your money is a working space in a quiet and historical corner of Gamla Stan, plus perks like a garden, nap and shower rooms, and free snacks.

There are around 50 members working in a range of industries, and you'll be working in the former offices of Swedish poet Carl Michael Bellman.

Cost: From around 3,900/month

Hours: 24/7 access for members

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

READER INSIGHTS

How to find a job in Sweden: Five tips from those who’ve been there, done that

The Swedish job market poses unique challenges for newcomers. The Local's readers share their best tips for cracking the career code.

Published: 10 April 2024 11:32 CEST
Updated: 13 April 2024 15:50 CEST
How to find a job in Sweden: Five tips from those who've been there, done that

Network, network, network!

A statistic that often gets tossed around is that seven out of ten jobs in Sweden are obtained through personal connections, and there’s no doubt that a good network is crucial to your job hunt, making the labour market extra challenging for newcomers to the country.

In fact, networking was the main tip mentioned by The Local’s readers.

“The job market is quite hot in Sweden, and talent is in short supply. People hiring do not have a lot of time to find the right talent, and tips from friends, colleagues and former colleagues are the way to first, find out organisations are hiring, and secondly, get your CV on the short list,” said Kyle, a Canadian reader who works in innovation management in Gothenburg.

“If you are going for a major employer like Volvo, network gets you in the door, as HR does not have much to do with hiring… the hiring managers do all of it and have no time, due to the insane number of consensus meetings. If you are looking for smaller organisations, they have even less time to find people, and networking is their primary way to find talent,” he added.

NETWORKING IN SWEDEN:

Some of the networking tips readers mentioned were going to job fairs, getting an internship to help you establish connections in your preferred field, joining clubs (this could be anything from your local gardening association to meetups for coders, but focus on clubs that may be popular among people working in your chosen field), and drawing on your organic network of friends, neighbours and others.

Don’t neglect the groundwork

The saying “dress for the job you want, not the job you have” is getting worn out (and people may look at you funny if you turn up to interviews in a Batman suit), but there’s truth to the notion of making sure you know what you want – and preparing for it.

In other words, don’t wait for a job ad to appear before you start to customise your CV and figure out what skill set you need. Create your CV now so that you’re ready to tweak it to your dream job – you could even have a general look at job ads in your field to see what requirements are needed. And don’t forget to spruce up your LinkedIn profile so that it fits with your career goals.

“I believe that several factors contribute to successfully landing a desirable job in Sweden. It’s essential to prepare to meet the requirements beyond just having a university degree. Many individuals realise these requirements only after completing their studies when they start searching for a job, which can be too late,” said Adnan Aslam from Pakistan, who works as a food inspector.

“I recommend identifying the job advertisements for positions you aspire to hold in the future and then preparing for those requirements during your studies. For me, acquiring a basic level of proficiency in the Swedish language and obtaining a Swedish driving licence were crucial. I pursued these goals during my studies and was able to secure a desirable job before graduating,” he added.

READ ALSO:

Felipe Cabral even has a GPT assistant trained on his own CVs and old cover letters, and said the set-up only takes ten minutes if you already have your documents. “With that in place, you can give instructions like: Read this job description and create a tailored version of my CV and letter for it. (…) Remember to always review and ask it not to create data aside from your documents.”

Be flexible and ready to adapt

Moving to a new place inevitably means having to learn not just the practicalities such as how to write a CV or which websites to use to look for job openings, but also learning how to navigate a new culture with all its unspoken expectations.

Swedish workplaces are generally less hierarchical than many other countries, but that doesn’t mean you can say whatever you want whenever you want without anyone raising an eyebrow. Swedes are usually direct, but be careful of being too abrasive or boastful: raising your voice, even during a spirited argument, or banging your own drum to show off your skills may not go down well.

“Talk, deliberate, complain like a Swede and you’ll come across like you know what the job entails, so your trustworthiness increases,” said an Indian data analyst who preferred to remain anonymous.

“Office politics are just as strong in Sweden as anywhere else. The flat hierarchy is deceiving as social hierarchy is enforced quite a bit in that lack of formal hierarchy. Take your time in learning these dynamics wherever you work before revealing your talent and capabilities. Expect those internal politics to happen, and they won’t hurt so much when they do,” said Kyle, the Canadian reader in Gothenburg.

This article about Swedish office politics may be useful.

Stay true to yourself

Adapting to your surroundings is one thing. Completely changing who you are is another.

For one thing, your happiness is as important as your career progression, and for another, your foreignness need not be an impediment: it’s also a skill that sets you apart from the rest. It means you have unique experience, and also, in the right setting, provides an opportunity to sometimes violate those social rules we mentioned above, because people assume you will, anyway.

“Trust is key. Build trust in your network, work with integrity. It’s OK to violate jantelagen if you are maintaining integrity. Sometimes your outsider and more honest/open opinion will burn bridges, especially those that may feel threatened by talent. But it will build trust with other colleagues who see it as brave and more trustworthy to work with,” said Kyle from Canada.

Hunker down for the long haul

We don’t want to scare you, because there are plenty of examples of people who quickly find their dream job in Sweden and settle into their new workplace, enjoying perks such as long summer holidays, generous parental leave and the famous work-life balance.

But if you do find it tougher than you expected: know that you’re not alone.

Several readers who responded to the survey said they were still trying to find a job in Sweden.

“I found jobs all over Europe but not here. They say they have a lack of experienced senior engineers but the don’t seem to be doing much to solve this,” said a Brazilian in Gothenburg.

A reader from Bangladesh said she was “at a loss” as to how to make a career change from her current AI role in Stockholm, despite many years of experience as an IT project manager.

“Over the past 18 months, I’ve submitted over 600 applications to various organisations. Unfortunately, despite being overqualified for some positions, I’ve faced rejections at every turn, from both large and small companies. The job market here, especially for foreign-born women, feels overwhelmingly challenging,” she said, adding that the struggle had impacted her mental health.

The Local has on several occasions reported on foreign residents’ struggle to get a foot on the Swedish job ladder, with many facing hurdles such as employers’ unfamiliarity with international degrees, discrimination, or a lack of network that can provide paths into a company.

So during the job hunt, don’t forget to care for yourself. Share your concerns with fellow job-seekers, ask for help and join networking groups – this is good not just for creating new contacts, but also in terms of your social well-being and meeting people who are in a similar situation.

And finally, as one British reader in Stockholm advised, keep looking: “Be open-minded with the opportunities that present themselves. It isn’t an easy market to enter and doesn’t feel inclusive.” But he added, “don’t give up”.

SHOW COMMENTS