Meet Charlotte, Stephanie, and Valentina from HMNB Clyde Coworking Hub.
Charlotte, Stephanie, and Valentina are all military spouses based at Clyde. They all have remote contracts with the companies they work for, and they are all super fans of the coworking hub. This is what they have to say.
About Stephanie
Originally from Cork, Ireland, Stephanie relocated to Clyde about a year ago when her husband was posted to HMNB Clyde.
Initially, the move to Clyde necessitated Stephanie giving up her job. However, with the assistance of the Forces Employment Charity, she eventually secured a position as a Pension Administrator with a Financial Company, where she is currently employed.
With a stable job in the bag, Stephanie's next challenge was dealing with the implications of working from home. Things like home distractions, loneliness and isolation, and their impact on her ability to perform at her very best.
“Working from home can be challenging due to the multiple distractions you have to deal with. Consequently, it’s not always the most productive environment to work in. It can also be quite isolating with limited human contact and primarily virtual interactions.”
Stephanie discovered the coworking hub through her son’s creche, Dinky Dolphins which is in the Community Centre, where the hub is also located.
“Coworking hubs offer an escape from the distractions of home life and provide a great space to meet new people and build relationships with like-minded individuals. Through the hub I’ve been able to meet some lovely people and make some brilliant friendships, friendships that extend far beyond the walls of the hub and seamlessly spill over into my private social life, which has improved my quality of life on base immensely.”
About Charlotte
Charlotte works for a large Estate that is located about an hour’s drive from Clyde. Going to work to be in an office environment, would mean a long commute every day for Charlotte, and a huge impact on her work-life balance and wellbeing.
“Having a coworking hub on my doorstep has literally changed my life. I still get to work in a professional office space, something I really value and need, but without the long and onerous commute.
“Being able to come to work in the hub has given me more in a few months than working from home has given me in the three years I’ve been doing that. I have absolutely everything I need – a flexible and convenient workspace closer to home, less stress, more time, and some great friendships.”
About Valentina
Valentina discovered the coworking hub approximately one year ago through an online search prior to her husband’s posting to Clyde.
Valentina works remotely for a London-based company, spending one week every month at the office.
The rest of the time is split between working directly from home or from the coworking hub.
When Valentina first moved to Scotland in 2023, and with her husband often at sea, coupled with the fact that she did not know anyone when she first arrived, she felt exceptionally lonely and isolated, and disconnected from the military community. Not having children exacerbated this feeling further, as it meant she could not benefit from the common touchpoints military families often enjoy, such as schools and nurseries, youth and sports clubs.
For Valentina, the hub became a vital doorway to meeting like-minded people who shared her lived experience, understood the challenges she faced as a full-time working spouse, and with whom she shared common ground. Something she values immensely.
“When I first arrived at Clyde, I knew nobody. Joining the hub has allowed me to forge meaningful relationships with not one but three other military spouses, which has enriched my life beyond measure and helped me to feel much more integrated with the military community here.
“When you don’t have children, the number of places where you can network is limited. The hub is the only place where I can new meet people with whom I have things in common. For people in my situation, it’s a lifeline.”
While Valentina does not rely on the hub for productivity, she values the social connections and friendships she has formed there, immensely. The hub gives her an excuse to leave the house, escape the isolation that often comes with working from home, and engage with others, making for a much-improved work-life balance.
“For me the hub offers a great place to meet people and a much-needed change of scenery. I don’t mind working from home, but I do sometimes find it quite lonely and isolating, and I miss the in-person connections you get from being in an office.
“Having the option to use a hub is a huge asset to me. It’s the perfect replacement for those much-loved and much-missed water cooler moments, when you get to catch up with your colleagues and just be you.
“But it’s also a place to go when you need to get away from home for other reasons. Whenever my parents visit me, my dad needs an afternoon nap as he suffers from chronic migraines. So, in moments like these, to give him the peace and quiet he needs, and so I can continue working and taking calls without disturbing him, I head for the hub.”
All three agreed that the hub is a fantastic space.
“We’re so lucky to have the hub. It is well equipped and feels like a professional office space with proper workstations, including screens, keyboards, and mice. There’s even a private meeting room that we can use for confidential working. And there’s also a super coffee machine and excellent coffee available on tap. And all for an incredible and very affordable price of just £30 per year. We love it.”
And finally.
Charlotte, Stephanie, and Valentina unanimously and vociferously agree that coworking hubs can offer a great balance of professional workspace and community, with lots of opportunities to meet new people and build relationships with like-minded people, enriching both the professional and personal lives of the spouses and partners that use them.
They can even speed up the process of settling into a new environment, offering support, friendship and a ready-made network from the get-go, as well as a whole raft of ‘insider’ information on the local region and available facilities.
They wouldn’t be without one and simply can’t image life without their beloved coworking hub.
“We cannot express our gratitude enough to the HMNB Clyde, the MoD and the MCN for providing such fabulous facilities.”
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