Just under a year ago, the Collection Business Centre, an operator of luxury business and co-working centres, opened a branch in the heart of Cologne city centre. It is situated right on the city’s famous Rudolfplatz – in one of the Rhine metropolis’s most iconic landmarks: the Wallarkaden. The business centre, situated on the 5th floor of the recently completed office block, offers breathtaking views of the city of Cologne and Cologne Cathedral from its 30-metre-long roof terrace.
The very relaxed ambience was created in collaboration with the Dutch star interior designer Eric Kuster of Metropolitan Luxury and is strongly reminiscent of a modern yet elegant luxury hotel.
Spanning 1,400 square metres of office space, the Collection Business Centre offers the classic range of services expected from a flexible workspace provider: individually rentable private offices, project offices, shared offices, co-working spaces, virtual offices, lounges and meeting rooms.
What is surprising is that, in the same building, in a less prominent location, another co-working provider – the American firm WeWork – is also based there; a company that has recently been in the news mainly for negative headlines regarding its financial future. Compared to the Collection Business Centre, the offices here appear rather spartan and lack any particular view.
When you enter the Collection Business Centre, you’ll find a very stylishly furnished and spacious reception area, from which you have an impressive view over the city of Cologne.
The décor is modern Italian yet understated – many a CEO of a DAX-listed company would probably dream of such an ambience. Coffee-table books, kidney-shaped furniture, earthy tones and elaborate artworks by the Ibizan artist Jaime Ibarra characterise the relaxed yet very stylish atmosphere.
The staff at the business centre come across as extremely friendly and approachable; you realise straight away that you’ve ended up with the industry’s leading provider. The numerous private offices are concealed behind black-tinted glass panels that offer complete privacy.
The spacious office areas are furnished with the utmost taste – anyone would be keen to move straight into an office here.
The conference and meeting rooms are also impressive, offering a superb view over the rooftops of Cologne and the nearby historic Hahnentor gate, as well as Rudolfplatz. Where else in Cologne can you find meeting rooms like these? And best of all: anyone can hire these rooms, even by the hour or by the day.
Interaction is a top priority in the office spaces at Collection Business Centre. There are various, very spacious communal areas, furnished in such a cosy, Italian style that they invite you to linger and chat with representatives from other companies. Ideal for networking!
The Collection Business Centre is undoubtedly the place to be in Cologne city centre when it comes to office space. Not least because of its superb transport links and location. The Wallarkaden complex features a bright, spacious underground car park, and the KVB ‘Rudolfplatz’ stop is right outside the building. It’s just a short walk to Cologne’s ring roads and shopping districts, and the range of nearby restaurants, cafés and fast-food outlets is arguably greater here than anywhere else in Cologne. Last but not least, there’s a bakery and a salad bar right in the building.
The Collection Business Centre itself is a hive of activity, with not only the many office tenants but also numerous virtual offices and co-workers bustling about in the communal areas, lounges and meeting rooms.
In summer, many make use of what is probably Cologne’s largest roof terrace, which is furnished with comfortable lounge furniture. Here, you can relax in the sun with a cigarette or a coffee, or, during Carnival season, enjoy a direct view of the ‘Rosenmonatszug’ parade passing beneath the Wallarkaden.
At the Collection Business Centre Cologne Wallarkaden, you’ll find yourself right at the economic heart of this vibrant Rhine metropolis – you’re welcome to pop in at any time for a no-obligation visit to explore the premises.
Why should you invest in in-house training?
Training courses, workshops, coaching and the like are all the rage, whether for individuals or businesses. It’s a trend designed to help stabilise the skills shortage in Germany. In-house training thrives on its creative and open atmosphere, which has a direct impact on participants’ well-being. That’s exactly what makes the difference. This unique atmosphere motivates participants to contribute their own ideas and makes them open to taking on board new insights and information. Combined with a special atmosphere, nothing stands in the way of a successful training course. A single day of professional training generally achieves better results than the model of in-house training programmes – and is therefore a highly effective approach.
Virtual training rooms & in-house solutions
Other trends also relate to the way teaching is carried out: digitalisation is transforming the world, and the training sector is naturally no exception – both in terms of content and organisation. In future, the focus of training methods could shift towards e-learning and webinars – moving away from the old-school teaching system. Whilst these options are still in their infancy, they should not be underestimated. Start exploring these methods now.
On the other hand, it is clear that the in-house training model is also booming. Whilst webinars do not require any on-site staff at all, companies bring external coaches into their own premises for in-house seminars. Both models offer the advantage of completely eliminating travel costs whilst still allowing staff to benefit from the expertise of external professionals. After all, the time saved can be used to complete other tasks in the meantime.
In-house training as a form of recognition
However, many employees view the traditional training model as an opportunity to ‘get out of the office’ for a change and as a form of reward or recognition. This aspect should by no means be underestimated. Furthermore, not all companies have sufficient space to host in-house training and therefore fall back on the traditional model of training. Furthermore, familiar surroundings are seen as a hindrance to an open atmosphere and thus undermine the concept of in-house training. You should also bear in mind that some training sessions, such as team-building exercises and Excel workshops, require participants to be physically present, as they are otherwise doomed to failure.
To create the ideal setting for in-house training, external seminar venues are therefore a good option. Conference rooms in business centres are particularly popular, but an unconventional event venue can also be inspiring. Employees are given the chance to flourish in a completely new environment. A unique location or a beautiful view can help with this. As the appropriate setting is already in place, trainers are spared unnecessary work and can focus all their energy on their presentation.
Conclusion
If we look at the field of in-company training, it is clear that the megatrend of digitalisation is constantly demanding new specialist knowledge and soft skills, and will therefore continue to dominate training provision in the future. To remain competitive in the market, therefore, companies should stay on the ball in this area and keep up to date with the latest technologies. Another significant trend can be observed in the field of management, as digitalisation is also gaining ground here. As new working models, such as remote working, become more widespread, e-learning and webinars will also become more popular, as there will no longer be a fixed location for all staff. One thing is clear: training programmes enhance a company’s appeal and are increasingly being used to attract new staff. You should already have a medium- to long-term plan in place so as not to be left behind in the near future.
Cover image: Shutterstock.com/GaudiLab