SUC project : EU Best Practices
Report
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Overview from the partners countries
Best practices from each country
What is coworking ?
“Coworking is a style of work that involves a shared working environment,
often an office, and independent
activity. Unlike in a typical office environment, those coworking are usually
not employed by the same organization. Typically it is attractive to
work-at-home professionals, independent contractors, or people who travel
frequently who end up working in relative isolation. Coworking is also the
social gathering of a group of people who are still working independently, but
who share values, and who are interested in the synergy that can happen from
working with like-minded talented people in the same space.[…] Coworking is not
only about the physical space, but about establishing the coworking community
first. “[1]
“The term "coworking" was coined by Bernie DeKoven in
1999 and used as a domain in
2000 and in 2005 Brad
Neuberg used it to describe a physical space which he originally called a
"9 to 5 group".
Coworking in Europe
According to a
study conducted by Deskwanted[2] in February 2013, Europe is the continent that has
the most of coworking spaces[3] with 1160 spaces across the continent.
The study shows that coworking spaces increased
of 82% within a year; concretely, there were 1320 coworking spaces in February
2012. In February 2013, there were around 2500 coworking spaces around the
world.
The classification by county is rewarding, at
the European level, both Germany (2nd of the worldwide
classification with 230 spaces behind the USA) and Spain (3rd of the
classification with 199 coworking spaces around the country). Then, we find UK
at the 4th position with 154 spaces and France at the 6th
with 121 spaces[4].
Overview from the partners countries
UK
As of
2012, the UK is among the most responsive European country to the idea of
collaborative working, with a special focus on London. The city leads the
co-working market not only for the large number of co-working spaces it offers
but also for the variety of spaces that exist to fit the differing needs among
start-ups, entrepreneurs and freelancers. In March 2012 Google along with
several local partners opened a co-working space in the heart of East London.
Campus London is located in Tech City and helps multiple start-ups to grow
under the same roof, by mentoring them and giving them the chance to learn more
through the events that run every day.
France
France used to be late
regarding coworking experiences compared to others European countries. But,
since few years, it has changed; France hosted major events such as the
European Conference about coworking in 2012. France has now more than 60
coworking spaces. Regional and local authorities, as well as development
agencies such as La Fonderie in Paris
area, support coworking with organizing calls and events about this topic.
Currently, coworking has become a tool for public policies and economic development.
Italy
Italy has 91 coworking spaces referenced on the
Global Coworking Census 2013.[5] Italy
presents a slightly more complex case for the compilers of coworking
statistics. There are counted 39 coworking spaces there, though others might
find there to be 69. This is because the Italians have a looser definition of
what makes a real coworking space. Italy is home to the Coworking
Project, an organization that also promotes flexible workspaces
within traditional offices and temporary spaces. Pop-up workstations are
available in many different locations that might not be considered coworking
spaces elsewhere.[6]
Germany
St. Oberholz opened in 2005
as one of the first cafes in Berlin to offer free internet access and allowed
people to work on their laptop, without considering them to be
annoyances. In 2009, Betahaus took the concept to a new level in terms of
size and media attention. Since then, the market has boomed. New coworking spaces
popped up in all parts of the country – from small villages to big cities.
Spain
Spain is one of the champions in Europe
regarding coworking. The 4th Coworking Europe conference was held in
Barcelona in 2013. Due to the crisis, the unemployment rate increased
consequently and therefore people were entitled to start their own business.
That is why a lot of coworking spaces were created and in a lot of original
places. In fact, buildings and construction were hard-hit sectors. A lot of
free spaces were therefore available which was a great opportunity for
coworking.
Cyprus
Cyprus is at an embryonic stage in the coworking area. The start-up
theme is very new in Cyprus, only now, after the collapse of its economy, but
it has been seen lately some initiatives at the governmental and corporate
level.
Sweden
Culturally, Sweden is close from coworking.
Places in this country are not numerous since the survey[7] counted
15 places in February 2013. However, experiencing coworking in a country like
Finland will permit to find some outstanding venues. For instance, some spaces
have been created in historical venues such as the Church of Entrepreneurs.
Bulgaria
With the rise of the entrepreneurship, co-working spaces popped around
Sofia to be the shelter for entrepreneurs. Bulgaria has 4
coworking spaces
referenced on the Global Coworking Census 2013.[8]
Finland
Finland is the country in Europe where people
are the most working from home and yet, coworking is not that developed in this
country since the international survey counted only 6 coworking spaces.
Turkey
Turkeky has 6 coworking spaces referenced on
the Global Coworking Census 2013.[9]
Coworking is a quite new thematic in Turkey. That is why it is difficult to
find sources about it. But there are coworking spaces offered on the Internet.
It would be interesting to have a study on what is offered and what really
exits.
Best practices from each country
UK
·
Campus London 
http://www.campuslondon.com/
Campus London is a coworking space, near Tech City, powered by Google. Seven floors of flexible work space,
free high-speed internet and support to fuel ideas, from mentoring programs
to networking events and much more.
·
The Cube 
http://thecubelondon.com/
The Cube’s aim is to make workers feel ‘calm, focused and happy’ through the
design of the space. Co-workers are
selected or curetted by The Cube, so as they form part of a complementary group
of individuals and companies.
France
·
La Cantine 
La Cantine is a space
focusing on new technologies. La Cantine was the first coworking space in
France in 2008. Since its beginning, it has been supported by the local
government (Conseil Régional & Mairie de Paris).
·
Studios Singuliers 
http://www.studios-singuliers.fr/
Studios
Singuliers is a coworking space hosted in a building dedicated to innovative
companies. One of his founders, Basile Samson will come and present us their
work.
·
La Ruche 
La
Ruche is a coworking space dedicated to social entrepreneurship.
·
Ashoka 
Ashoka
is the largest network of social entrepreneurs worldwide, with nearly 3000
Ashoka Fellows in 70 countries putting their system changing ideas into
practice on a global scale. Ashoka has provided start-up financing,
professional support services, and connections to a global network across the
business and social sectors, and a platform for people dedicated to changing
the world.
·
Soleilles 
http://www.soleillescowork.com/blog/
Coworking spaces
focusing on boosting women entrepreneuship.
Italy
·
Casa Netural 
http://www.benetural.com/
Casa Netural is a coworking space located in Matera. Matera is a small town and
many of its young people have left, moving to big cities to seek opportunity.
To activate the serendipity that comes with coworking, you have to bring new
people and fresh ideas into the space.
·
Work in Co 
http://www.workinco.com/wp/
Coworking space in Roma.
Germany
·
Betahaus 
http://betahaus.de/
Coworking space in the heart of Berlin. Several Betahaus around Europe (last to
open was mid-December 2013 in Barcelona).
·
Agora Coworking
Space Berlin 
http://agoracollective.org/agora-coworking/
Coworking space created in May 2011. 30% of the coworkers are German and 70%
are coming from abroad.
·
Welance, space for
professionals 
http://welance.de/
The core idea of this space is to pursue collaborative online projects within
their coworking space and to apply effectively the freelancers expertise.
·
Netting, the
coworkers space 
http://www.coworkingpaderborn.de/
Located
in the city of Paderborn, Netting is a platform for networking and exchange of
ideas between stakeholders and different industries.
Spain
·
Utopicus 
http://www.utopicus.es/es
Utopic_US is a network that supports new talents, a
coworking space where innovative and transformative initiatives launched
generates its own projects that bring value to society. But it is also an
original concept of coworking space where freelancers professionals,
freelancers and companies working in a production environment, collaborative
and exchange of services, products, ideas and knowledge.
·
Wayco 
http://wayco.es/
Born in 2013, and managed by AJEV, now Wayco is beginning to develop its
activities as Utopicus space in the city of Valencia.
·
GAR-AJE 
http://www.ajemadrid.es/garaje/
An area of 800
m2 to provide a complete service for entrepreneurs formed by an open space
where you can hold events, meeting rooms, training rooms, coworking space,
café, chill out, bike parking, kids area, and best the CAR (High Performance
Centre) . The CAR is 8 boxes which house the projects of entrepreneurs Madrid. The
garAJE is a meeting point of knowledge, ideas and networking opportunities,
being chosen to host the headquarters reference events as Google, Pink Slip
Party, Innosfera , Spain Sports Network and many more , thanks to its capacity
of 114 people.
Cyprus
·
Rent a desk Cyprus 
http://www.rentadeskcyprus.com/
Coworking space overwhelmed with interest and demand really quickly. Several
spaces available in Cyrpus (Limassol, Nicosia, Larnaca and Paphos).
Sweden
·
The Hub 
http://stockholm.impacthub.net/
Impact Hub
Stockholm is a collaborative work space where the collective action of its
diverse members accelerates inspiration into realization-- creating a
sustainable impact in the local community and far beyond.
·
Studio Verket 
http://studioverket.com/
Coworking space in
Stockholm offering facilities such as 3D printer, architecture and project
managing or web & graphics.
·
Entreprenörs Kyrkan
http://www.entreprenorskyrkan.se/e/hem.html
Nothing strange, just a co-working space in a church!
Bulgaria
·
Sofia Holistic
Coworking Company (SOHO) 
http://www.soho.bg/
SOHO provides
freelancers, entrepreneurs, and other creative professionals with easy and flexible
access to a fully furnished workspace.
·
ABC Coworking 
http://coworking.abcsofia.com/
ABC coworking space provides facilities to freelancers in Sofia.
·
Init Lab 
http://initlab.org/
Initially a hackerspace, Init Lab is the oldest coworking space created in
Bulgaria.
Finland
·
City Office 
http://www.cityoffice.fi/
Coworking space in Helsinki.
·
Regus 
http://www.regus.fi/
Regus has two cowoking spaces in Helsinki .
Turkey
·
Urban station
http://turkey.enjoyurbanstation.com/en/home/
Urban Station is the first place in Turkey (located in Istanbul) designed
especially for mobile workers and for those who share the idea that it is
possible to work or meet in a different way.
·
Fors + 
http://www.forsplus.com/
Fors + is offering in Istanbul coworking spaces.
Our proposal
After our first
meeting in Paris where we have met a young entrepreneur who created a coworking
space, several key points appeared. Then, during the second day we discussed
some points in small groups and several ideas appeared.
Questions to ask
yourself before starting a coworking business:
·
Is there an existing demand for coworking
space? Understand the kind of the demand.
·
Size, economic structure, government support,
space, age demographic, identify the needs
Characteristics
needed:
·
Space pulled not pushed to the market =>
answer to a demand
·
Sustainability, links to other offers,
location, identity…
·
Don’t be afraid to say no to people
Ideas to be integrated
to a business model:
·
Unique selling point: common goal/common
community OR provide superior facilities
·
Understanding the target market in details
(prices, facilities required…)
·
Be flexible
·
Financial control needed
·
Curate the members, make sure they fit
·
Combining the co-working offer with something
more = add services: parking, gym, networking…)
·
Marketing campaign: public relations, stories
of successful entrepreneurs
·
Start small then try to reach a critical mass:
identify the first target, contact them before starting
·
Common identity
·
Scalable offers
·
Find out existing courses, trainings for
entrepreneurs/possibilities for funding (national & international)
·
Use European structural funds (extra strength)
·
Decide how to manage your group: be aware about
how to manage conflicts: ability to remove members in a relatively short notice
(UK: 1 month)
·
Intercultural communication
·
Dissemination plan needed: who to contact,
where, how…
·
Sustainability: how sustainable your products
are => general evaluation of your activities is needed
·
Research the community
·
Business model: maybe not sustainable at the
beginning but absolutely needed
·
Physical space
·
Value add