Following on from the coworking crawl last week and in prep for tonight’s bloggers meetup I’ve been working through some of the ideas and thoughts that have been floating around over the last few months about setting up some kind of informal working space for us digital nomad types in Birmingham. I see there being a number of these in the future from cafes that are quiet out of peak times (Jibbering in Moseley for example) to community centers such as the Moseley Community Development Trust building which recently got a grant to develop a coworking space for creative industry types (of which there are many in Moseley) up to purpose build office spaces with formal membership and services along the lines of eOffice on Smallbrook Queensway. And there are many other similar things in the pipeline - the Custard Factory, for example, are interested in developing something along these lines and there are many smaller office/studio complexes that could move into the coworking sphere such as, off the top of my head, The Arch in Digbeth or The Fireworks in Jewellery Quarter.
So space itself isn’t going to be a problem. Initial enquiries by myself and others indicates we might even be able to get free space for an initial period just to see how it works. The important thing, I think, is what we want from that space, not just in terms of equipment and services (wifi, desks, sofas, etc) but socially and in terms of ethos.
Some ideas might be:
- Somewhere that isn’t home but isn’t a full blown office
- Where they are like-minded people to share ideas / resources
- A place where low-level events could take place
- Some sort of digital advocacy / training centre
- A secure base for those who don’t need a permanent office, or already have one out of town
- A real-world space that adjuncts online communities
- A social club
And so on. What I’m looking to do is gather as many of these together as possible and boil them down into a list that can be presented to a landlord or similar. Like I said, the space is probably there for the taking. We just need to know what we’re going to do with it.
The comment box is yours…
You’ve already mentioned the main things, free would obviously be good, but the main thing is for there to be something that will motivate people to keep coming back.
Events seem a good idea, natural place for blogmeets, perhaps small art and video events too (I’d be up for [co?]curating stuff - could have simple exhibitions too)
Something that would be really useful would be the opportunity for people to share expertise: design, booklearnin, tech skillz, PR, other kinds of advice etc.
maybe barter it! intell-ebay… brain-cycle…
Interesting link to feed into your thoughts. Here’s how they’re doing it in Ireland:
http://www.coworking.ie/
Scroll down to a map of spaces in Dublin and an interesting mapping of US co-working spaces.
Dave
Free hat!
Srsly though, I think what is most needed is an incentive to be there.
Really good coffee/cafe, library area, a bunch of different environments e.g.: meeting rooms/quiet space/ideas lab and a slightly open to public feel - otherwise I think it would be in danger of getting a little exclusive. But yep agree with Ana ongoing exhibitions(but not KGC style).
C
In the future there will be mobile options. On the No. 11 bus? Well, maybe it wouldn’t have coffee… so it’s more likely to be a temporary installatio under an arch, a disused shop or home, a soon-to-be renovated factory. Just as art has been used to bring the punters to urban redevelopment sites, it won’t be long til Urban Dash set up free web-working sites in and around development projects.
@Antonio Which is why I’m asking! What incentive would you need?
@Charlotte The exclusivity thing is an interesting conundrum regarding security, etc. If it’s open to the public then you’d need it to be staffed not to mention h&s issues, etc. If it’s members only plus guests then it’s easier to manage. Possibly. I think it’s a case of finding the balance (open to all on Fridays for example?)
I’d like it to be as open and welcoming as possible, within reason.
The incentive is all about the other people - I can find quiet office space in my house ;) - casual events and an atmosphere of friendly industry is the real plus.
How about CF take out a double unit, charge for the desk per week?
I’m moving into an office at CF because I want to be around other creative companies.
It saves travelling for meetings, it’s a nice environment, you can meet people you don’t know and even have the chance to create better relationships.
It would be great (and make sense) to make CF the creative hub.
A place to work, connect and chill.
Specifically, I’d like somewhere not at home where I can go and put in a good few hours coding. When I need breaks I can kick back from the laptop and have a water-cooler style chat with like-minded sorts. I’d be able to nip to the loo without packing up my laptop, drink coffee without going broke or developing a caffeine addiction, put up the odd postcard or flyer, and maybe leave some books lying around for communal perusual.
I guess the model I’m thinking of is some kind of cheap-and-dirty Googleplex for freelancers.
Interesting thoughts here http://tinyurl.com/4ddz5r
I’d think even bigger: co-working spaces on one level of a building but with a good canteen-style restaurant on another (think Wagamam or Hoxton Grille but also serving coffee and snacks during the day), with a bar (possibly member only?) on another. I’d love to see changing art exhibtions built into the brief (pair up with http://www.visualforbusiness.co.uk ?)and perhaps a library too. Free wifi is a must.
Most importantly, I’d want to see parts of this used by the business community too, even if only the restaurant - getting creativity into their lives by stealth! This could be the coolest place to hang out in Birmingham and would introduce not only an additional income stream but also encourage some real interation and debate across different sectors of our city.
@Peter C Ashton (since when was there a “C”?!)
Well, aside from actually having a place to go I want there to be some kind of activity there. It’s all well and good that you’ll bounce ideas off other people but are there any actual projects that people can take part of whilst there? Sorta like an afterschool club?