Background
Co-working spaces are a stable in entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystems worldwide. In fact, globally, since 2008 the number has increased from about 160 to over 30,000[1]. Given their rise, and the importance attributed to them by practitioners and policymakers, it is relatively surprising that very little evidence exists with regard to their social and economic impact.
Aims and objectives
This research project, led by Dr Seemab Farooqi and Dr Stephen Knox from the University of Dundee, sets out to explore the impact of co-working spaces on users, communities, and regions. It is particularly pertinent to address how, why, where, and to whom co-working spaces provide value. To do this, we have constructed a database of archive evidence from approximately 70 co-working spaces in developed countries.
Stakeholder engagement
To help analyse this evidence, we want to consult with Can Do Partners with experience of working/managing/organising/using/referring customers to or living near to co-working spaces. We are looking to run an interactive workshop to get expert insights into how they effectively run. Specifically, we will look to be exploring:
- What benefits do you see for users, communities, and regions from the co-working space?
- What specific design, targeting, and additional support features help to unlock these benefits?
- What contexts (e.g., urban, rural) do co-working spaces operate in and how does this influence design and benefits?
Format of the session:
- The session will be in the format of an online panel discussion via Zoom and will be for 1 hour 20 minutes long. It will be facilitated by Dr Seemab Farooqi and Dr Stephen Knox from University of Dundee Business School.
[1] See: GCUC: https://gcuc.co/2018-global-coworking-forecast-30432-spaces-5-1-million-members-2022/ and Deskmag: https://www.dropbox.com/s/jjor71mecwqbxdy/2019%20Complete%20Coworking%20Forecast.pdf?dl=0