The Coworking Space Ship lands in Vancouver (March 28th)
You may have read on my site that I sit on the Executive Board of The Network Hub. I have had a desk here since 4 years ago, and I love it. The Network Hub has been an amazing launch pad for small businesses of different walks of life. We (The Network Hub) have a worldwide network of coworking spaces and often collaborate with other coworking locations on projects, much like the one you will read about here. I am proud of being part of the group of entrepreneurs who calls The Network Hub home. I just realized that the conference “The Coworking Space Ship” will be coming to Vancouver (on March 28th) so here is some information for you. Hopefully you will be able to attend, as it will be hosted by The Network Hub.
Not long ago, the word “coworking” was still unknown to most people. Today it needs little explanation. That’s because the number of coworking spaces around the world has exploded, attracting tens of thousands of independent workers who are looking for a collaborative place to do their jobs.
The dramatic growth of the coworking movement worldwide will be the topic of discussion at a mini-conference in Vancouver on March 28. The mini-conference, called the Coworking Space Ship, is organized by the coworking websites Deskwanted and Deskmag, along with the The Network Hub, a dynamic Vancouver coworking space. The evening will feature talks from experts on the global collaborative work scene, as well as discussion about exciting developments within Vancouver’s independent work movement.
The coworking movement has been developing rapidly across the planet. The number of coworking spaces has been doubling worldwide since 2005, reaching 1300 last month, according to Deskmag’s Global Coworking Survey. Part of the driving force is no doubt the over 300,000,000 mobile workers worldwide, according to Foresster Research.
Talks at the event will include an in-depth analysis of the Global Coworking Survey, the biggest and most detailed study of the trend. The survey contains lots of interesting facts about coworkers. For example, the survey found 38% of coworkers increase their income and 83% increase their productivity simply by moving from an isolated home office to a collaborative environment.
As well as global coworking issues, the event will consider issues important to the vibrant Vancouve collaborative work scene. The Network Hub and other spaces would like to strengthen the local collaborative community by encouraging more interaction between the different coworking spaces. This event will be held in an unconference style, to ensure that all voices have a chance to be heard equally.
I asked my good friend Jay Catalan, one of the cofounders of The Network Hub, to assess the way in which he sees coworking has transformed regional development in Vancouver:
Since we opened up the doors of The Network Hub in the summer of 2006, the landscape of work in Vancouver, our neighbourhood of Gastown in particular, has changed dramatically. There are a lot more freelancers and startups working in the area nowadays. We believe having a coworking space like ours in the neighbourhood has helped to attract and keep local talented professionals and entrepreneurs who may otherwise have been unable to find a suitable and affordable place to operate their businesses. It also creates a supportive ecosystem of independent workers through the organic networks that are formed when people get to know each other through coworking or through the many public events and workshops that are held at the space. We’re very excited to be part of this mini-conference on Coworking, as we envision how the movement will take shape in Vancouver and the rest of the world in the years to come.
Vancouver is just one of ten cities that will be visited by the Coworking Space Ship, which is a traveling roadshow moving across North America. The event is a chance to meet up with coworking enthusiasts and connect with the coworking community in Vancouver. Attendance is free, but registration is required.
