Co-work space gets green light

Orchard Collaborative Workspace founder Derryn Williamson (left), with Philippa Mannagh from Onerahi, who is just one of the many self-employed business people working from home who could soon be based at a proposed co-working space in Whangarei. Photo / John Stone

A plan to create integrated work spaces for micro-enterprises and start-ups in Whangarei, Kaikohe and Kaitaia has been granted $25,000 in local-authority funding to kick-start the project.

Funding from the Investment and Growth Reserve has been granted to carry out a business case for The Orchard Collaborative Workspace, which would require an estimated $500,000 in public or private investment over three years.

The centres would cater for sole traders such as "digital nomads", freelancers and remote workers.

The project would be established by the regional economic development agency Northland Inc and led by Orchard founder Derryn Williamson, who said small provincial towns were struggling to retain or attract talent and grow the digital service sector.

Unlike a shared office, the co-work space would be a community of traders who would not only share their work space, but mentor and support each other.

"Northland has a climate and lifestyle that attracts. It has traditionally been a popular destination for artists and creatives, but is also seen as a getaway for corporate refugees who have been successful in business and have the ability to work remotely."

She said freelancers and micro-enterprises were disconnected from the wider business community, which impacted their sustainability and growth.

The Whangarei site would serve as the central centre and would in time become an innovation hub.

"We are hoping that the Whangarei site will be based somewhere on Bank St," Williamson said.

The former Ballroom Bar, which closed in February and was for lease, was one possible site.

Meanwhile, a number of sites on Commerce St were earmarked for the Kaitaia centre. The Kaikohe site would involve a collaboration with the social enterprise Akau.

According to the 2013 Census, there were 23,607 people in the Far North workforce, with 3246 of those working from home and 3774 self-employed with no staff.

In Whangarei, the workforce had 35,550 people, with 3117 working from home and 4437 people self-employed with no staff.

In Te Hiku, there were 1026 self-employed people and 810 working from home, out of a workforce of 7107.

Onerahi's Philippa Mannagh is the founder of Liked Media, combining freelance writing, web content expertise and social media coaching for businesses.

"A collaborative workspace would give me options and opportunities to assist others and to be assisted, as well as the missed 'social meetings' around the coffee machine during smoko," Ms Mannagh said.

"I miss the business atmosphere every so often - constantly working from home is a lonely journey.

"The Orchard concept would enable me to gain some office time amongst other professionals, still maintaining my freelance title."

The project was put forward by the regional economic development agency, Northland Inc, and discussed at a recent meeting of Northland Regional Council.

Cr Graeme Ramsey questioned Northland Inc chief executive David Wilson why the agency was taking a punt on three centres rather than trialling the project in one centre and extending it to other areas if it worked.

Mr Wilson said the current proposal was the best possible way of undertaking the project.

The proposal got through despite Mr Ramsey and Dover Samuels voting against it.

Co-working spaces have also popped up in Rotorua, Wanaka, Rangiora, Queenstown, Dunedin, Waipukurau, Palmerston North, Napier and Nelson.