WHEN Innovation Co-working founder Taylor Tran last year compiled a directory of Victoria’s co-working spaces, the list numbered 72.
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It has since grown by 70 per cent, to 123 spaces.
“It’s just a transition of the concept of office,” Mr Tran said.
“The version before co-working was like a shared office. The version before that was just office.
“Ultimately it’s still an office, but I think what’s changing is the culture and the mindset around people working together.”
He believes co-working is set to become more common, particularly in regional areas.
“The main driver is certainly technology, it enables people to work more flexibly,” Mr Tran said.
However, the Innovation Co-working author said workforce trends were also factors.
“The secret to growth and opportunities for regional communities lies in effective collaborations between big and small businesses, governments, institutions, community and entrepreneurs,” Mr Tran said.
Australia is home to more than 300 co-working spaces.
Victoria boasts the majority of the market.
For the past four weeks, people have been gathering to discuss the potential of co-working in central Victorian communities.
Castlemaine entrepreneurs and businesses were invited to a lunch on August 23.
Morning coffee was the order of the day for those attending an event at the Kyneton Business Hub on August 26.
Bendigo Bank, La Trobe University and Haven; Home, Safe were among those in attendance at a breakfast round-table in Bendigo on Friday.
“Tapping into a greater use of digital technology and an exploding network of entrepreneurs working out of co-working spaces across the country, Synergize Hub is seeking to be a key connection point for both emerging and established enterprises,” event designer Tamara Marwood said.