It has also started to run sponsorship on its website, in exchange for goods donated to the space.<\/p>\n
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One of the first members of the space was Peter Bradd, founder of postcard printing service ScribblePics, which has evolved by drawing on the knowledge of his peers.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThere’s a lot of people in the room that know a lot more about things then I do and I’ve acquired a heap of knowledge which I can keep providing, and vice-versa,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe’re a software development company, which I didn’t think when we were when we first started,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI thought we were a marketing company, providing a marketing service but now I’ve had to teach myself how to make software.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Being around other early stage businesses also provides a way for entrepreneurs to measure their progress, which is otherwise impossible if they were working from home.<\/p>\n
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\u201cSometimes if you’re sitting at home you can feel a bit silly and don’t know if you’re doing the right thing,\u201d Bradd says.<\/p>\n
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\u201cBut sitting with a bunch of other entrepreneurs, you don’t feel so silly anymore. You\u2019re just part of the crowd.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Different groups have already started to iterate on the co-working concept, exploring the potential to achieve commercial and social outcomes.<\/p>\n
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An interesting experiment is from digital media not-for-profit ICE, which has recently embraced co-working as a way to provide a pathway for western Sydney migrants and residents to earn a career in the creative industries.<\/p>\n
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Fifteen entrepreneurs were handpicked to populate the space – including game developers, graphic designers, architects and artists – who not only are housed for free but also can access a range of services such as mentoring, training, business development, marketing and working one-on-one.<\/p>\n
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ICE creative enterprise manager Indu Balachandran said the goal is to create a hub of artistic activity in the western suburb of Parramatta which competes with the likes of the inner-city creative haven of Surry Hills.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe hub emerged because we found a group of people want to make film and music their livelihood but would struggle to go from wanting it to doing it sustainable,\u201d Balachandran says.<\/p>\n
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There are access issues in Western Sydney because much of activity occurs in the city.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cAt ICE we all come from a particular social experience, and the shape of the enterprise and practice is very heavily influenced by the journey traversed so far,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe’re putting it all together and encouraging individuals and hopefully Australia will see a new type of creative entrepreneur.\u201d<\/p>\n
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