VillageOffice Wants Access to Coworking Within 15 Minutes for Everyone
VillageOffice is building a nationwide network of regional coworking hubs in Switzerland. The cooperative believes that small-scale coworking venues could greatly improve the quality of life in towns and cities.
Although coworking has undoubtedly become a buzzword and popular trend among young adults in the past few years, this new form of working is not necessarily one that is accessible for all populations. Particularly, given that coworking spaces are usually found in major cities as the hubs for business activities, people living far away from central urban areas are often unintentionally excluded from the practice of coworking. VillageOffice is trying to change that.
Based in Switzerland, VillageOffice is a cooperative of coworking operators dedicated to the development of regional coworking. Working with not only companies but also municipalities, the cooperative sees their initiative as one that alleviates transportation issues, bolsters local businesses, and improves the quality of life of employees across the country. Founded in 2016, VillageOffice’s goal is to open as many coworking spaces as possible so that, by 2030, every person in Switzerland will be able to access a coworking space within 15 minutes of commuting by public transport or bicycle.
To date, there are 78 coworking spaces throughout Switzerland that are part of the VillageOffice network. These spaces form a regional community, or village, that support the members in their operations. The team behind the cooperative also has coaches who actively guide employers, such as Swiss Post or Tetra Pack, in their transition to new forms of working, hosting information sessions that discuss the benefits of adopting coworking practices. If coworking is here to stay, then it is initiatives like VillageOffice that are making this future attainable for all.
