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Description
The project is based on mapping the needs and priorities of 17 coworkings, which was implemented in March 2021. Based on the survey, Slovak coworkings have a high potential to contribute to society and are important actors in strengthening civil society in Slovakia as centers of education, community development, networking non-profit, private and the public sector, promoting entrepreneurship and employment. The aim of the project is to strengthen their capacities and societal contribution as important actors of civil society. This objective will be achieved through two strategies aimed at strengthening 1) strategic cooperation and 2) key coworking capacities. 17 coworkings with an indirect impact on other coworkings will be directly involved in the project. Coworkings as a group does not have stable human resources that would systematically focus on developing cooperation. Joint activities are created on an ad-hoc basis, without strategic planning and identification of such activities that would support the further development of coworking in Slovakia. There is also a lack of targeted advocacy promoting their interests in legislative change and institutional support, as well as building strategic partnerships. There are also no mechanisms for sharing experiences and advice for beginning coworkers or sharing other resources (eg staff, equipment, proven processes). Awareness of the public and public institutions about the positive societal benefits of coworkings is also limited. This project can significantly contribute to strengthening the capacity and thus the societal contribution not only of the 17 coworkings involved, but will also have an indirect positive impact on other coworkings in Slovakia. Strengthening coworking capacities can make a significant contribution to regional development, strong employment promotion and strengthening entrepreneurship.
Summary of project results
The goal of the project was to strengthen the capacities and overall societal contribution of community coworking spaces as important actors of civil society, where coworkings fulfill the function of centers of education, community organizing, networking, strengthening employment and supporting entrepreneurship. The project fulfilled this goal through two strategies aimed at strengthening 1) mutual strategic cooperation and 2) key coworking capacities. 17 coworking spaces were directly involved in the project, the project also had an indirect impact on other coworking spaces that were affected by the activities and outputs of the project (campaign, manual and others.). Until the beginning of the implementation of the project, coworkings as a group did not have stable personnel resources that would be systematically devoted to the development of cooperation. There was also a lack of targeted advocacy promoting their interests in the area of legislative changes and institutional support, as well as building strategic partnerships. Several coworkings struggled with developing a business plan, they also lacked guidance in building coworkings (e.g. suitability of equipment, technologies, management structure, etc.) and establishing partnerships that would strengthen their sustainability. Most coworking spaces did not even have an effective communication and marketing strategy to raise public awareness of coworking spaces, and they also lacked experience with appropriate methods of promotion. Most coworking spaces also lacked a human resources development strategy.
The project focused on the following activities: Formation of a participative project management structure, Strategic planning, Sharing and streamlining coworking management processes, Raising awareness of coworking - joint campaign, Establishing the Association of Coworking Centers, Creating a business plan and financial sustainability, Creating a marketing and communication strategy, Educational activities according to the specific requirements of individual coworking spaces.
As part of joint working meetings, each of the coworking spaces developed its marketing strategy, human resources strategy and financial strategy, which improved their functioning and increased competitiveness. Coworkings also jointly founded the civil association Coworking Slovakia, wrote joint statutes, voted on the general assembly and the presidency, set up a system of regular meetings and developed the organization''s strategy until 2025. They also established a joint website, launched a joint communication campaign, organized the first year of the Central European Forum of Coworkings and created a Manual for coworking startups, which helps other people interested in setting up a coworking. This mutual connection and formalization of cooperation is the basis for the further development of coworking spaces in Slovakia (the organization is actively accepting additional members) and also for building other strategic partnerships.
Summary of bilateral results
Project partner Oslo International Hub brought unique expertise to the project, especially in the field of finance, fundraising, communication with investors and, last but not least, connecting the international community. He actively participated in the project''s activities, mostly online, but he also came to Slovakia twice and was a direct part of the activities in Bratislava and Banská Bystrica. During the first visit, he lectured and led a workshop on the topic of finance and strategic financial planning for the participating coworking spaces, and during the second visit, when he attended the Central European Coworking Forum conference, he spoke in a panel discussion on the topic of Community Building. In addition, he brought another expert from Norway with him to the conference, who led one of the 4 workshops. The cooperation between the partner and the involved coworkings also took place actively at the level of individual coworkings, where the partner willingly acted as a consultant and also actively participated in several other smaller projects implemented by the coworkings. The partner thus established valuable contacts with civil society in Slovakia, got to know its functioning firsthand and broadened his horizons.