The South Australian government will provide $1 million to help establish Hub Adelaide, which joins Hub Melbourne and Hub Sydney, to try and capitalise on the city’s “entrepreneurial boom”.
Hub Adelaide, which will be constructed in a disused building in Peel Street, is the result of a partnership between the state government and sponsors Microsoft and BankSA.
It follows in the footsteps of Hub Melbourne and Hub Sydney, both of which have enjoyed huge success since their respective launches.
Hub Melbourne, along with fellow co-working space Inspire9, is currently hosting Australia’s 2013 Coworking Conference, which brings together industry leaders to discuss co-working.
The program includes some of the biggest names in the co-working movement such as Deskwanted, which is travelling from Berlin to present at the conference.
Hub Adelaide, meanwhile, will build on a close relationship with the Centre for Social Innovation – Australia’s peak body on social innovation – which is also based in Adelaide.
According to Brad Krauskopf of Hub Australia, the partnership with Hub Adelaide will draw on experience gained through the existing hubs.
“Our members span from c-suite executives at large corporations through to team members at small not-for-profits,” Krauskopf said in a statement.
“Hubs provide a range of networking and learning opportunities with each hub like a readymade office and community.
“You walk in the door and instantly you can get connected to Wi-Fi, powers and printers. We provide real-world and online opportunities for our members to connect with one another.”
Membership prices range from $200 to $600 a month and are open to people of any age with a business idea.
South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill said Hub Adelaide will be a space where young people in particular can “put their minds together, share their experiences and learn from experts”.
“We are consistently rated as one of the world’s most liveable cities,” Weatherill said in a statement.
“If we want to keep more of our young people in South Australia, we must create these types of opportunities for them to grow their skills and create business ventures.”
Weatherill said sponsors such as Microsoft and BankSA are a “terrific endorsement” of the initiative.
According to Deputy Premier John Rau, Hub Adelaide will take advantage of the global Hub network, which takes in 30 different cities on five different continents.
“The global Hub initiative is already in cities like Dubai, San Francisco and across Europe – and I am told a few of these centres are currently run by Adelaidians abroad,” Rau said.
“Lately, we have witnessed an entrepreneurial bloom within the CBD in particular – it makes sense to harness this creativity and encourage its growth.
“Based in Peel Street, Hub Adelaide will be situated in the vibrant heart of the city, where young business owners are capitalising on this rejuvenated part [of] town.”
