I cannot believe it has taken me this long to post about the amazing stuff happening down at the Hub in London (and other locations worldwide). Jonathan and the team combined existing models and new ideas to come up with, by all accounts, is a Catalytic Innovation for the social and business sector simultaneously. Now, I can hear you thinking to yourself right now–wait a minute, I know a place called the Junction or the X, or even the hub–what is so original about this place. Well for starters, Jonathan has implemented across sectors with limited resource and with a robust network. Most of the other places you will attempt to use as comparison are corporate and don’t really have a robust network. The latter being critical to how these places work and thrive.
Importantly, Jonathan is lending his experience and expertise to the social innovation scene to help create a sister of the Hub. We have called it the Catalyst Centre and have a variation called the Grid. Taking our inspiration from the model in London, Soweto, et. al, we endeavoured in partnership with a large city council to create a model that would both work in and help areas of deprivation improve. We roll out the operation in 2007. I think, as do many others involved in the project, that this adaptation of an existing model into areas of deprivation could change the way we look at regeneration, business support, and ownership of the issues in these areas. Will it be a Catalytic Innovation?
What is it?
A dynamic model to inject enterprise into areas of deprivation. Practically, it looks similar to a hot desk office environment. But beneath the hood is a unique access model (similar to mobile phone tariff), support agencies interacting on the entrepreneurs’ terms, a vibrant network of entrepreneurs and others from the neighbourhood, and an ownership structure built for sustainability.
This model combines together in one offering, what we see as the 3 of the biggest factors for entrepreneurs: support, collaboration, customers. The Catalyst Centre model takes the Hub one step further by surrounding the hot zone of entrepreneurs with ad hoc support services from existing providers. These agencies supplement the support derived from the network. After 2 years, the operational network should be primarily composed of those not in work 2 years prior — changing the paradigm for them and their networks. Cool stuff.
In fact, it is the visibility that is key. Our engagement with communities discovered that the barriers were not so much finance, space, et. al., but rather INSPIRATION. "Show me someone doing the biz from my neighbourhood, not some advert on the side of a bus".
We hope it will be the catalyst for regeneration, community action, and enterprise in the neighbourhoods in which it lives. More details to come….
Resources |
the Hub
Nomads (airport lounge meets motorway)
Aula Centre Helsinki
Digital Hub Dublin
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