Globally, freelancers and entrepreneurs are embracing a new culture of collaboration, informally sharing their skills and ideas, as well as other essentials such as meeting space and kitchen facilities. The Central City is at the forefront of this revolution in South Africa.

Gareth Pearson brought First Thursdays to the Cape Town CBD, and was also an early proponent of coworking in the Mother City, opening Twenty Fifty [now Spin Street House] at 8 Spin St with Nathan Heller. “We had our eyes open for unique opportunities,” says Gareth, “Cape Town needed it, we needed it, and we couldn’t find this kind or environment anywhere except in Europe or South America. So we decided to take a risk and dive in.”

Today there are nearly 12 such enterprises in the CBD, each catering to different industries and different needs.

In the East City, there’s 75 Harrington, named Cape Town’s “most happening and hip work hub” by the Weekend Argus. It is backed by the Cape Craft and Design Institute and 50% owned by Steven Harris, who emphasises that collaboration is what differentiates a coworking success story from other shared spaces. “It’s up to the owner of such a space to network among those who rent in it, and encourage them to engage with the rest of the community and offer their services.”

Coworkers get a workstation or a private office; fast and stable internet; 24/7 security; access to services such as printing, a phone, basic cleaning and kitchen facilities; and meeting space.

Open to opportunity

Approximately 50 people work at 75 Harrington. Among them are Marcela Guerrero Casas and Rebecca Campbell, the women behind Open Streets Cape Town and #Streetiquette, who moved into the building in March 2015. Marcela says she chose coworking over regular office space “because [75 Harrington] was such a welcoming space. In addition, this part of town tends to attract quite a diverse group of people which resonates with our ethos”.

She and Rebecca share a desk in a semi-private office. “So we have the privacy that’s needed to complete our tasks but we are also exposed to a large number of interesting projects, some of them of great relevance to Open Streets,” she says. “75 Harrington has been crucial to the survival of our organisation; not only because it has offered us an affordable space but also because we have had an incredible level of support from Steven and his team. It is a space where many different people come together and bring interesting networks.”

Bright ideas

The Inner City Ideas Cartel (IC|IC) is another prominent Cape Town CBD coworking hub. It’s located across town at 71 Waterkant St, and has a diverse range of coworkers – from small law firms and PR practitioners to IT specialists, recruitment agencies and those involved in advertising. The concept has been so successful that an additional IC|IC opened in Loop Street in August. The key to its success, says owner Schuyler Vorster, is: “You need to have a service-orientated attitude. It’s your responsibility to help people work better.”

At IC|IC, you can sign up for anything from desk in the open-plan space to a semi-private or shared office to a private office plus ensuite bathroom and shower, or even a private office seating up to six staff members. Rates include all the usual amenities and services expected of a coworking space. There is also a drop-in rate as well as the use of a clubhouse (offering meeting space and a rooftop lounge).

Batstone, a team of strategists who help tech startups and emerging companies take their products to market and access funding, is based at IC|IC. Brendan Wade, who started Batstone in 2013, says: “Like any company, and especially as a startup, you need to manage your available cash flow wisely. This means that having to enter into a long-term lease and fitting out a whole office from scratch is a very costly exercise. A coworking space is, therefore, the perfect starting point: all your basic needs are fulfilled and you can immediately start doing what you actually want to do: bring your company to life!”

Big benefits

Other Cape Town Central City coworking spaces include The Extension at 114 Bree St, No80 Hout Street, The Bureaux at 42 Hans Strijdom Ave and La Macchina Workspace at 84 Shortmarket St.

Coworking costs in these venues range from R1 600 per month for a desk in an open-plan office up to R15 000 per month for a private office seating up to six. Many facilities also offer a pay-per-day rate, usually in the region of R250, where drop-ins can use the same shared services enjoyed by permanent tenants.

One of the biggest benefits of coworking is the opportunity to be around and interact with likeminded people and businesses. “Networking becomes a natural process,” says Brendan. “And working alongside other startups can introduce you not only to great ideas but also amazing business opportunities. The entrepreneurial energy in a coworking space is highly empowering and motivating.”

This article first appeared in the summer 2015-16 issue of City Views. Read it online.

Photo: Marike Wink