Progress on work hub plan

Hopes high for autumn launch

Crieff Community Trust has described sessions to discuss the formation of a communal work hub in the Strath capital as encouraging.

Meetings took place in the former learning centre in Lodge Street, which is being looked at as a promising venue for a co-working space.

Following a presentation by Ailsa Campbell, chair of Crieff Community Trust, which outlined how coworking spaces elsewhere work, those interested in the venture were given a tour of the building.

CCT has commissioned the award-winning Fumbally Exchange in Dublin to guide the process of setting up a similar project in Crieff. A steering group has been formed to work with the Fumbally team.

They hope a business plan can be completed by August to find out what funding would be needed.

If this proves positive they say a co-working space could be up and running later this year.

The concept would let people share resources such as superfast broadband and provide a place to collaborate on projects and create work.

Leadership development trainer Susan Grandfield, who was at one of the information sessions, said: “I travel a lot but work from home when not out with clients.

“I’m looking for an opportunity to get out of the house but also to meet up with others running their own business.

“I’m quite new to the area. I do oneto-one coaching but also do small training events and there would be plenty of opportunities for that here plus there is the big space upstairs for larger events, which is quite exciting.”

David Campbell of Strathearn Artspace, which owns the Lodge Street annex and is looking for a tenant for it, believes a co-working space would be a good match for the Comrie Street venue as well as providing an income stream.

He said: “Having a space like this used by groups and individuals is quite attractive.

“I used to be involved with Wasps in Stirling, a co-working space for artists which provided a cross fertilisation of ideas between them.”

CCT chair Ailsa told the Herald: “We were encouraged by the interest and support shown by those who attended the information sessions in the old Perth College learning centre.

“Next steps are to gather a core group of potential users to work with CCT and George Boyle, founder of Fumbally Exchange, to plan the space.

“We really hope to have co-working up and running in Crieff in the autumn.”