Jakub Mareš – pioneering the co-working centre concept in the Czech Republic
Jakub Mareš is one of the operators of the Hub, Prague’s biggest co-working centre. They are a new kind of shared working environment where people whose main tool is their notebook computer can rent a desk for as many hours a week as they need. Located in a former printing factory in the Smíchov district, the Hub features a large open office space, meeting rooms, a bar and lounge area, and even a summer terrace. When we spoke there recently, I asked Mareš (30) why he and his colleagues had launched the project in Prague, and why now.
Typically, who are the people who come here, who use the Hub?
“The typical user is 25 to 35 years old. He or she is working in a field like IT consulting, HR consulting, headhunting, the creative industries, and such branches.”
Do people come here as individuals or with colleagues?
“Most people come as individuals – let’s say 75 percent. And the rest come as start-ups of two or more people.”
This is a relatively new idea, not only in the Czech Republic but internationally. Was it hard at the beginning to explain it to people?
“You’re right – this is quite a new idea. It came into being in London around five years ago. I’d say that in the beginning it is quite difficult to explain what’s behind it. The main reason is meeting people and working in an inspiring environment.
Was there any resistance at the beginning, or anything in particular that people found hard to get used to?
“When we started this project some people told us that the Czech environment is quite closed. That means that when you start your own business you are usually scared that somebody will steal the idea from you or something.
“But we’re sure that more and more people are open. They get over this obstacle and we don’t see it as being that serious as some people did when we started.”
I know you have various different tariffs, as you call them – it’s a bit like you have a mobile phone contract. They vary from five hours a month to 12 or 13 euros, to unlimited access for about 150 euros a month. What is the most popular tariff?
“Most people have a tariff for 25 to 50 hours a month. That means they use it, let’s say, one or two days a week. The other days they are usually with their clients, or they work from home.”
You have about 15 desks here, and around 50 chairs. Is somebody guaranteed a place if they come? Say for example if all of the people who’ve signed up come at 9 o’clock on a Monday morning, will they all get a seat?
I was surprised when I first came here recently to hear music playing. I’d like to have music playing in my office, but only if I could choose it. How do you select the kind of music you play here?
“We try to select music that is, let’s say, neutral – no very distinct style. We use it, but we don’t like to play it too loud. It’s in the background.
“The reason for the music is that when there’s a very quiet environment some people don’t like to talk to their colleagues, because it may sound disturbing. That’s why we have music in the background.”
What about rules? Do you have a way of preventing people from making too much noise, or doing anti-social things?
“The main thing about rules in a space like this is relying on people’s common sense. That means there are practically no rules about loudness of voice and other things – we rely on people to know what to do and what not to do.
“If somebody, for example, is calling on the phone too loud, we can tell him to use the phone box or another space. But it doesn’t happen very often.”
“The thing about people making contacts with people they didn’t know before they started coming to the Hub is that it needs time to develop. Usually when people come here they need some weeks to get to know the environment.
“Then they can get to know other members, let’s say during the common lunch we have every Wednesday, or the afternoon coffee we have every Monday. So all the members have the possibility to make connections with other members, and some of them are using that quite actively.”
I guess you’ve been open for six months or so. To date have there been any projects that originated at the Hub?
“Yes, there have been three or four projects that we’ve supported to come into being. These are projects about socially responsible entrepreneurship – they came into being during a special event.”
Could you tell us more about this event, and the events that I know you have here in the evenings?
“There are two types of events. One is events organised by other companies, other organisations, who simply rent the space and put them on.
I know you yourself work here. How do you find it as an experience? I think I’d be distracted, seeing different people every day sitting in different places. I think I might find it hard to concentrate.
“When it comes to concentration, it depends on your ability to get used to it. Sometimes people divide their time. When they need to do something that really requires a quiet environment and concentration, they work from home.
“But they come here to get different ideas. That means to get inspired by another environment, to get inspired by the people working around them, and to simply get different air and different inspiration for their projects. That’s how it works in my case as well.”
This may be a silly question, but I guess in every working environment romances blossom. Have you seen people getting together here, where there’s a high turnover of people?
“I…can’t say this would be a typical environment for it. But as you say in all environments where people are changing, passing through, and people are working all day there, I think it’s also possible…to serve this purpose. Unintentionally, of course! [laughs]”
I understand in Prague now there are three or four of these co-working centres, although yours is the biggest. Do you foresee in the future that we will have many more such places?
What about the plans of your company, the Hub?
“Our plans are focussed on spreading the idea around this country. In the future, in a horizon of two, three, four years, we would like to open new Hubs in other big cities, which means Brno and Ostrava.”
The episode featured today was first broadcast on February 28, 2011.
