RDA research report provides inspiration for new co-working space at Wynnum

A report by SEQ RDAs on activating digital work hubs helped to provide the inspiration for the establishment of a new professional co-working space at Wynnum Central.

Central Business Associates opened its doors last month, after 18 months of research and preparation by founder and director, Celia Newlands (pictured above).

Celia reviewed the research report Digital Work Hubs: An Activation Framework for South-East Queensland (read more here) and realised that the centre was a realistic aspiration.

The report was the culmination of a research project by SEQ RDA committees which examined opportunities and challenges for establishing a network of digital work hubs across South East Queensland.

The project looked at the productivity and societal gains from workers being able to work closer to home in curated collaborative workspaces, and how groups of freelancers, entrepreneurs, start-ups, and professionals can be transformed into vibrant urban clusters.

With its stunning bay views from the fifth floor of the Flinders Centre on Bay Terrace, Central Business Associates has already attracted small businesses needing to expand out of home into full-time office space, freelancers wanting collaborative opportunities, and others simply looking for hourly rental meeting rooms or a professional boardroom. A program of Business Improvement Workshops is currently being developed, which will be discounted for Central Business Associates members.

RDA Brisbane CEO Margaret Blade, who introduced Celia to the research report along with links to wider networks, addressed the opening night event of Central Business Associates in January, speaking about the shift in working styles towards collaborative co-working centres and digital work hubs.

Central Business Associates is already having a positive impact on the local business community; so far, most of the participants are local to the area, and the flourishing network demonstrates the original research findings that people achieve positive results from working in regional business hubs.

For more information, go to centralbusinessassociates.com.au