Abstract
We explore how Coworking Spaces (CWSs) might contribute to place-based policy and regional development, especially in provincial towns/cities and rural/coastal areas. Drawing on interview and focus group data from regional stakeholders in three English Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) areas, we examine the extent to which the attributes of CWSs contribute to ‘six capitals’ (physical, intangible, human, social, finance and institutional) widely considered to be the foundations of regional development. Our analysis suggests CWSs should at least be part of place-based policy conversations around placemaking and the revival of places. This conclusion should also resonate in other countries and regional policy circles.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Regional Studies |
| Publication status | Acceptance date - 27 Aug 2024 |
Funding
This work was funded by the UKRI Made Smarter Innovation Challenge and the Economic and Social Research Council via InterAct [Grant Reference ES/W007231/1]. We also acknowledge support from Made Smarter Innovation: Centre for People-Led Digitalisation (hosted at the University of Bath, with partners, the University of Nottingham, and Loughborough University), and funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) [Grant Reference EP/V062042/1].
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| Economic and Social Research Council | ES/W007231/1 |
| Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council | EP/V062042/1 |
Keywords
- Coworking spaces
- Regional Development
- Regional policy
- levelling up