I am currently exploring the concept of a network of Citizen’s Labs that has emerged as part of my work funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation Ideas and Pioneers Fund attempting to understand why self-employment in disadvantaged communities in the UK is half that of the national rate.
I have found that enterprise is a powerful way to empower communities, but UK enterprise support systems only work for some.
The shape of the problem
My research finds that low or no income entrepreneurs have limited access to support networks, and often face a lonely and uphill struggle. They can’t afford to access incubator or start up support facilities that are often located outside of their local area.
Numerous business support initiatives, from advice and mentoring, through to coaching and voucher schemes — in which the UK Government invests millions — are aimed at the right problem, but don’ t provide a workable solution for those from less privileged backgrounds.
Increasingly, Makerspaces — distributed design and manufacturing facilities as well as ubiquitous and affordable (for some) technology and communications are playing a role in enabling the development and growth of new and start-up businesses.
Iterations of these facilities are increasingly common, but their business models limit their ability to deliver to low income areas.
If you have no money or assets, are in debt, or live in a poor neighbourhood, you are effectively barred from high value self-employment or start-up activity, regardless of whether you have the motivation and a viable business idea.
There is an urgent need to develop new models of enterprise support that are good for communities and have the potential to ensure that opportunity and economic growth are distributed equitably.
What’s needed now
Our aim should be that every community has access to the tools and support needed to design, make and produce, ensuring there are no social, economic or spatial barriers to talented individuals creating new businesses, services and jobs.
We need to create new forms of support that can maximise the potential of people in poorer communities to contribute to innovation and economic growth.
We need a new model that brings together the best parts of makerspace culture and business incubator/accelerators that could be a springboard to inclusive growth.
These Citizen’ s Labs would also provide a civic space in which the ideas and energy of local innovators and entrepreneurs could be harnessed to engage with local challenges, such as social care demands, housing, health and community wellbeing.
What is required is investment in people, place and their communities. It is arguable that regional and local public bodies now have greater power, money and control over economic decision-making.
Local Economic Partnerships, combined and local authorities, have an opportunity to use their new powers to work with residents (especially those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds), the social sector and other businesses to co-design a network of Citizen’s Labs.
So, what could this look like?
Building Citizen’ s Labs
What if we could create a sustainable support network of Citizen’ s Labs in every community regardless of its comparative wealth, aimed at providing cheap access to all benefits that new technologies promise, not just the ability to fabricate, but also to learn, co design, socialize, develop skills, earn a living and become more employable?
An interactive and educational space
An interactive and educational space open to everyone, that gives citizens access to state-of-the-art maker equipment and peer educators. A place where citizens regardless of income or status could connect.
A makerspace
A makerspace based on open source design and free open source tech where anyone could learn to copy, modify and invent. A place where people could make work together, earn their own living, make things and trade.
As technology becomes more advanced and readily available the Citizen’ s Labs could provide the means for communities to make and maintain their own tools, furniture, household items and consumable goods.
A Co-working space with embedded business support and advice
A co-working space with a heart and soul that benefits a community, with a truly cross-generational approach, linked to a new wave of skills of coming generations.
Business support and advice could be delivered face to face or virtually, and in the context of the resources on offer across the Lab.
An innovation forum
A space in which agencies could submit their problems and issues for crowdsourced solution generation. Conversely citizens could use it to design and pilot their own solutions and partner with agencies in testing these out.
The forum could also enable existing businesses to collaborate with residents and entrepreneurs to test their ideas, products and services.
A next generation community hub
Providing an opportunity for people to do for themselves, rather than a location for services to be delivered to them.
Next phase-exploring delivery models
Existing models need mid-to-large markets and populations, and mid-to-large GDP that act as indicators of potential revenue generation and business sustainability. These models drive exclusivity. Citizen’ s Labs would have to be financially sustainable but also develop business models that drive inclusivity.
We need to create new, blended business models that develop towards sustainability and deliver a guaranteed social return to the communities they are located within.
This might take into account experiences of similar models such as Impact Hub http://www.impacthub.net/
Centre for Social Innovation https://socialinnovation.org/
and Fab Labs http://www.fabfoundation.org/index.php/about-fab-foundation/index.html
and include characteristics of a movement / network model, community ownership, franchising, and commercial enterprises.
Initially, Citizen’ s Labs would require significant seed funding, but might over time migrate to models including elements of grant funding, social finance and financial returns from the businesses developed and grown by each Lab.
Why now and what next?
Citizen’ s Labs blend technical and social innovations to help communities work together on designing and applying solutions to their challenges.
They have the potential to connect citizens to economic and asset ownership opportunities, to find their voice, to influence the decisions that shape their neighborhoods.
Citizen’s Labs are community collaborations that hold the potential to boost community empowerment, civic engagement, urban renewal and economic resurgence.
In a post Brexit economy, the UK can ill afford to leave behind communities that have the potential to help themselves.
If you would like to explore this concept further, please do contact me rob.allen@business5zero.com
