Shared digs at MineSpace

A co-working office space catering specifically to the mining sector will launch next week in West Perth, as mining and exploration companies seek to reduce accommodation costs.

With a background in geoscience and mining data management, MineSpace co-founder Adrian Large told Business News he saw a potential market that was not being filled.

“Mining has never really been exposed to this collaborative idea,” Mr Large said.

“Even though it started with the tech industry it is now progressing and people can see that it’s a successful way of doing this and that’s what we’re trying to bring to the mining environment.

“We’re providing a space to bring people back to West Perth.”

West Perth’s alignment with the resources sector was reflected in a recent Savills report, with the 'mining and utilities and industry sector' accounting for 62 per cent of the commercial leasing activity in the 12 months to June 2014.

According to the report, the slowdown of the mining industry would result in a further increase in vacancy levels in West Perth, from the current 9.2 per cent.

MineSpace provides small or start-up mining companies with a shared working environment and access to in-house geoscience and mining software on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Companies can rent space in different configurations, including up to eight lockable offices, 16 open-planned partitioned areas and ‘hot desks’ situated throughout the office.

Mr Large said it was difficult to estimate the level of success of the initiative, as there was no benchmark to work towards.

“We’re catering to start-ups who would prefer to spend money on exploration or drilling rather than office space,” he said.

In the past three years several co-working office environments have appeared, including IT companies and start-up entrepreneurial spaces like Spacecubed, which is preparing to open its third co-working office space in Perth.

Spacecubed founder Brodie McCulloch said it was a logical move for MineSpace to provide the first office for mining companies to collaborate.

Mr Large tested his initial idea by convincing a company in West Perth to give him access to a floor so he could host an open day and gauge interest.

The feedback led to the development of the current 600 square metre space on Hay Street six months’ later, with the fit-out included in the three-year lease.