The document discusses the need for hospitality in the modern workplace. It describes the author's experience working in various office spaces over 20 years, noting how some lacked human interaction. The author then started Antwerp's first coworking space, which fostered open interaction between entrepreneurs. The document argues that the social workplace is about more than just physical space or "bricks"; it's about fostering community, hospitality, knowledge sharing and empowering employees. It suggests that if people worked locally instead of long commutes, and supported local businesses and generations working together, it could positively impact our world of work.

1. The need for hospitality in
the modern workplace
Bart Scheenaerts
Coworking het Bolwerk | Edegem, Antwerpen
Be Coworking – co-President | Flanders Region
Social Workplace Conference – Brussels - 14/12/2016

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Modern workers need hospitality in the
workplace as much as facility and infrastructure:
how to let corporations address the need

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Is it something about the bricks ?
my personal story:
20 years of working in corporations
as an employee, freelancer, entrepreneur
and … as a human being with and

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1994 - 1998
the bricks: nothing special
A12 Wilrijk-Antwerpen
I the company
a pizza for free every day 

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1998 - 1999
the bricks: nothing special
Hoboken, suburbs of Antwerp
I working for Kredietbank:
exploring commercial creativity

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1999
the bricks: very nice building on
top location: centre of Antwerp
I working for the company:
way too much administration

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1999 - 2000
nice, functional business location
in Mechelen-Noord
neutral towards the company:
a good place to start in ICT

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2000 - 2004
functional business location
in Oudergem (Brussels)
I working for Bull:
intrapreneuring opportunities +
time + place independent work
I the traffic jams from
Antwerp to Brussels every day

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2005top location in Diegem at
Regus Pegasus business centre
I working there:
company for sale, bad timing
+ poor human interaction with
other companies in the building
I the traffic jams from
Antwerp to Brussels every day

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2006
old business centre in Vilvoorde
no airco, just a room
I working there:
specifically the fine layer of
white dust on the desk. Not sure
if connected to the crematorium
difficult assignment
perhaps too early in life for me

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2007 - 2009top location in Mechelen
well connected on E19 highway
I the business projects,
the colleagues, the personal
development opportunities
I the restructurations
after HP acquired EDS

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2007 - 2009
London Heathrow
Stockley Park
brilliant business opportunities
enjoyed every moment at the
EDS EMEA Stategic Sales Centre
top business location in London
near Heathrow & M4-J4 junction

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2009
no fit between my personal view
about life and Shell’s activities
top business location in NL
incredibly fantastic building.
I working on the EDS deal
making team on their Shell
account

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suddenly …. everything changed
result: big priority shift
no more business travel
and start freelancing

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I Antwerp’s 1st Coworking
space: Aspace in Borgerhout
I the open interaction
between entrepreneurs
in an inspiring loft in the city
I 45 minutes of traffic jams
from Mortsel to Borgerhout

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2009 – 2011
2013 – 2016
I contributing to the human
goals of this pharma giant
I the opportunity for
personal development, even as
an external contractor to JNJ
I traveling between Mortsel
and Turnhout: rarely traffic jams

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2011 - 2012
uninspiring ex-factory
location in Kontich
I my assignment and
working with great people on
interesting projects
I the restructurations
after Philips acquired Massive

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I my own project in a nice
pile of 150 year old bricks
coworking space het Bolwerk
In Edegem, near Antwerp
3 years into the project:
true cowo
+ business break even point

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250 customers in 3 years:
creative new entrepreneurs
+ traditional business clients
So, is it about the bricks ?
Well … no, it’s not!

22. The social workplace = more than bricks
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think global, act local
TRUST
DNA
change
listen to your people
value creation
having fun
activity based workingempowerment
co-createengage transform
wholenesspurpose selfsteering
happiness
quality of life
freedom of choice
ecosystem
flexibilityknowledge sharing
agreements
inspiration
let’s work together
AGILE
community
hospitality

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What’s happening around our world of work ?
Let’s zoom out to see the bigger picture.

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perhaps we’re doing something wrong in Belgium ?
#worldchampsintrafficjamming

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what if … we would all stop commuting and
start working in the region where we live ?

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what if … we would all start buying goods
from local producents and startups ?

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4 generations are working together now

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4 generations are working together now
what if … we would improve knowledge
sharing between these 4 generations?

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what if … we would start using the abundant space to
create workspace ? Look around, it’s everywhere !

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so what’s next for you?
for us ?
let’s do something
about it !

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Bart Scheenaerts
Coworking het Bolwerk - Edegem, Antwerpen
Be Coworking – co-president for the Flanders Region
bart@blwrk.be | +32 3 291.02.00 | +32 495 26.13.60
www.blwrk.be | www.becoworking.be | www.bardoffice.be
https://be.linkedin.com/in/bartscheenaerts
www.oudersvanprematuren.be