A coworking space to support working mums (2015)

The 2015 document described Piano C, a Milan-based coworking space and service platform focused on women’s employment, workplace participation and family needs. It framed the initiative against Italy’s gender inequality and cited a Bank of Italy estimate that GDP would have risen by 7% if 14% more women had worked. Piano C had opened at the end of 2012 as a coworking and services space for women and fathers. By 2015, it reported a wider community of more than 4,000 members, followers and stakeholders, a weekly coworking community of 100 people, and more than 100 events each year. Its services included Cobaby childcare, a network of 50 time-saving agreements, and programmes supporting transitions from education to employment, returns to work after an absence, and career changes. The document also outlined Go-to-startup!, a programme for women-led businesses covering business planning, finance and brand awareness. It described an online platform under development for mapping skills, supporting professional development and connecting members with companies. A national network established in 2015 was reported to have reached 30,000 people across Italy and aimed to spread new organisational models through coworking, networking and advocacy.

Key findings

• Piano C reported a community of more than 4,000 members, followers and stakeholders in 2015.
• The space hosted a weekly coworking community of 100 women and fathers and more than 100 events each year.
• A national network established in 2015 was reported to have gathered 30,000 people across Italy.

Presented at Coworking Europe 2015