Utrecht’s HUB-IN Place is located in the historic industrial area (HUA) of the Werkspoorkwartier, which is a post-industrial area that is now being redeveloped into a cultural and creative neighbourhood thanks to the efforts made by creative entrepreneurs and developers in recent years.

The Bedrijvenkring Cartesiusweg (BKC) is the business association of the Werkspoorkwartier. Its mission is to transform Werkspoorkwartier into a green working landscape with a mix of functions and the addition of 500 jobs in the period 2023-2033. The aim of the BKC is to defend the needs of creative entrepreneurs by creating a future-proof work landscape and preserving the work spaces for the creative industries, and by doing interventions in the HUA to improve its accessibility and attractiveness. BKC will play a role in informing and bringing entrepreneurs together, function as a point of contact, facilitate a network, interact with existing stakeholders and new businesses, and by carrying out area-wide projects. Together with the municipality, BKC will develop a long-term vision of the HUB (also with regard to the heritage in the HUA), and work towards long term sustainability for example through fundraising.

The Utrecht Action

1. Turning the business association into a HUB for the HUA:

Expected results:

A future-proof HUB that contributes to the regeneration of the HUA, tell the story of and preserve cultural heritage, and improve conditions for the creative industries in the area.

2. Initiate an art programme in the HUA:

Expected results:

• Help them to innovate their products and services
• Accelerating the innovation and creative power of artists and cultural entrepreneurs in the HUA
• Increase the legitimacy of the HUB and its network in the HUA
• Improve the cohesiveness of the key actors in the Werkspoorkwartier
• Contribute to the solution for the questions that live in the HUA
• Inviting and connect the workers in the HUA to the citizens of Utrecht.

3. Boost innovation and creativity via talent development programs:

Expected results:

• Developing skills and talent via coaching and networking
• Boosting professionalized businesses, entrepreneurial skills, scalable products and sustainable businesses
• Guiding artists and creative entrepreneurs in the development of artistic goods and services.

4. Develop blueprints for widely applicable governance structures for hubs in the HUA and Utrecht in general:

Expected results:

Templates for governance structure, cooperation agreements and tenant management and a toolkit that existing hubs can use to review their current governance structure.