A learning journey in London leads Sally, Tracy, Bill and I on a 30-minute tube ride from our hotel near Hyde Park to Islington. After exiting the tube, we walked around the corner to a back alley and were greeted by the familiar signage of a metals recycler. We found the address we were looking for and climbed four flights of stairs in the old factory building until we reached our destination. We rounded the corner and opened the door into one of the most energy-filled shared offices I have ever seen. It was 11am and The Hub was packed with about 50 people, working on their laptops, talking on the phone, meeting in small groups, and all intensely focused on their respective tasks.

We all absorbed the scene for a few seconds and then turned to each other with smiles of delight and awe. This was indeed a hub, an intersection of culture, concern, and action.

After meeting our Host, Maria (the Host is a key employee of The Hub, a office manager and receptionist, but more importantly a connector– the personality that makes sure ideas are shared, resources are found, and conversations are facilitated), we jumped into an oversized bed / couch tucked in a corned of the space because it was the only available seating. Jonathan Robinson, one of the founders of the Hub, graciously welcomed us and explained his concept for The Hub, its history and his future plans for expansion.

The Hub is targeting a very important and emerging market, social entrepreneurs. To join The Hub you have to be committed to social responsibility. This might mean you are a green manufacturer, like Interface Carpets which uses The Hub as a virtual office in London, or it might mean you are a non-profit working towards economic justice. And everything in between.

I hope to see The Hub in U.S. cities very soon, with all the traveling Sally and I do for business this network and resource in a no-brainer and probably very fun!

Visit The Hub on their web site: www.the-hub.net