A local business owner is looking at an innovative way to bring small businesses together.

Zeta Hickey, Cochrane business owner, is creating a unique shared space which could provide an opportunity for small businesses to succeed in a down turned economy.

Hickey, originally from England says her approach is very common back home.

"In England everything is much more expensive, it's already extremely expensive in comparison to Canada and so I see loads of these projects in England; where I come from we see so many more group buildings with people sharing space, craft people working together in one space, everything is very much based on what you're interested in."

The plan is for businesses to come together and share space collaboratively.

"I have met a lot of people in town that were looking for a place to start a small business, but everywhere was just too expensive and a lot of places are just too big; maybe they just needed an office or some people just need a desk. I thought I was a small business and I needed someone to help me out, I thought it might be a good opportunity for us to get involved with other people and help them."

Hickey is not just bringing any businesses together, but making sure they gel well.

"We ask people to say what business they were interested in when they applied to have a business with us so we could find a group of people that have similar things in common. If I met or spoke to somebody who's looking for something that wouldn't suit our place I have passed them on and spoke to other people on their behalf."

Businesses are not forced to sign on for a long time.

"To make people sign a really long lease is tough, I am lucky now I can sign a long lease, but for new businesses now that is difficult. We are looking at businesses just sign for a year or if they felt confident and wanted more stability they could sign up for 5 years, or anything in between. It is very negotiable, we aren't set in our rules and regulations."

Hickey says if you are a small business owner looking for a small quiet space, you can email her at doyoudejabrew@gmail.com

"We are looking for people to sign an agreement that they would work well together, get on well, and that they would not interfere or interrupt the other businesses."

With economic hardship, joining forces and partnering with others, may indeed allow more businesses to succeed in the long run.