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"In a moment of frustration, I jokingly suggested to my mothers’ group the idea of finding a workspace and all pitching in for a few nannies. That was when I had a lightbulb moment," says BubbaDesk founder Lauren Perrett.
Amidst a tightening supply of childcare centres as well as the psychological, bureaucratic and logistical challenges of returning to work as a new parent, a NSW-based company has found a way to blend the industry with demand for co-working as BubbaDesk prepares to expand its footprint from four to seven locations by the end of 2024.
Founded on the Central Coast by Lauren Perrett in 2022, BubbaDesk now has four centres in St Leonards, Erina, Caringbah and Wollongong, and by the end of this year expects to open a further two locations in Sydney's inner west and one in Brisbane.
Perrett started the business as a young mother after experiencing a lack of support and isolation when returning to work while her first child was just seven months old. Like many parents, she experienced anxiety with the transition and believed there had to be an alternative way.
What she came up with was a business model that offers on-site nannying services, modern playing and learning facilities, hot desks, and private call spaces for working parents. Facilities also have multiple dark sleep rooms for the children, catering to ages from four months to four years.
"I spent a few days validating the idea with a wider network of parents and quickly realised there was a real gap in the market for this type of alternative childcare model," she says.
"We launched BubbaDesk in November 2022 with the first site on the Central Coast. Since then, we have launched three additional sites across NSW, all while being pregnant with my second child and then raising two under two.
"We’ve received an overwhelming and emotional response from parents seeking a more supportive return-to-work experience."
Perrett describes the business as simply a co-working pace with an on-site childcare service, addressing the needs of parents who are professionals and either do not want to use a traditional daycare service because they wouldn't want to be away from their child, or they can't afford the cost of a nanny.
Because a parent or parents are on-site under this model, they are not eligible for the federally-funded childcare subsidy (CCS). But the company claims that for household incomes above $200,000 annually (which receive lower CCS support) there is a stronger case in terms of cost when taking into account the tax deductibility of the co-working space.
Prices vary between sites, but in general there is a 50 per cent cost for each additional child.
The company has already garnered interest from over 3,000 families, with hundreds actively using the service. The size of the business and the team has doubled over the past year, and BubbaDesk is also in the process of finalising a "significant Series B raise".
"The opening of our new locations in the Inner West and Brisbane is another exciting step in our mission to make flexible, family-friendly workspaces accessible to more families," Perrett explains.
"As we approach the completion of our Series B raise, we are poised for even greater growth and innovation in 2024 and beyond."
In addition to all the families that have given BubbaDesk their vote of approval, the company secured a coup recently by securing a partnership with Canva whereby the tech giant's employees in Australia will receive discounts on BubbaDesk memberships.
BubbaDesk claims both startups are dedicated to redefining the traditional work model and providing parents with the resources they need to balance work and family life effectively.
"At Canva, we’re incredibly excited about the possibilities brought to life by hybrid work," says Canva's benefits program manager Rebecca Partridge.
"We offer our team the flexibility to work from a Canva campus, from home, or a bit of both; however, the balance works best for them and their teams.
"With partnerships like BubbaDesk, we're able to ensure the parents and caregivers in our team have the flexibility they need to build work around their lives, not the other way around."
Perrett describes the Canva partnership as a game changer for the business and working parents.
"By combining our strengths, we can provide even more support to parents striving to balance their professional and personal lives," she says.
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