Digital Village – Web Independents’ Marseille Haunt Expands

A new space for working and learning for Provence’s digital community.

A victim of its success, Digital Village is moving its Marseille premises for a third time.  Its users, the “Villagers”, all digital freelancers, recently moved in to a newly-furnished 220-m2 space, designed to host co-working activities and training sessions open to all, a stone’s throw from the Vieux-Port. Originally launched by to Parisian entrepreneurs, the concept is based on a digital production studio bringing together independent expertise from around the web and audiovisual industry. This is an asset for companies, who can let Digital Village handle entire projects while being able to choose from a large number of service providers, including direct access to project managers who can facilitate organization and ensure efficient collaboration.

In less than two years, Digital Village Marseille has gone from 15 m2 in the Rue de la République to 220m2 in the Rue Neuve Sainte-Catherine. Although the last of the six Digital Villages in France to have opened its doors, the Marseille branch has become the second-largest in a matter of a few months, an expansion that could see it move into an even larger space, with 1000 m2 already being mooted.

According to Digital Village Marseille manager Kevin Gobaille, its success is due to the huge increase in demand for co-working locally. “The number of digital-sector businesses in the region is growing and our service offer fulfills demand from a growing community of independents who want to work together on joint projects.” Digital Village Marseille currently hosts around two dozen freelance workers permanently, with another dozen meeting up on an ad-hoc basis for meetings or training sessions.

70% of Villagers are “New Marseillais”

As proof of the region’s attractiveness to the digital sector, 70% of the Villagers at Digital Village Marseille are recent arrivals in the city.

With the development of the area’s infrastructure (data centers and data cable networks), an active French Tech community and the proliferation of places specializing in digital innovation, the team can take advantage of all the connected city has to offer to create a powerhouse for business digitalization projects.

Attracted by lower rents, much more affordable than Paris, these web artisans also appreciate their new working conditions, with an office just a short walk away from Marseille’s Vieux-Port.

Training Center and Start-Up Hub

Training is at the heart of the Digital Village’s facilities. “It’s a deliberate choice and a subject that’s important to us,” says Kevin Gobaille. “In our businesses, we need to keep learning all through our lives. Techniques change quickly and our Villagers can both provide and receive training here.” The training catalog has courses for all levels. Digital Village’s ambition is to be certified by Datadock, a unique vocational training database that makes it easier to obtain financial aid.

Digital Village is also a haven for start-ups, who can take advantage of personalized assistance for drawing up specifications sheets or creating prototypes or can find skills they don’t possess themselves.