Whether it's a journey shared or an item borrowed, when people choose access over ownership they become part of the mass movement who are doing things differently. With an immense challenge like climate change often feeling like it’s simply too big for an individual to make a discernible difference, this also allows people to “do their bit”.

As one reason to share leads to another, from saving money, to making money, to helping reduce waste, it embeds a new behaviour and people don’t turn back. I think of it like the Matrix. Take the red pill and accept the willingness to learn a new way of working that changes how you think, or the blue pill to remain in contented ignorance.

But what next? What’s on the other side of the cusp?

Whilst people are making sharing part of their everyday lives and investors are recognising the power of peer to peer platforms, the next opportunity is emerging.

Fundamentally, sharing is about better utilisation of resources. It’s no surprise then, that the opportunity for businesses entering the economy is so great.

Whether it’s Finance considering a reduction in operating costs through sharing office space, Procurement looking at rental or sharing options with other businesses, or HR considering car share options for employees. Add to this the opportunities for re-using, recycling and better utilisation of materials between businesses and we have not only a sizeable step towards decarbonisation, but also new revenue opportunities and productivity improvements.

With this new wave brings greater opportunities to reach not only employers, but of course also employees, and so their journey towards peer to peer sharing begins. This mass adoption will trigger a spike in peer to peer platform usage as business sharing begins to take hold and transitions through operating models and propositions.

With interest being triggered and then spiralling from any one platform, it’s no wonder that these businesses choose to amplify and actively support each other’s growth. It’s in all of our interests. This is the unique nature of the sharing economy and it provides a continuous momentum that, in combination with the pull from the market, will deliver the extraordinary growth that those who have taken the red pill, can see so clearly.

Juliet Eccleston - Chair of The Sharing Economy UK