Author: Karyn O'Brien
The
first co-working business hub has been established in Gippsland to meet the
growing number of mobile businesses and consultants who move between towns
across the region and need short term office space.
Business
Support Centre has opened in Warragul with moves to establish a network of business
hubs across the region linking businesses in the Latrobe Valley, and South
Gippsland.
Business
Support Centre Director, Teresa Mitchell, said the business concept was
innovative for Gippsland and was the first co-working business hub to be established
in regional Victoria.
“Businesses
and individuals become members of Coworx and are given options to use working space
to suit their specific business needs. Membership is also open to
not-for-profit organisations and government agencies. They may need a few hours
a week, a few days, or establish themselves full-time in the Centre. The choice
is theirs. Businesses have access to shared kitchen facilities, meeting or
training rooms, printing, photocopying and scanning, Wi Fi Internet, a business
resource library including government publications and car parking”
Mrs
Mitchell said the plan was to set up similar hubs in the Latrobe Valley and
South Gippsland giving businesses an opportunity to work more efficiently
across towns and encourage collaboration between small businesses across the
region.
“Technology
has significantly changed the workplace in recent years with an increasing
mobile workforce, one person businesses, and more people setting up home
businesses.
“Often
small business people work from home or in a one-person office, especially when
they start-up. Coworx gives them an
opportunity to be around other small businesses, to share experiences and be
part of a social business community where they can network and share
information. It also had potential for businesses to reduce their costs.”
She
said there were many travelling consultants and businesses that lease offices
full-time in towns across Gippsland and yet may only need to use them a few
days a week.
“With
Coworx they can elect the number of days they need to utilise the office or
meeting space and pay for that time."
Mrs
Mitchell said a number of businesses were already operating from the Business
Support Centre at Warragul offering business mentoring, job support, business
information, financial planning, graphic design and web design.
“The Centre will also host networking evenings
and business and community workshops and presentations.”
She
said the beauty of Coworx is that once a business becomes a member of Coworx
they can also utilise similar co-working spaces in Melbourne. So if they travel
to Melbourne and need to meet clients they can book in and use those facilities.
For
more information on Coworx membership visit the Business Support Centre at 34
Mason Street, Warragul or phone Teresa Mitchell on (03) 56 233 332 or 0499 991
617 or visit: www.businesssupportcentre.com.au
