NEW BUSINESS CONCEPT TO BOOST SMALL BUSINESS IN GIPPSLAND

 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