Plans are afoot to expand the co-working business hub concept from Martinborough right across Wairarapa.
The shared space in Martinborough has been so successful that the concept owner – businessman Murray Cole – wants to set up similar sites in Greytown, Featherston and Masterton.
The centrally located hub at 51 Jellicoe St near the centre of Martinborough opened a few years ago and is now a well-established work and meeting place for a range of local self-employed people, businesses and corporate employees. People who generally work from home but sometimes need a less informal work environment also use the spot.
Cole said such co-working spaces have many advantages for Wairarapa communities, including providing an important extra facility for new and existing residents.
“It allows people to work in a social office atmosphere, on multiple days a week, instead of travelling to Wellington each day,” he said
“It also provides a wide range of office facilities, printing and computing beyond that offered by a simple hot spot.”
He said such spaces enable people to work near to their homes while still being distinct from them, as well as hold private meetings in a closed office environment.
The hub is set up with fast wifi, high-quality printing facilities, meeting rooms, free tea and coffee, and convenient parking for both cars and bicycles.
A Martinborough resident who is an international tax consultant has been impressed with the facilities offered.
“I have used the business hub twice and found it to be a convenient and practical option when needing to work away from my home base,” he said.
“I used the Hub working quietly on my own and also used one of the meeting rooms to hold a virtual conference with clients in Europe late at night, New Zealand time. The flexibility of booking times and options was very attractive.”
Cole is optimistic a new hub will be established in Greytown, with preferred premises already identified, although a time frame for the venture is not yet set. He said the Greytown space could also be adapted to provide hot desking facilities to community groups on an as-needed basis.
After Greytown, Featherston is expected to be the next cab off the rank.
“I think Featherston needs a boost. Greytown is next on the list, then Featherston, and then Masterton,” Cole said.
The Martinborough space has a variety of flexible membership plans, including daily passes, month-to-month and annual memberships. More information is available from [email protected].
