More than 50 Wyndham small business owners are hoping to set up shop in a redundant Werribee research facility.
Members of BizBuddyHub, a Wyndham-based co-working network, are hoping to transform the Dairy Innovation Australia Ltd research facility in Werribee into Victoria’s first outer-metropolitan co-working business hub.
DIAL announced last month that it was winding down its technical consulting operations and selling the 6000-square-metre Princes Highway property.
BizBuddyHub founder Sara Mitchell said the complex was perfect for the group as it had commercial kitchens, offices and meeting spaces that could accommodate a diverse range of local businesses.
“We can see this site being an innovating mixed-use enterprise centre for our growing micro-business community that will enable us to demonstrate the benefits of our collaborative co-working model,” Ms Mitchell said.
“Our BuzBuddyHub has a rapidly growing membership base for over 50 local businesses. Now all we need is a physical home.”
Members include businesses involved in communications, marketing, accounting and hospitality – and even a luthier (string instrument building and repair).
DIAL chief executive Lesley MacLeod said the $4 million facility would work well as a home for BizBuddyHub.
“We would like to see the facilities we’ve developed here put to good use supporting business in and around Wyndham,” she said. “The idea of using this facility as Victoria’s first BizBuddyHub … is absolutely perfect.”
The group members began co-working from the site as of Monday and hope the new owners will allow them to remain.
DIAL will remain BizBuddyHub’s landlord in the meantime.
