GOOD news for start-ups and Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs) as they can now rent affordable and first world offices at an hourly, daily, monthly short and long term rate at the capital city.
The ingenious office solution, first of its kind, has been introduced by The Hive, a company that stems from Velekhaya Investments which won the 2008/2009 Entrepreneur of the Year Award (EYA).
The Hive General Manager Gcinekile Motsa said this was in response to hurdles faced by most start-ups and SMEs, to have a decent and affordable working office.
“We are basically a start-up facility. We offer companies to come and start-up with us at a minimum fee,” she said during an interview at the company premises at The New Mall opposite Woolworths.
Motsa said they have three service offices or private offices which could be rented on a weekly or monthly basis. The offices only opened on Monday, but already there are a number of clients that have been hosted by the facility.
“You rent out an office at your own time length jurisdiction and lock it. It comes equipped with furniture, including desks, chairs and a telephone line. We also offer services such as receptionist, so your phone or messages if you are not around are handled by the receptionist,” she further stated.
pays
The general manager said the tenant only pays for telephone usage and copying and printing as side cost.
Adding, she said they also have co-working space or hot desking which is an open plan set up. Unlike a traditional office, co-working spaces consist of members who work for a range of different companies, ventures, and projects.
“This is a concept of working flexibly with other people, who likewise wish to share a workplace on a temporary basis and while doing so exchange ideas and experiences with others,” she said.
Motsa said the core-working space was more affordable because it is an open plan setting. She said this plan could be rented hourly, daily, weekly and monthly.
“For E60 an hour you can come in, we can help you set up, connect to the internet and work within our premises. If your hour elapses and you feel you still need to continue working, you can add another hour.
“But, if you take one hour for a day, you don’t have a reserved space. If you take it for a week that is when you can get your dedicated work station,” said Motsa.
She said SME based solutions were critical for the economy.
“Job security in Swaziland is bad, so SMEs are basically what is going to boost our economy. We are here to say SMEs must come out and network at an affordable rate in a very decent place,” she said.
The company also leases a boardroom which is also charged hourly, daily, weekly and monthly.
“At our boardroom, we don’t charge businesses for food. They are flexible to bring their own food based on their affordability and they can use our utensils for free. But then, if you need catering we can discuss your preferences and then charge you based on that,” she said.
spacious
With regards to those renting space, the facility boasts a spacious kitchen for tenants. Part of the tenant’s package includes free access to the internet.
Motsa said two of their private offices were already booked and they were still working on other pending bookings.
“We are really looking at expanding to other towns. In time, we will be doing incubation, we are looking at partnering with a number of other organisations and look at how we can enhance our youngsters and build a culture of entrepreneurship. This can go a long way in as far as economic growth is concerned,” she said.
She said this was the easiest way to start up.
“We have eliminated the hustle for facilities and for setting up IT infrastructure,” said the general manager.
She said they would also assist start ups with trading licences as well as provide a consultant to assist them with account record to enhance their compliance to the Swaziland Revenue Authority (SRA).
...It’s a perfect place - first tenants
MEANWHILE, two of the tenants who had already secured private offices at The Hive, Mdeni Zwane and Daniella Mastracci have commended the concept.
“This is a convenient and ready to go set up for start ups. You have a space, you have a receptionist and you have a phone and internet access. So it makes it easy to set up, you don’t have to do it for yourself, it’s already done for you. One of the advantages for this set up is that you have different individuals working for different companies. There is an opportunity to share concerns, it’s a collaborative space,” said Mastracci.
She is a marketing consultant and she develops marketing strategies for organisations across Africa. She works in Swaziland and East Africa including Uganda and Tanzania. She is also an independent consultant who runs an association for women in social enterprises across Africa.
She said her experience from using the office space was fantastic. “It’s great seeing everyone coming in and there is a lot of interest going forward,” she said.
Adding, Zwane said from a business point of view, the place was just awesome.
He said before he was based at Matsapha, but couldn’t let this opportunity pass the moment he learnt about it.
“When someone comes to speak with you in such a set up for business, there is no way you can be taken lightly,” he said with a smile of contentment.
Zwane said so far everything was good and the staff and management were very professional.
“If this idea can be implemented across the country, this can result to new businesses as most people who have the business mindset end up not implementing their ideas due to facility barriers. Also if you look at the traffic coming in, there are a lot of opportunities to get coaches, mentors and networks,” he said.
Resource : http://www.observer.org.sz/business/85648-affordable-first-world-offices-for-start-ups-smes.html
