‘WORK. MEET. BEACH. REPEAT.’ is the slogan that greets visitors to the offices of a new startup in Frankston aiming to help new start-ups launched just in time for the hotter summer months.
Frankston Foundry, a co-working space and business hub for entrepreneurs and new businesses, officially opened its doors last Tuesday.
Co-founders Cam Rambert and James Bertschik, both 28, are encouraging fledgling businesses to use office space on either a full-time or casual basis on the top floor above the Commonwealth Bank building in Wells St as a base of operations and a way to meet and talk to like-minded entrepreneurs about the challenges of building a business.
Mr Rambert, a marketing technologist who previously worked for advertising agencies, moved to Frankston about eight months ago and immediately saw past the area’s poor reputation in some external quarters to recognise the area is on the up business wise.
“I’m self-employed and found it tough myself to find a place to work around Frankston,” he said.
“Working from home is a bit distracting and it’s better to have an office away from home.”
The business incubator will be run on a six-month trial basis with help from Frankston Council’s Space Innovators program that helps converts empty shop fronts and office space into short-term opportunities for nascent businesses.
Frankston itself was named as a major entrepreneurial hotspot last month by demographer Bernard Salt in an Australia-wide study commissioned by NBN Co so the timing seems perfect for Mr Rambert and IT specialist Mr Bertschik, a Seaford resident, to take the plunge and test the waters in Frankston to find out whether a co-working space is sustainable in the longer term.
The demographer’s research found young Gen Y and older Baby Boomers, possibly facing post-employment life but not yet ready for retirement, have taken to self-employment in a sign there are no age limits on making a go of establishing a business.
“Members so far range from aged 17 until early 50s,” Mr Rambert said.
He hopes Frankston Foundry can become the focal point for start-ups across the bayside and Mornington Peninsula region.
“We’re aiming to connect business from Melbourne CBD to the peninsula too.”
Executive coaches, software development firms, architects, design agencies and a wakeboard manufacturer have shown an interest in leasing space at the Wells St offices.
The redevelopment of the Frankston train station precinct, expansion of Chisholm TAFE and the ongoing success of Monash University’s peninsula campus shows there is a lot of potential for new businesses in the area coupled with a 5-year low unemployment rate of 6.1 per cent in Frankston.
Politicians including federal Dunkley Liberal MP Chris Crewther spoke at the official launch and welcomed the Frankston Foundry co-working space as a first of its kind for Frankston.
Federal Cabinet Secretary Arthur Sinodinos also popped in and addressed launch attendees, praising the co-founders for not relying on government money to launch the hub.
“Once Canberra gets its claws into you, you never know what’s going to happen,” the Liberal senator said.
See frankstonfoundry.com for details of how entrepreneurs, digital creatives and independent professionals can lease office space and tap in to the experience of fellow small business founders.
First published in the Frankston Times – 26 September 2016
Correction: This article was amended on 30 September to remove a reference to a federal $4400 grant to the Frankston Foundry to upgrade kitchen facilities. This grant was in fact given to the Greek Senior Citizens Club to upgrade its kitchen. Mr Sinodinos visited the Greeks club bearing that grant gift on the same day he visited the Frankston Foundry.
