Immediately loved the community spirit in the area.
Having previously chaired two community groups, I wanted to become involved locally and meet some local business contacts, so I joined a local networking group.
Finding it difficult to get to breakfast and evening networking events, as a mum with young kids, I requested to start up a monthly morning coffee event for the group I’d connected with, which complimented their evening events. The attendance figures clearly indicated I wasn’t the only one looking for this option, and the group continues to be a huge support to many local business women.
With a strong background in Customer Service Management, I was considering my next career move, and began to get a strong feeling that there was a need locally for a place to network AND work at the same time, and the idea for the business centre began to take shape.
Central Business Associates was launched.
Recognising two growth markets within Australia – Customer Service and Flexible Working, and having significant experience in both areas, my subsequent research led me to identify my point of difference in the community.
2018 saw us move to another floor in the same building. The new space has a much bigger coworking area, and a fantastic kitchen area to meet and chat with coworkers over lunch, and you can help yourself throughout the day to the complimentary tea, coffee and filtered water. We have a much larger boardroom, with panoramic views out over the ocean, and more potential for events and workshops .
Moving to the new space, with it’s community-centric environment, we wanted to offer more value to our Members.
In collaboration with another local business, we created a new Leadership Masterclass program, offering tailored workshops to enhance our business community’s Leadership skills, including monthly small group sessions to help each other have a more rounded knowledge of how to grow our businesses.
We continue to look for areas where we can facilitate collaboration, and encourage local businesses to work together to create economic growth and community support in our area.
Celebrating five years open, and 2020 is shaping up to be a year of stability. More people taking up permanent services in the flexible workspaces, and continued Leadership and Development support.
There are many benefits of working together: sharing costs, helping each other, having a place to go for advice, or having a base to meet clients or have mail sent to.
It’s about being part of something bigger, but maintaining your own individuality, goals and objectives.
Central Business Associates creates the environment of a supportive large company, with access to different services and internal support for local micro, small and start-up businesses.
