Morné Stoltz, head of Business Insurance at MiWay.
Mari Schourie, CEO of The Workspace.
Forward thinking space solutions and coworking specialist, The Workspace, and leading insurance company, MiWay, have joined forces to launch an entrepreneurial hub and business development programme at the newly developed Village Road premises in Selby in Johannesburg’s central business district.
MiWay’s presence at Village Road will afford The Workspace members the convenience of having business insurance and a host of other requirements fulfilled at their place of work whenever it suits them.
MiWay is the first corporate member at Village Road, the latest premises in The Workspace’s portfolio of upmarket coworking spaces.. The partnership will see MiWay consulting on site to The Workspace’s members, which include entrepreneurs and small business owners.
“One of our core beliefs is that The Workspace is so much more than just a place to work,” says CEO Mari Schourie. “Our objective is to become a mecca for start-ups, entrepreneurs and small business owners. Village Road was developed specifically to become the entrepreneurial hub of Johannesburg’s CBD offering business development and hands-on workshops to members.”
MiWay consultants will work hands-on with members, and deliver insurance and business support to business owners at a competitive rate of R49 per month, if requested, will automatically be included in their monthly membership fees.
Morné Stoltz, head of Business Insurance at MiWay, reiterates: “Like The Workspace, we believe entrepreneurs and small business owners are key to South Africa’s economic future. It’s imperative that businesses are sustainable and secure. We therefore believe that working hands-on with entrepreneurs could help them avoid pitfalls and certain business risks.”
This partnership will bring a number of benefits to members, including monthly knowledge hubs hosted by professional speakers as well as industry related workshops where guest speakers will impart business know-how to members. The companies will also collaborate on a major competition for entrepreneurs that will run over the next nine months. (Details will be released shortly.)
“At The Workspace, we have been ‘Celebrating Entrepreneurs’ for quite some time. With this programme, we’re taking our confidence in small businesses a step further by actively becoming involved in developing skills and knowledge as well as creating a thriving hub within Village Road,” says Schourie. “We understand the needs of entrepreneurs, freelancers and start-ups and we feel passionate about helping them grow their businesses.”
Stoltz agrees, saying, “MiWay understands how the business environment, the way business owners work as well as where they work are constantly changing. We want to walk hand in hand with them on their journey, and be present in their development and growth, giving advice and encouragement and helping to mitigate risk.”
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