Launch of new business network for startups, innovators and entrepreneurs

Sutherland Shire Business Chamber says it allows startups, innovators and entrepreneurs to move out of homes into a professional environment, with flexibility to grow and without being locked into long rental agreements.

The chamber is helping to establish the ShireStart network, which will bring businesses in this sector together for mutual support.

Shirestart will be launched at a free event at the Highfield Caringbah hotel on Wednesday next week.

Others behind the initiative are ANSTO’s nandin deep technology incubator and Inspire CoWork at Miranda, which accommodates 85 startups and other businesses

Birdie Wealth, a startup mortgage brokering business, moved into CoWork in January, 2017.

Director Nathan Smith said the flexibility of the space allowed him to grow the business quicker than expected.

Mr Smith said the shared kitchen and meeting room gave a professional feel for clients without the higher overheads of a larger space

Over the last 12 month, the company has exceeded growth projections and had provided jobs for four more shire residents, he said.

Inspire CoWork has grown from a small office with four trestle tables in 2014 to have 85 businesses working in in a wide range of areas, including finance, engineering, technical support, environmental, social services, health and digital marketing.