Business hub set to grow at Wintec

PETER DRURY/Waikato Times

BRIGHT FUTURE: Wintec chief executive Mark Flowers, left, Waikato Chamber of Commerce chairman Mike Blake and chief executive Wayne Walford, and Opportunity Hamilton chief exective Sandra Perry are excited about the opportunities presented by the business hub.

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A Waikato business hub is being planned at Hamilton's Wintec as the Chamber of Commerce and economic development agency Opportunity Hamilton prepare to move into the redeveloped F Block.

Tenancy agreements are in the final stages of negotiation for the iconic brick building, which is being overhauled by Mainzeal.

Wintec has invested $16.5 million in the building and it was hoped a larger business cluster would be created around the site.

Opportunity Hamilton will move from the Wel building on Victoria St, while the chamber will move from its Collingwood St site, where it has been since 2005, after the building was refurbished with the help of Gallaghers, Sky City, Trust Waikato and the Scottwood Trust.

The chamber and the business development agency have been discussing combining resources since 2007.

Wintec chief executive Mark Flowers said co-locating Hamilton's leading business support agencies provided new opportunities for the commercial sector.

"From Wintec's perspective, we want to create strong connections with industry to ensure our training continues to be relevant and accessible. With these agencies on campus, we hope to strengthen those ties."

Chamber chief executive Wayne Walford said the concept of a business hub was a good one for Hamilton and the region.

"There are a number of benefits, including providing a single gateway for business new to the region, sharing ideas with like-minded organisations, and sharing resources such as office and meeting space," he said.

"It will be ideas that make this service a great one in time, but improving operational efficiency alone means we free up funds to put to work directly for our members' benefit. This is a clear and easy win for business in the city and region," he said.Opportunity Hamilton chief executive Sandra Perry said co-location strengthened the ability to create benefits for local business.

The ground floor will house a public cafe, while the first floor will be home to Wintec's hairdressing and beauty salons and function as a meeting space. The business hub will be on the second floor and a glass atrium at the side of the building will provide a venue for functions. A multi-storey car park is being built on the edge of the campus, close to the refurbished building, to accommodate the parking needs of the wider campus and the new building.