Page 12 - Islands Business March 2022

The Future of Work The Future of Work

The interior of Greenhouse Coworking space
“The first year was spent just doing market research and coworking concept than the COVID-19 pandemic and associ-
drawing up a sustainable business plan. The year after was ated shutdowns. Offices across the world were closed, with
spent looking for a location to set up,” says Pastorizo-Seki- employees told to work from home. In Fiji, social, family, and
guchi. “I mean, the dream started in 2015 and it launched in work bubbles shrank, and many people minimised their con-
late 2021.” tacts with others outside their households. Sharing an office
The partnership with MDF included the development of a with strangers was unthinkable.
feasibility study. “It also includes an incentive scheme for Furthermore, a Pacific Trade Invest survey shows 85% of
MSMEs, assistance with the rent, as well as a percentage of a female-led businesses in 2021 reported negative impacts on
key staff salary for six months,” says Pastorizo-Sekiguchi. their businesses due to COVID.
She says MDF looks at all the ways they can provide as- When the first COVID wave hit Fiji, the Greenhouse team
sistance to Greenhouse Coworking—whether that is through was able to mobilise quickly. Fong says they had a business
business development, visibility, monitoring and evaluation, continuity plan that had different phases of response, made
other possible partnerships, or other forms of support. sure there was open and clear communication with their own
MDF’s assistance was also crucial in finding the right loca- team, set clear boundaries while working from home, and
tion. “Suva has exorbitant residential and commercial rental kept everyone motivated. Celebrating birthdays virtually,
rates, and for a small business like us, finding an actual space meeting online to check on each member of the team, and
that not only had the perfect bones from which we could flesh dropping care packages were some of the ways they kept up
out the dream, but was within our budget and reasonable motivation.
monthly rent cost was a stretch,” says Pastorizo-Sekiguchi. “It When the space finally opened on November 1st, 2021, it
took us a year to find the right space that could accommodate saw a steady stream of community members, old and new,
our visions.” come through the doors.
MDF’s payment with the rent for four months allowed the
Greenhouse team to focus their resources on other key parts Greenhouse Coworking members
of the capital investment. Members using the space include consultants, entrepre-
After securing the space, the team was left with another neurs, NGOs, individuals, and corporate and private compa-
hurdle to overcome: COVID. “Imagine, we secured the space nies. The clients use the space for business meetings, personal
just before the second lockdown in 2021, so our landlord had workspace and training. The space is also hired for corporate
to work out a way to continue our renovations while adhering events and functions. “We’d love to see more startups and
to the strict COVID-safety guidelines,” exclaimed Pastorizo- MSMEs signup to be part of Greenhouse Coworking, whether
Sekiguchi. virtually or through our in-person memberships. It’s exciting
to watch it grow and feel the buzz of creativity from a diverse
COVID strategy group of individuals,” says Pastorizo-Sekiguchi.
It’s hard to imagine anything more challenging to the The Greenhouse Coworking space hosts a United Nations

12 Islands Business, March 2022