Introduction to the Mauritian market
ENL Property and Workshop17 are combining their expertise to bring the finest coworking and flexible office solutions in Africa to Mauritius. Workshop17 has established a presence at Vivéa in Moka, The Precinct, Grand Baie and Savannah, Gros Bois.
A reliable and trusted player in the property market in Mauritius, ENL Property is a world-class commercial property developer that creates integrated, connected, and innovative spaces to live, work and play in. Its multidisciplinary team of experienced professionals develops, markets, and manages a portfolio of premium property assets. It also serves as custodian of the significant land bank owned by the ENL group, one of the country’s largest conglomerates.
A continental market leader, the South African workspace solutions provider has 10 years of experience with highly motivated teams in various locations. The firm also scooped the Global Start-up Award 2020 for Best Coworking Space. “We are very excited about our partnership with ENL Property. It is easy to see that they are a dynamic and highly innovative company with a strong professional ethos. We also share a great deal of common ground and harbour similar ambitions of challenging the conventional paradigms of commercial space on the island. I really could not think of a better partner for Workshop17 and indeed feel most privileged to be sharing this journey with the ENL Property team,” says the Managing Director, Adam Dembovsky.
Ambitious plans for the future
Workshop17 wants to make an impact on the changing nature of work and has big plans for the future in Mauritius. The firm will be at the leading edge of coworking design and technology to provide clients with a fully managed flexible workspace solution, which is unprecedented on the island.
The vision of Workshop17 is to be recognised as the market leader in the field, setting up multiple sites in key strategic nodes across the island. The offer is designed not only for management companies and start-ups but also for everyone and anyone who wants to be part of the global hybrid working trend. Additionally, it enhances the position of Mauritius as the perfect location for foreign and domestic companies to set up activities, grow and even recruit digital nomads and remote workers.
The history of Workshop17 is the tale of two creative minds
With a common passion for developing beautiful and functional spaces, Paul Keursten and Mark Seftel initially met in the Maboneng Precinct, Johannesburg. The former is measured, impact-, people- and purpose-driven while the latter is zealous, with innovation and opportunity in his DNA.
Their partnership immediately made sense to both sides: Paul had a shared workspace in Utrecht, Netherlands, and Mark had plans to set up a collaborative workspace for techies in Maboneng, halfway between Soweto and Sandton. It didn’t take long for Paul to persuade Mark to think bigger and create a common meeting ground for everyone, where diversity and innovation flourish.
They had the ambition to develop further and subsequently took up the invitation of the V&A Waterfront's CEO, David Green, who recognised the value in what they dreamed about achieving. And that’s how Workshop17 Watershed at the V&A was born. Continuing their expansion and growth journey, they later partnered with Growthpoint, a premier property asset manager in South Africa and 50% owner of the V&A.