VentraIP workplace includes wheel of prizes, hair salon, free meals

Free chef-prepared meals, a hair salon, island Christmas parties and … wait for it … an employee wheel of prizes — which includes a car. No wonder workers “never want to leave” this Google-inspired workplace in Narre Warren.

VentraIP chief executive Angelo Giuffrida in front of the wheel of prizes. Picture: Penny Stephens

A Google-inspired workplace with a wheel of prizes for employees, a hair salon and free meals prepared by an in-house chef is part of a growing “entrepreneurial ecosystem” in the southeast, Casey Council says.

VentraIP, which specialises in web hosting and domain name registration, opened in 2009 from humble beginnings as a home-based business.

Co-founder and chief executive Angelo Giuffrida said it was vital to look after employees.

Need a break? Relax on the couch with Leonardo and his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle friends. Picture: Penny Stephens

VentraIP Australia chief executive Angelo Giuffrida never has to worry about travelling to get a hair cut. Picture: Penny Stephens

Hammocks! My goodness, what an idea. Picture: Penny Stephens

“We feed our employees breakfast and lunch – they never want to leave – this keeps people enticed and wanting to really find a passion and continue working,” he said.

“We also have a hairdressing salon as we want to help our employees with those little life admin things.”

VentraIP’s Narre Warren offices include a company gym, two PlayStation4 Pro gaming consoles, complete virtual reality system and a driving simulator.

Mr Giuffrida said the company recognised employees who had gone “above and beyond”, allowing them to get a spin of their wheel that includes prizes such as a car.

“Someone actually has landed on the car before – you need to land on it twice and we worked out the odds and didn’t think it could happen but it did,” he said.

The workplace has its own wine bar/cafe. Picture: Penny Stephens

A place to work off your in-house chef-prepared lunches. Picture: Penny Stephens

Aaron Villa and Steve Morris have a go on the swings during a tour of VentraIP Australia’s workplace. Picture: Penny Stephens

He said the company also took its employees on extravagant Christmas parties.

“We have our Christmas party at Top Golf on the Gold Coast this year and Movie World and we’ve previously been to Fiji and Hamilton Island.”

The company moved to the Casey Business Park precinct on Vesper Drive in 2014 instead of the city as it was more “flexible” and “convenient” for its company that has more than 60 employees.

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“There was no way we were moving to the city as most of us live down this way,” Mr Giuffrida said.

“We’re now expanding to meet our growth.”

Casey Council start-up community and events co-ordinator growth and investment Chris Hall said as the area “continued to build the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the southeast”, it was important to recognise companies such as VentraIP, as the ultimate goal is to “find them, nurture them, retain them”.

“The fact the southeast – traditionally viewed as a growing region with a lower socio economic demographic – can sustain a mini-Google like business is testament to the opportunities within the outer suburbs of Melbourne,” Mr Hall said.