|
|
Welcome to the Murray Hume Business Enterprise Centre
|
BEC Australia to receive $42 million in Federal Government funding |
|
Written by Heather Dearing
|
|
Thursday, 31 July 2008 |
|
The Federal Government has announced that it will provide BEC Australia with $42 million over four years to fund one-stop small business advisory centres across Australia. The funding will support 36 Business Enterprise Centres in suburban, rural and regional Australia. In announcing the funding, Small Business Minister Craig Emerson said the funding will enable Business Enterprise Centres to strengthen and expand their capacity to help small business debutantes and those already in operation. The Federal Government has announced that it will provide BEC Australia with $42 million over four years to fund one-stop small business advisory centres across Australia. The funding will support 36 Business Enterprise Centres in suburban, rural and regional Australia. In announcing the funding, Small Business Minister Craig Emerson said the funding will enable Business Enterprise Centres to strengthen and expand their capacity to help small business debutantes and those already in operation. | 
|
"This new $42 million small business program is part of the Government's overall small business strategy that includes cutting red tape in 27 areas of business regulation, amending the law to prevent powerful businesses from misusing their market power against small businesses, tax relief for small business owners, easing skill shortages and a national high-speed broadband network". The funding decision meets Labor's election commitment to support more than 30 advisory centres around Australia. BEC Australia Chair, Peter Murray, welcomed the funding announcement, and said it will enable BECs to build on their existing services and provide greater advice and assistance to small business owners and intenders. “BEC Australia is an apolitical organisation which supports the network of community based BECs and we welcome funding from all sources. This announcement is a win for small business, we welcome it and congratulate the ALP on this policy initiative.“ BECs will provide support to small businesses in a range of areas, including: - Mentoring for New Business: BEC staff or consultants will provide advisory service meetings and networking opportunities for new small businesses.
- Planning: BEC staff or consultants will provide a diagnostic assessment of individual small businesses, followed by better business planning advice. The BEC will assist small businesses with networking opportunities, writing better business plans, assessing and improving supply-chain management, e-commerce take-up, information technology and broadband, succession planning and creating security for the business over leased premises or intellectual property.
- Loans and banking products: BEC staff or consultants will provide independent information and guidance on available banking and finance products for small and micro-businesses.
- Marketing: BEC staff or consultants will prepare simple marketing plans for small businesses on promotional opportunities and advertising options in their local area.
- Legal and accounting services: BECs will dedicate a portion of the recurrent funding for new small businesses to access legal and accounting advice and for established home-based/micro businesses to obtain advice on issues such as Retail Tenancy, Intellectual Property, Credit Management…...
- Leasing guidance: The BEC will provide information and guidance on leasing terms and conditions during negotiations with prospective landlords.
- Government regulation: The BEC will provide advice to businesses on regulatory compliance at all tiers of government.
- Staff training programs: When significant new regulations start, the BEC will develop and deliver training programs for small businesses.
- Women: Women are an increasingly important part of Australia’s enterprise culture and the BEC will ensure it programs cater for the needs of this client group.
- National Referrals: Where a BEC client is looking to conduct business interstate or intrastate the BEC will refer the client to the most appropriate BEC for assistance. Where appropriate the BEC will refer clients for industry specific assistance to another BEC who has specific expertise in that industry.
“BEC Australia supports BECs in their delivery of services to the small and micro businesses of Australia,” Mr Murray said. “Through BEC Australia, each BEC has access to the talents and resources of all BECs in the BEC Australia network plus strategic partner resources to provide quality business assistance. These vital partnerships provide BEC clients access to a wealth of professional services and knowledge not easily available elsewhere.”
The Murray Hume Business Enterprise Centre is pleased to have been selected to participate in the new program and it is expected to receive $1.2 million over 4 years to support the work of its Centres located in Albury and Wodonga. For further information on this program and other Federal Government programs to support business and industry, please visit http://www.ausindustry.gov.au/
|
|
Last Updated ( Thursday, 31 July 2008 )
|
|
|
Written by Heather Dearing
|
|
Tuesday, 29 July 2008 |
|
Graeme Sayer has recently commenced in the role of CEO with the Murray Hume BEC. For the past few years, Graeme has been self-employed as a business growth specialist providing a comprehensive range of business services to clients and helping them operate their business more effectively, especially in the fields of strategic planning, finance and marketing. Prior to that, from 1981 to 1998, Graeme was a partner in a chartered accountancy firm based at Castle Hill in Sydney, servicing clients principally in the Hills area. During his time as a partner, the practice grew from a small practice to a respected large regional practice with a high profile in the community. For most of this time he was the practice administrator. Graeme can be contacted on 1300 650 058 or (02) 6055 9100.
|
|
Last Updated ( Thursday, 31 July 2008 )
|
|
|
New Business Advisor Appointed |
|
Written by Heather Dearing
|
|
Tuesday, 29 July 2008 |
|
Mick McInerney recently commenced in the role of Business Advisor for the Murray Hume Business Enterprise Centre. Mick’s extensive career includes 26 very enjoyable years with the Commonwealth Government’s Employment and Training portfolios. In 1980 he was appointed as Zone Manager (Northern Victoria) for the Commonwealth Employment Service. In 1984 he was offered a temporary transfer to a senior management role in the Northern Territory for a period of 3 months. He and his family took on this role with such enthusiasm that they didn’t leave the NT until 23 years later. During this time he became a Director of his own small business, a management consulting Company, for a period of 10 years. In 2006 after their children had completed their tertiary education, Mick and his wife (Carol) decided it was time to return to Victoria to be closer to extended family throughout Victoria. In early 2007 Mick was appointed to the role of Small Business Field Officer for North East Victoria under the banner of the North East Victorian Area Consultative Committee (NEVACC). This was a role that Mick enjoyed immensely as he re-familiarised himself with the beautiful countryside that is featured in North East Victoria. Mick is enjoying the induction process for the Business Advisor role in the Murray Hume region. He is looking forward to developing co-operative arrangements with potential partner organisations to meet the needs of small to medium sized businesses in the area. Mick can be contacted on 1300 650 058 or 0402 857 041.
|
|
Last Updated ( Thursday, 31 July 2008 )
|
|
| |
 |
|
Who's Online |
|
We have 26 guests online |
|
