The next speaker for the Southern Highlands Small Business Club is Mr Greg Kerr from the University of Wollongong, and the topic is Branding and Small Business.
Greg has extensive senior management experience in local government, and more recently in business development. He has contributed to a number of economic development and tourism studies through NSW and has published papers in tourism and place branding. He has lectured in marketing, market research, international marketing, event marketing, tourism marketing, management and small business management and has tutored in strategic management, competitive analysis, and ecommerce and management.
The objective of his presentation is to assist operators of small business assess their current brand strategy. To achieve this, an overview of business brands in the context of small business is provided from two perspectives.
The first is from lessons learnt as an operator of a small business in the Illawarra and the evolution of a business brand. The second is an overview of academic literature regarding business brands. A comparison between the practitioner experience and the academic writings is made and the presentation concludes with some issues and strategies that should be considered by operators of small business.
Time: 5.15pm for networking to 6.00pm then meeting through to 7.30pm
Date: Wednesday 10th June 2009
Cost: FREE to attend but must register for catering purposes
Venue: Mittagong RSL Club Hume Highway Mittagong
RSVP: ring 1300 650 058 or email to itec@illawarraitec.com.au
WORKCOVER NSW RESOURCES
As a small business owner it's important for you to be aware of and be responsive to, any occupational health and safety (OHS) issues that may arise in your workplace. NSW WorkCover has developed a wide range of tools and kits to help you manage your OHS responsibilities.
Available on the WorkCover website, the health and safety resources include:
• an online safety self assessment tool
• an employee induction checklist
• a small business safety checklist and starter kit
• hazard profiles for a range of industries
• forms for workers compensation and injury management.
For further information or to view the publications, visit the WorkCover website www.workcover.nsw.gov.au
DOING BUSINESS WITH DEFENCE
Council are pleased to invite you to attend a briefing by the DMO’s Business Access Office about how to do business with Defence. The brief will also include a short presentation from a local Nowra company ‘Partech Systems’ on their experiences in working with Defence.
This is a preliminary briefing aimed at business operators who want to find out about the business opportunities available from the Defence sector. Learn where Defence and the DMO sit within the Federal Government, the basics of Government Procurement, the best ways to engage with Defence and how to prepare your company to take advantage of potential business opportunities. We are interested in talking to businesses from all industries.
Representatives from the Defence Material Organisation will be available for private appointments the following day to discuss with you in more detail any opportunities identified for your business.
Event Contact and Registration
To register for the above briefing please email dmobao.nswact@defence.gov.au or phone James Higgins on (02) 9377 2358 by the 16 July 2009.
Date: Tuesday 21 July, 2009
Time: 4:45pm for a 5:00pm – 6:30pm briefing
Venue: Shoalhaven City Council, Reception Room, 36 Bridge Road, Nowra, NSW
Please Note: There is no cost to attend
Date: Thursday 23 July, 2009
Time: 4:45pm for a 5:00pm – 6:30pm briefing
Venue: Ocean Room Innovation Campus Conference Centre, Squires Way, Fairy Meadow http://www.innovationcampus.com.au/index.pl?page=19
Please note: There is no cost to attend
INTRO TO BUSINESS PLANNING WORKSHOP
A good business plan will increase your chances of business success. It will help you identify your customers, market area, pricing strategies, financial and operational goals. By completing a business plan you will better understand your competitive advantages, new opportunities, current weaknesses and longer-term objectives for the business. Having a business plan is also an important requirement for gaining finance from financial institutions.
The aim of this Workshop is to provide an overview of the business planning process and increase the skills of participants to enable them to complete a business plan for their business. Business Plan templates will be provided.
Time: 12 noon to 1.30pm
Date: Monday, 15 June 2009
Cost: $33 – light lunch included
MARKETING WORKSHOP
It is not enough to just have a fantastic product or service; you also need to be able to understand how to market your product or service to potential customers and clients.
This two and a half hour workshop will help you understand the different aspects of marketing, how your product / service fit into the whole market and how you can market your business more effectively. We will discuss:
• Conducting Market Research
• Who is Your Target Market / Competitors
• The Four P’s of Marketing
• SWOT Analysis
• Requirements of Developing a Marketing Plan
Time: 9.30am to 12noon
Date: Thursday, 2 July
Cost: $40 – light Refreshments included
BASIC BOOKKEEPING WORKSHOP
It is very important for any small business owner to know how to keep sound financial records, but more importantly understand how to use those financial reports to make informed decisions.
This workshop will provide an overview of record keeping responsibilities and provides practical exercises in the tasks required to manage a business through record keeping. You will develop an understanding of financial control and the importance of cash flow and how to complete petty cash, cash payments, cash receipts, daily bank balances & bank reconciliations.
Time: 9.00am to 12 noon
Date: Thursday, 17 July 2009
Cost: $45 per person – light refreshments provided
BETTER WORKPLACE MANAGEMENT SERIES – OFFICE OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
The Better Workplace Management Series consists of three separate workshops: Recruitment and Retention, Workplace Policies, and Managing Employees – which together cover the main issues facing businesses today.
Each interactive workshop is a separate complete unit, so choose to attend the full series (at a discounted rate), or just the workshop that suits your particular requirements. SPECIAL OFFER: Enrol in all three workshops from this series at a discounted price of just $225 (incl. GST) – a saving of $75 - and also receive a Certificate of Attendance.
Workplace Policies ¬– Write Your Rules
Date: Thursday, June 18 2009
Time: 9.00am - 1.00pm
Venue: Mittagong RSL Club, Cnr. Hume Hwy & Bessemer St, Mittagong
Cost: $99
RSVP: Email win@oir.commerce.nsw.gov.au or call 131 628, extension 4612
Managing Employees - Problem-Free Workplace
Date: Thursday, June 25 2009
Time: 9.00am - 1.00pm
Venue: Training Masters, 1/44 Manning Street, Kiama
Cost: $99
RSVP: Email win@oir.commerce.nsw.gov.au or call 131 628, extension 4612
Other FREE workshops being held by the Office of Industrial Relations & Human Resources are:
SMALL BUSINESS WORKSHOPS
Illawarra ITeC regularly runs a suite of small business workshops to help you grow your business and improve your business skills. Workshops run include:
• Small Business Basics – for new start up businesses
• Marketing
• Business Planning
• Basic Bookkeeping
• Are you Charging the Right Price to Make a Profit
• Improving Customer Service
• Understanding Your Financial Statements
Please ring Illawarra ITeC if you would like to book in for any of the above workshops or would like to discuss any aspect of your business with one of our business advisors.
FREE BUSINESS ADVISORY SERVICES
If this current economic situation is really getting you down and you find that you are struggling and really need some business advice – call Illawarra ITeC and make an appointment to see one of our Business Advisors.
Illawarra ITeC has five Small Business Programs to either:
- Help you get started in your business venture; or
- Further develop your business skills and improve your business.
All programs provide free and confidential business advice. We have offices based in Wollongong, Nowra and Mittagong – but we are also a mobile service and can come to you:
• Illawarra Business Advisory Service (IBAS)
• Business Enterprise Centre (BEC)
• New Enterprise Development Scheme (NEIS)
• Illawarra Innovation Advisory Service (IIAS)
• Aboriginal Enterprise Development Officer (ADEO) Program
Call Illawarra ITeC today on 1300 065 058
SERVICED OFFICES – AVAILABLE
Are you looking for serviced offices in the CBD of Wollongong for a reasonable cost?
Illawarra ITeC has fully serviced office space available now. No LEASE – Monthly Rental Agreement only.
Run your business from established offices in a prime location or utilise Illawarra ITeC’s virtual office facility.
Benefits include:
• Short term / long term availability
• FULLY services offices
• Reception/Mailing/Cleaning
• Your phone answered in your business name
• Business name signage
Additional services available:
• Broadband Internet Access
• Undercover Parking available
• Training/Casual Interview Rooms for hire
Premises located at: 1/336 Keira Street (Cnr Keira & West Streets) Wollongong NSW 2500. Contact Sarah on (02) 4223 3100 to arrange an inspection and discuss rates.
If you require further information please don’t hesitate to contact me on 42233100 or 1300 650 058.
Do you receive our weekly Illawarra ITeC Small Business News Newsletter? If not, email Virginia today on ibec@illawarraitec.com.au and we will automatically send you a copy.
This is only a brief outline of the types of small business advice and assistance that we can offer. Want to know more? Remember I am a FREE service and can assist you in developing your business in many ways. Call me today on 4223 3100 or check out our website at www.illawarraitec.com.au
| 
