The Shellharbour City Business Network is pleased to advise that their next speaker will be Simon Pomfret, Executive Director of the Wollongong-based Illawarra Regional Information Service (IRIS). With 20 years’ experience in regional economic development and market/business research and well over a 100 business and consumer studies completed, Simon will offer a unique insight into Illawarra's Economic Outlook for 2009. Simon will identify the challenges for businesses in these tough economic times as well as new opportunities for businesses to consider.
Time: 5.30pm to 7.30pm
Date: Wednesday 18 March 2009
Venue: Sea Spray Function Centre, Shellharbour
Cost: FREE to attend – buy your own drinks
RSVP: email Corporate Planning Shellharbour City Council at
cps.support@shellharbour.nsw.gov.au
Government Grants for Family Friendly Initiatives
The Australian Government has introduced the Fresh Ideas for Work and Family grants program to support Australian small businesses to implement practices that help employees balance their work and family obligations as well as improve employee retention and productivity.
The program provides grants of $5,000 to $15,000 to small businesses to help meet the set-up costs of family friendly arrangements that suit the individual needs of the business. Applications for the current funding round must be received by 24 April 2009.
The grants are dispensed by the Federal Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. Further information on family friendly work arrangements, work-life balance and the program is available from this website. You may also call the Workplace Info line on 1300 363 264, email FIWF@deewr.gov.au or www.deewr.gov.au/WorkplaceRelations/FreshIdeas/Pages/default.aspx
TCF Industry Workshops
Do you belong to the TCF Industry?
Would you like to know how to grow and expand your business?
The Textile, Clothing and Footwear (TCF) Business Growth Project based in Western Australia will be running the following workshops in both Wollongong and Nowra. Topics include:
- Growing Your Fashion Business – Working in or on your business, developing a checklist.
- Pricing and Costing – have you priced your products correctly?
- Debt Collection and Credit Management – Collecting debts, providing credit to retailers, getting the cash back into your business.
- TCF Global – Sourcing off-shore manufactures – TCF Global Sourcing raw materials and manufactures, Hong Long, China, Bali, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Fiji. Information on TECFWA Buying Missions to Hong Kong Fashion Week July 2009.
- TCF NSW and Design edge Online Shops and Networking Groups
The TCF Industry includes the design and manufacturing process and would be relevant to the following industry sectors:
- Bridal Wear, Baby Wear, Boy’s Wear, Blinds, Awnings, Beading, Automotive
- Children’s Wear, Caps, Curtains, Carpets, Corporate Wear, Canvas Active Wear.
- Designer Fashion, Designers, Collars, Cushions, Belts Books, Banners
- Footwear, Equestrian, Furnishings, Evening Wear, Embroidery, Cloth Rags
- Intimate Apparel, Interior Textiles, Health, Grading, Girl’s wear, Dance Ware.
- Leather, Luggage, Handbags, Felts, Knitwear, Home wares, Hats, Flags
- Millinery, Maternity, Lifejackets, Lace, Industrial Textiles, Insulation
- Menswear, Manufacturers CMT, Marine, Mattresses, Paper Machine Clothing.
- Rugs, Ropes, pet accessories, Pattern making, Tanneries, Non Woven Textiles.
- Sporting Wear, Socks, Skins, Seat Belts, School Wear, Ski Wear, Saddlery
- Swimwear, Surf wear, Soft Toys, Safety, Sails, Sandals, Tablecloths, Sleepwear.
- Textiles, Fibres, Towels, Tens, Sport wear, Tourist Souvenirs, Textile Artists
- Women’s Wear, Wallets, Wool, Wetsuits, Work wear, Uniforms, Underwear, Yarns.
Time : 9.00am to 1.00pm - then networking and lunch between 1.00pm and 2.00pm
Date : Tuesday 10 March at Shoalhaven City Council; Wednesday 11 March at Illawarra IteC, Wollongong
Cost : $40.00 – includes light lunch
RSVP : Please call 1300 650 058 to register your details
Hurry as spaces are filling fast – this is your chance to increase your business potential and network with others from the TCF Industry.
Intro to business planning
Do you have a business plan? Are you guilty of working in your business but not on your business?
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: Friday 20 March 2009
Cost: $33.00 – light lunch included
RSVP: Ring 4223 3100 or email itec@illawarraitec.com.au
Free advice on patents, trade marks, designs and copyright
Do you have a new invention? Do you need assistance with how to register a patent, trade mark, design or need information about copy right? Then make an appointment to see one of our business advisers to discuss the above through the Illawarra Innovation Advisory Service. The Innovation Advisory Service is a FREE program and is supported through funding from the NSW Department of State and Regional Development.
We also have the services of an Intellectual Property Attorney who provides free advice at our offices once a month. Appointments are now being made for:
Time: Half hour appointments
Date: Friday 3 April 2009, Illawarra ITeC Wollongong
Cost: FREE
RSVP: Call 1300 650 058 to make an appointment
Free Advisory Services
The Illawarra ITeC has five Small Business Programs to help you get started and further develop your established business. All programs provide free and confidential business advice and are available free of charge in the Illawarra, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven areas:
• 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
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
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