Media Releases

The Nationals Member for Rodney, Paul Weller said small businesses in the Echuca area will be able to access relevant, reliable and affordable information on marketing their business online thanks to the announcement of a workshop to be held in Echuca on Wednesday.

 

Mr Weller said the Your Business Online workshop is a great opportunity for small businesses to obtain professional business advice to assist in online marketing.

 

“Last year over 3,000 businesses throughout the state participated in Small Business Victoria’s workshops and seminars,” Mr Weller said.

 

“It’s a great opportunity for small businesses to obtain professional advice at a reasonable cost.”

 

“Through the program, businesses and prospective business owners are provided with the facts and advice needed to make informed decisions and create a platform for ongoing success,” he said.

 

Wednesday’s workshop will contain information on how to increase traffic to your website, how to use social media to achieve your business aims, the art of blogging (and why you should use it), and other strategies to market your business on the internet.

 

The facilitator of the Echuca workshop will be Fergal Coleman who is a director of a company in Melbourne called Symphony 3. Fergal has over 15 years of experience in the IT/internet industry.

 

The workshop is delivered by Small Business Victoria in partnership with the Shire of Campaspe and will be held at Shire of Campaspe Function Room at 6pm on Wednesday 14 March.

 

Innovation, Services and Small Business Minister Louise Asher said the Coalition Government recognised the vital role Victoria’s 495,000 small businesses played in the economy of the state.

“We are committed to encouraging small business and individual initiative, and to creating an environment that rewards those who work hard, save, invest and create employment,” Ms Asher said.

 

For more information about this workshop and other workshops and seminars that are available, please go to: www.business.vic.gov.au/businessevents.

 

To register for the Echuca workshop, you can do this online at the website address above or contact Astrid O’Farrell on phone no: 03 5481 2822 or email: a.ofarrell@campaspe.vic.gov.au .

 

Nationals Member for Rodney, Paul Weller has encouraged small businesses in the electorate to register for a forthcoming workshop that provides advice and relevant information on starting a new business.

“The Networking Seminar aims to strengthen business relationships with local council and provide opportunity for local business owners to obtain professional advice and assistance,” Mr Weller said.

Last year more than 3000 Victorian businesses participated in Small Business Victoria’s workshops and seminars and those new to business were provided with facts and advice to assist them in making informed decisions.

“The aim of these workshops and seminars is to empower people with knowledge and to create a platform for ongoing success,’ Mr Weller said.

All workshops and seminars are delivered by private sector business specialists who are well qualified and experienced in small business.

Mr Weller said the Coalition Government recognises the vital role that Victoria’s 495,000 small businesses play in the life of the State.

“The Coalition Government is committed to encouraging small business and individual initiative and to creating an environment that rewards those who work hard, save, invest and create employment,” Mr Weller said.

The seminar will be held at the Shire of Campaspe Function Room on Thursday February 16 from 6pm.

For more information about the workshop or any other workshops or seminars that are available please go to www.business.vic.gov.au/workshops.

Small businesses in the Echuca area will be able to access relevant, reliable and affordable information on greening their businesses thanks to a forthcoming seminar announced today by the Member for Rodney Paul Weller.

Mr Weller said the Green Your Business, Grow Your Business seminar would be held at the Shire of Campaspe Function Room at 6.30pm on Thursday 10 November.

“This event is delivered by Small Business Victoria in partnership with Shire of Campaspe,” he said.

“It is a great opportunity for Echuca businesses to obtain expert professional business advice at a convenient location and for a low cost.”

Small Business Victoria’s Workshop and Seminar Program is being delivered throughout the state, with over 3,000 small businesses likely to benefit during the course of 2011.

It provides businesses and prospective business owners with the facts and advice needed to make informed decisions and create a platform for ongoing success.

The program covers topics including: starting up; financial management; employing people; and marketing. All workshops and seminars are delivered by private sector business specialists who are well-qualified and experienced in small business.

Innovation, Services and Small Business Minister Louise Asher said the Coalition Government recognised the vital role Victoria’s 495,000 small businesses played in the life of the State.

“We are committed to encouraging small business and individual initiative, and to creating an environment that rewards those who work hard, save, invest and create employment,” she said.

For more information about other workshops and seminars that are available please go to: www.business.vic.gov.au/workshops

Victoria will celebrate the enormous contribution small businesses make to the economy as part of the Victorian Small Business Festival which runs from August 1 to 31, Member for Rodney Paul Weller said today.

Mr Weller said the festival aimed to provide inspiration, ideas and important information on starting and developing a small business.

“Small business throughout the Rodney electorate work extremely hard to provide top quality products and services to their customers, clients and community,” he said

“We are extremely fortunate in north central Victoria to have so many innovative and productive businesses and this is a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge them.”

Mr Weller said the Small Business Festival provided business operators the chance to take some well-earned time out to gain new skills and improve their bottom line.

“‘Add one more skill’ is the theme for this year’s festival and it is an important way to improve business productivity, growth and innovation,” he said.

“I encourage small business operators and those intending to establish a small business to participate in this exciting month of events.”

Seminars and workshops will be held in Echuca as part of the festival and include;

• Campaspe Future Entrepreneurs Program Launch – August 17 - encouraging young people to think innovatively about their future;
• Marketing Basics – August 2 - cost-effective marketing strategies, who to target and why; and
• Marketing For Growth – August 24 - learn how to launch new products successfully and conduct market research
.
Event information and the official guide are available online at www.business.vic.gov.au/festival or by calling the Victorian Business Line on 13 22 15.

Nationals MP Paul Weller has welcomed a move by the Victorian Coalition to provide low interest concessional loans to flood affected eligible primary producers, small businesses and not-for-profit organisations.

In a notice of motion raised in State Parliament yesterday, Mr Weller congratulated the Baillieu-Ryan Government on securing additional funding through the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements to establish the program.

He said the low cost loans provided a further level of assistance on top of the Victorian Coalition Government’s extensive support for regional communities recovering from the impact of unprecedented flooding across the state.

“This additional funding will provide welcome relief to eligible small to medium businesses, food producers and communities affected by the floods between January and March.”

“The recovery process is a long one and this news is providing a real boost to communities and families who are continuing to do it tough.”

Mr Weller said the cost of the loan and grant package was being shared between the Victorian Coalition Government and the Commonwealth.

“The funding will provide low interest concessional loans and grant packages with a concessional interest rate of four per cent for the first five years, with the first two years interest and repayment free,” he said.

“Up to $50,000 of the loan will be provided as a grant.”

The concessional loan and grant package will be available to businesses, primary producers and not-for-profit organisations that meet the following criteria specified under the NDRRA rules:

• Their principal place of operation is in an area of Victoria eligible for assistance under the NDRRA;
• They have suffered extreme damage as a result of the flooding between January and March 2011 and they are significant to the local community or industry;
• They demonstrate they are viable and have a reasonable prospect of returning to profitability; and
• They have been assessed by the Rural Finance Corporation of Victoria against other available assistance measures.

Businesses should contact Rural Finance on 5448 2600 or visit www.ruralfinance.com.au to discuss eligibility.

The closing date for concessional loan applications is 31 December 2011.

Small Business Victoria’s Mobile Business Centre is gearing up to deliver free face-to-face business mentoring and face-to-face assistance to businesses in Rochester on Friday July 8.

The Mobile Business Centre will visit 40 locations in regional Victoria, including Rochester, during the year. Regional businesses will have direct access to a Small Business Victoria presence in their own community.

State Member for Rodney Paul Weller MP said the objective of the 2011 Mobile Business Centre program was to deliver targeted support to Victorian small businesses, wherever they are located.

“Small business owners, particularly those in regional areas, often face difficulties accessing reliable information, or they lack the time to go out and get business advice to help them make decisions for their business,” said Mr Weller.

“The Mobile Business Centre will help to fill this information gap as it travels throughout regional Victoria delivering services that meet the needs of small businesses.

“The Coalition Government knows from business and community leaders throughout Victoria just how valued the services of the Mobile Business Centre are.

“While the Mobile Business Centre is in Rochester, small business owners will be able to access the full range of Small Business Victoria services, including face-to-face mentoring from the Small Business Mentoring Service, and access to the Business Victoria website.”

Small business people affected by the recent floods have already been able to use the Mobile Business Centre this year to help them get back on their feet.

The Mobile Business Centre will be outside the Commonwealth Bank, (corner of Gillies and Moore Streets), 2 Gillies Street, Rochester, from 10am - 4pm, on Friday July 8.

Details of the locations and dates for the 2011 Mobile Business Centre tour and information on how to book a mentoring session can be found at www.businessvic.gov.au/mbc or by calling Small Business Victoria on 13 22 15.

Small Business Victoria’s Mobile Business Centre is gearing up to deliver free face-to-face business mentoring and face-to-face assistance to businesses in Echuca on Thursday July 7.

The Mobile Business Centre will visit 40 locations in regional Victoria, including Echuca, during the year. Regional businesses will have direct access to a Small Business Victoria presence in their own community.

State Member for Rodney Paul Weller said the objective of the 2011 Mobile Business Centre program was to deliver targeted support to Victorian small businesses, wherever they are located.

“Small business owners, particularly those in regional areas, often face difficulties accessing reliable information, or they lack the time to go out and get business advice to help them make decisions for their business,” said Mr Weller.

“The Mobile Business Centre will help to fill this information gap as it travels throughout regional Victoria delivering services that meet the needs of small businesses.

The Coalition Government knows from business and community leaders throughout Victoria just how valued the services of the Mobile Business Centre are.

“While the Mobile Business Centre is in Echuca, small business owners will be able to access the full range of Small Business Victoria services, including face-to-face mentoring from the Small Business Mentoring Service, and access to the Business Victoria website.”

Small business people affected by the recent floods have already been able to use the Mobile Business Centre this year to help them get back on their feet.

The Mobile Business Centre will be behind Carters, 438-454 High Street, Echuca, from 10am - 4pm, on Thursday July 7.

Details of the locations and dates for the 2011 Mobile Business Centre tour and information on how to book a mentoring session can be found at www.businessvic.gov.au/mbc or by calling Small Business Victoria on 13 22 15.

Small Business Victoria’s Mobile Business Centre is gearing up to deliver free face-to-face business mentoring and face-to-face assistance to businesses in Echuca on Thursday July 7.

The Mobile Business Centre will visit 40 locations in regional Victoria, including Echuca, during the year. Regional businesses will have direct access to a Small Business Victoria presence in their own community.

State Member for Rodney Paul Weller said the objective of the 2011 Mobile Business Centre program was to deliver targeted support to Victorian small businesses, wherever they are located.

“Small business owners, particularly those in regional areas, often face difficulties accessing reliable information, or they lack the time to go out and get business advice to help them make decisions for their business,” said Mr Weller.

“The Mobile Business Centre will help to fill this information gap as it travels throughout regional Victoria delivering services that meet the needs of small businesses.

The Coalition Government knows from business and community leaders throughout Victoria just how valued the services of the Mobile Business Centre are.

“While the Mobile Business Centre is in Echuca, small business owners will be able to access the full range of Small Business Victoria services, including face-to-face mentoring from the Small Business Mentoring Service, and access to the Business Victoria website.”

Small business people affected by the recent floods have already been able to use the Mobile Business Centre this year to help them get back on their feet.

The Mobile Business Centre will be behind Carters, 438-454 High Street, Echuca, from 10am - 4pm, on Thursday July 7.

Details of the locations and dates for the 2011 Mobile Business Centre tour and information on how to book a mentoring session can be found at www.businessvic.gov.au/mbc or by calling Small Business Victoria on 13 22 15.

Small businesses in the Echuca area will be able to access relevant, reliable and affordable information on financial management at a seminar in Echuca next month, Nationals MP Paul Weller said today.

 

The Budgeting and Forecasting seminar will be held at the Shire of Campaspe Function Room at 6pm on Thursday June 2^nd.

 

Mr Weller said the event was delivered by Small Business Victoria in partnership with Shire of Campaspe.

 

“This is a great opportunity for Echuca businesses to obtain expert professional business advice at a convenient location and for a low cost,” he said.

 

“It provides businesses and prospective business owners with the facts and advice needed to make informed decisions and create a platform for ongoing success.”

 

Small Business Victoria’s Workshop and Seminar Program is being delivered throughout the state, with more than 3,000 small businesses likely to benefit during the course of 2011.

 

“The program covers topics including starting up, financial management, employing people and marketing,” Mr Weller said.

 

“All workshops and seminars are delivered by private sector business specialists who are well-qualified and experienced in small business.”

 

Mr Weller said the Coalition Government recognised the vital role Victoria’s 495,000 small businesses played in the life of the state.

 

“We are committed to encouraging small business and individual initiative, and to creating an environment that rewards those who work hard, save, invest and create employment,” he said.

 

Registration for the workshop is $20 and bookings can be made online at www.business.vic.gov.au/workshops or by phoning Bianca Stapleton on 5481 2822. 

Small Business Victoria’s Mobile Business Centre will deliver free face-to-face mentoring and assistance to businesses in Echuca and Rochester in early July.

 

The visits are part of a workshop and seminar program which will be rolled out across more than 45 regional locations in Victoria over the coming three months.

 

Nationals Member for Rodney Paul Weller said the objective of the 2011 Mobile Business Centre program was to deliver targeted support to Victorian small businesses, wherever they are located.

 

Mr Weller said hundreds of businesses would have direct access to the full range of Small Business Victoria services in the convenience of their own community as part of the initiative.

 

“Small business owners in regional areas often face difficulties accessing reliable information, or simply lack the time to get out and obtain advice to help them make the best decisions for the future growth of their business,” he said.

 

“As it travels throughout regional Victoria, the Mobile Business Centre will help to fill this information gap by delivering services that are tailored to meet the needs of small businesses.”

 

Mr Weller said the Mobile Business Centre mentors would meet face-to-face with local business operators to discuss their key issues and priorities and to identify a clear direction for their business.

 

He said the mentors could assist businesses in developing effective marketing strategies, developing business plans, identifying new opportunities and markets, improving cash-flow management, costing and pricing products and services and improving internet marketing.

 

“All mentors are volunteers with the Small Business Mentoring Service and have extensive experience in small business.

 

“Their skills include marketing, finance, human resources, sales and specialist industry knowledge and they have a strong desire to pass on this knowledge to help your business grow.”

 

Mr Weller said the Liberal National Coalition Government recognised the huge commitment made by Victoria’s 495,000 small businesses to the state’s economy and had revamped the 2011 program to deliver better targeted support to businesses.

 

The Mobile Business Centre will be at Echuca on Thursday July 7 and at Rochester on Friday July 8.

 

Bookings for the free 45-minute mentoring sessions must be made in advance and can be arranged by contacting Small Business Victoria on 13 22 15.  Further information is also available at the website:- www.business.vic.gov.au/mbc.