April 2016 Edition

Published on 01 April 2016

April 2016

Welcome to the April edition of Hobsons Bay Business e-Works

With the recent announcement of the National Innovation and Science Agenda, the imminent arrival of the nbn network to Hobsons Bay and the dramatic increase in local businesses boosting their online presence through social media, this month we are focusing on the digital economy and highlighting a number of exciting opportunities and programs available to local business owners.

Coming up this month, Small Business Victoria will be hosting their popular 'Your Business in a Digital World' workshop in Altona. This workshop is a great opportunity to build the online presence of your business and learn how to better engage with new and existing customers.

In this edition, we also have an update on the nbn network, tips on using social media and Google to market your business and a range of current opportunities and funding programs available to business.

Hobsons Bay is also inviting input from local residents and business owners on Hobsons Bay 2030, a community vision that will allow us to plan for the future.

If you have any questions about doing business in Hobsons Bay or how Council can assist in helping your business grow, please contact us on 03 9932 1285 or email business@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au

Spotlight on�

Energy Efficiency at Australian Fluid Handling

Located in Burns Road, Altona, Australian Fluid Handling (AFH)is one of Australia’s leading providers of customised and engineered compressors, pumps and other related equipment. Since being established in 1999, AFH has gained an international reputation for providing high quality products and flexible solutions to customers, both in Australia and overseas.

Through Hobsons Bay City Council’s Light$mart program, AFH have replaced 143 lights throughout their offices, workshop and warehouse space with new, energy efficient LED lights reducing energy and maintenance costs and saving greenhouse gas emissions. Each year, AFH will now save approximately $4000 in energy and maintenance costs, 19,546 kWh of electricity and 24.6 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.


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Your Business in a Digital World Workshop

Thursday 21 April

Do you feel confused, overwhelmed or nervous about taking your business online? Whether starting a new business or taking an existing business online, this short workshop will help you make informed decisions about the right online tools for your business.

Presenter: Small Business Victoria
Date: Thursday 21 April 2016
Venue: Hobsons Bay Civic Centre, 115 Civic Parade, Altona
Time: 6pm to 8pm
Cost: $20
Bookings: Book online


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The National Broadband Network is coming to Hobsons Bay

Australia's digital economy demands a fast and reliable network. Fast broadband can help businesses to operate with greater speed and more sophisticated technologies, while enabling improved connectivity and collaboration. It also has the benefit of providing businesses with greater flexibility, increasing access to global markets and driving innovation.

To support the rollout of the network, nbn™ has developed a comprehensive website designed to inform businesses of the many benefits of access to fast broadband, how to connect to the network and what tools can be used to optimise their working life. For more information or to check when your address will be connected, visit www.nbnco.com.au

The rollout of the nbn™ network will be under way for homes and businesses across Hobsons Bay during 2016 and 2017. The nbn™ is designed to give access to fast and reliable phone and internet services, no matter where you live or conduct your business. The rollout will also allow businesses to expand their digital engagement, access more information online and reduce costs, while gaining a competitive edge on the global stage.

Top Five Social Media Marketing Tips

Social media is an inexpensive way to reach your customers and grow the profile of your business, but without sufficient planning your online efforts could go to waste. With these five social media tips, you can focus your energy, save time and improve the social media marketing of your business.

Social Media Tip #1 - Make it about them, not you.
With everything you do, make sure your audience gets some value out of every bit of communication.

Social Media Tip #2 - Ask questions.
People love having input on what you're doing - ask them advice on new products or services you're thinking about introducing.

Social Media Tip #3 - READ READ READ!
The social media world changes all the time and there are new apps every week. Read the blogs the experts read, Mashable, Social Media Examiner, and Jeff Bullas' blog are good places to start.


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Get Found with Google My Business

Is your online listing up to date?

When did you last update your Google listing? Google My Business offers free listings to businesses across the world, connecting your customers with up to date information and maps from any device.

By adding categories and key words, you can ensure that your business information, opening hours and reviews appear in real time on Google Maps, Google+ and on the web.


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Skills and Jobs Centre Now Open in Sunshine

If you or your staff are impacted by the closure of the automotive industry, you can now access support, advice and training locally, with a Skills and Jobs Centre opening at Victoria Polytechnic in Sunshine.

Skills and Jobs Centres are part of a state-wide Government initiative to provide workers and employers with free advice on training, job opportunities and links to other services available to help improve skills, careers and the workforce.


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Upcoming Events

> ATO Tax Basics Webinars - various dates
> Employer or Contractor Webinar - various dates
> Get Your Business Export Ready - 12 April
> One Page Business Planning - 14 April
> Australia China Expo - 27 and 28 April
> Designing Visitor Experiences that Delight - 29 April
> HR Essentials and Investigations - 4 May
> Risk Management Webinar - 5 May
> Destination Melbourne Content Marketing Workshop - 19 May

New Opportunities for Business

Build The Business You Always Wanted Business Event – 21 April

Whether you are a business owner or a key manager, don't miss out on the opportunity to stay ahead of the pack, learn to unlock the potential and grow your business.

This exciting business briefing and networking event, presented by the 'West is Best' Business Improvement Group and held at the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria, is a great opportunity to network with other local business owners while gaining skills and knowledge to grow your business. For more information or to register for this free event, click here.

Australia China Expo

Held on 27 and 28 April, The inaugural Australia China Expo (ACE), is a targeted exhibition across the major Australian and Chinese business sectors. ACE will draw 150 exhibitors from the cream of Australian and Chinese business and SMEs to exhibit in six feature zones, and engage with potential customers, partners and clients across two whole days. For more information visit acexpo.com.au.

Melbourne Knowledge Week

Running from 2 May to 8 May, Melbourne Knowledge Week has more than 60 horizon-expanding events where you can explore the innovation, creativity and technology shaping our future. Hosted by the City of Melbourne, Knowledge Week events will be taking place across the CBD. For more information and to view the full program, visit www.melbourne.vic.gov.au

Best Idea in Australia Competition
Enter your story of how you protect your business ideas with IP Australia's 'Best idea in Australia' competition and you could win up to $5000 worth of services in an innovation incubator hub space or business advisory service of your choice. For more information or to enter, visit www.business.gov.au. Entries close 12 April 2016.

VTIC Small Business Award

VTIC’s ‘Small Business Award’ gives member businesses with 20 or fewer full-time employees the opportunity to receive a $10,000 (incl. GST) grant towards professional development and business excellence within the organisation. Possible activities include, but are not restricted to: training, mentoring, creation of a formal partnership in or beyond Australia, secondment, education or exchange. For more information visit www.vtic.com.au

Victorian Training Awards

Nominations are now open for the 2016 Victorian Training Awards. The Awards recognise organisations and individuals that have made a significant contribution and demonstrated best practice within the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector.

Award winners benefit from state-wide recognition, networking opportunities and funding towards future training programs. Nominations close 6 May. For more information, visit www.education.vic.gov.au/trainingawards

Small Business Benchmarks

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has a series of small business benchmarks available to help small business owners compare their performance against similar businesses in the same industry. Benchmarks can be accessed by business type or industry via the ATO website at www.ato.gov.au

The Australian Business License and Information Service (ABLIS)

Do you have a great business idea but don't know what legal requirements you must fulfill to get started? The Australian Business Licence and Information Service (ABLIS) helps you find the government licences, permits, approvals, registrations, codes of practice, standards and guidelines you need to know about to meet your compliance responsibilities.

If you are starting, operating, growing, or closing a business, ABLIS will reduce the run-around and give you the time to get on with business. For more information or to get started, visit ablis.business.gov.au

Current Funding Programs

Future Industries Sector Growth Program

Grants of up to $1 million are available to undertake Victorian based projects aligned with the Future Industries Sector Strategies, that will create new jobs and drive growth, productivity and competitiveness of Victorian businesses. For more information visit www.business.vic.gov.au.

Next Generation Manufacturing Investment Programme Round 2

The Next Generation Manufacturing Investment Programme is a $90 million competitive, merit based grants programme. It supports businesses investing in capital projects to establish or expand high value manufacturing operations in South Australia or Victoria.

Round 2 of the programme opened on 29 January 2016 with revised Programme Guidelines. Grants ranging from $500,000 to $2.5 million are available, with grant funding of up to one third of eligible project costs. Applications to Round 2 will close on Monday 18 April. For more information or to apply visit www.business.gov.au

>  Accelerating Commercialisation
>  Certain Inputs to Manufacture (CIM)
>  Entrepreneurs Programme
>  Future Industries Manufacturing Program
>  Emissions Reduction Fund
> Enhanced Project By-law Scheme (EPBS)
> Grow Me the Money (VECCI)
> Industry Skills Fund
>  R & D Tax Incentive
>  Sustainability Victoria Resource Assessment Grants
> Trade Mission Assistance Program
> Wage Subsidies
>  Local Industry Fund for Transition (LIFT)
>  New Energy Jobs Fund

Hobsons Bay Business Excellence Awards

In each edition of Hobsons Bay e-Works, we showcase two winners from the 2015 Hobsons Bay Business Awards. This month includes the Retail and Hospitality and Trades and Construction categories and features two local businesses who are making their mark on the Hobsons Bay business community.

The Hobsons Bay Business Excellence Awards are the highlight of Council's business calendar every second year. If you would like more information on the 2015 winners, visit our website or email business@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au.

Retail and Hospitality - Captain's Retreat
Captains Retreat B&B, Cottages and Apartments offers a comfortable, relaxed ‘home away from home’ experience for people wanting to work, rest and/or play in Hobsons Bay. For more information, click here.

Trades and Construction - The Paz Group
Based in Brooklyn, the Paz Group is an award winning national business that supplies stone products to the civil, building and construction industries. For more information, click here.

Community Connection

Hobsons Bay 2030

This year, Council is developing a community vision, called Hobsons Bay 2030 to help us plan for the future.

For everyone who lives, works and studies in Hobsons Bay, Hobsons Bay 2030 will clearly state what the community wants and expects from Council. It will cover what you think is important around topics such as community health and wellbeing, planning and building, the local economy and job creation, the environment, sport and recreation and more.

Council will be using the responses received from our business community during the Economic Development Strategy consultation in 2014 to inform this process, but if you want to be involved further please go to Participate Hobsons Bay.