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November 2017 Edition

Published on 01 November 2017

Hobsons Bay’s business community was celebrated at the 2017 Hobsons Bay Business Excellence Awards gala dinner on Friday 20 October. Mayor of Hobsons Bay Councillor Sandra Wilson congratulated all of the winners, drawn from more than 40 finalists across all categories.

“These awards celebrate our local business sector and recognise the important contribution it makes to our community and to the economy in Hobsons Bay and across Melbourne’s west,” said Cr Wilson.

We would like to thank all entrants of the Business Excellence Awards. Together you continue to make Hobsons Bay a great place to do business.

We would also like to thank our valued sponsors and our judges who so generously gave their time to support the Hobsons Bay business community, by visiting, assessing and selecting the winners.

Included in this special Business Excellence Award winners edition eNews, there is also information about the next free Small Business consultation, Advancing manufacturing support, FIA Export pathway program, Gas Efficiency grants, Victoria major projects conference, JobsBank and more.

If you have any questions or have feedback for us on how Council can assist in helping your business grow or what you would like to hear about in future editions of the eNewsletter, please contact us on 03 9932 1285 or email business@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au

CATEGORY	WINNER
Home-Based Business	Get Farmed
Hospitality	Bezirk Altona Cafe
Manufacturing and Industrial (small-medium)	East Coast Generators
Manufacturing and Industrial (large)	Downer
New Business	The Reading Mountain
Not for Profit	Altona Village Traders Association
Professional Services	Lavanya Spa Retreat
Retail	Quazi Design
Tourism	Captains Retreat B&B, Cottages and Apartments
Trades and Construction	Modscape
Transport and Warehousing	IFC Global Logistics Pty Ltd
Mayoral Award	Mamma Knows West
Business of the Year	Modscape

Brooklyn-based modular design and construction company, Modscape, was named Business of the Year, while entrepreneurial venture Mamma Knows West won the Mayoral Award.

The judges noted that Modscape is an innovative business bringing architectural style and design to Hobsons Bay and reaching across Australia. A market leader in pre-built technology and on an impressive growth trajectory supported by their ability to attract qualified and highly motivated staff to Brooklyn and the west.

Mayor of Hobsons Bay Councillor Sandra Wilson had the difficult task in selecting the Mayoral Award and followed her passion for social enterprise in awarding the prize to Mamma Knows West.

In partnership with the Business Enterprise Centre (BEC) at Kangan Institute we are offeringfree and confidential one-on-one sessions, with an experienced business counsellor from the BEC@Kangan, for you to discuss any issues you have in regards to commencing your business or improving the performance and operation of your existing business.

Tuesday 28 November 9am to 12pm
Williamstown Town Hall, Ferguson Street, Williamstown
FREE

For bookings please phone 9094 3008 or email bec@kangan.edu.au to secure a place.

Do you know how you can protect your business and reduce the risk of non-payment?

Entering into a new working relationship in the building and construction industry can feel like a big risk. Being proactive and knowing how to safeguard your business can give you peace of mind and help you get paid for the work you’ve done.

The Australian Government has consulted with businesses and representatives in the industry to create guides with simple steps you can take to protect your business.

You’ll find out:

- how to reduce the risk of future disputes or non-payment when taking on a new client
- how to find and choose the right supplier and negotiate a good contract when you engage with a new supplier
- what your rights and responsibilities are when hiring a new contractor.

You can learn how to protect your finances, recover money owed to you and deal with debt in these new guides:

- prevent unpaid debt
- what to do when you haven’t been paid
- what to do when you’re in debt.

For more information specific to the building and construction industry, read their fact sheet.

The Victorian Government recently released Advancing Victorian Manufacturing – A Blueprint for the Future. This statement, which is backed by $12 million in new funding and initiatives, outlines a vision for Victoria to be a global hub for advanced manufacturing and provides practical support for the growth of the sector.

The government has identified four streams of assistance to support manufacturing businesses to:

- Introduce new products and services into their business.
- Implement process enhancements and adopt advanced business models.
- Encourage stronger linkages with global business partners.
- Enter new export markets and secure global supply chain opportunities.

For more information about the proposed initiatives, view the Advancing Victoria Manufacturing Programs Factsheet (PDF 299.71 KB) or follow this link

Take advantage of the opportunities available under Australia’s free trade agreements. Here you’ll find services and resources to help you begin or expand your operations with Australia’s key trading partners.

Victorian Chamber FTA Export Pathway Program

Australia’s free trade agreements (FTAs) with China, Japan and South Korea make it easier for small businesses to grow their revenue and become global brands.

There is more international demand for Australian products and services than ever before, so now is the time to explore the opportunities available, particularly for regional businesses.

The Victorian Chamber FTA Export Pathway Program helps you get started or expand your existing goods or services exports to reach new consumers in these key North Asian markets.

Contact the Fair Trade Agreements (FTA) advice line on 8662 5488 or follow this link

Gas Efficiency Grants of up to $50,000 are being delivered as part of Sustainability Victoria’s $6.1 million Boosting Business Productivity (BBP) program. To help you understand if the Gas Efficiency Grants are appropriate for your business you can find more information here:
www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/gas
The BBP program also offers grants for a range of business needs:
• Energy Assessment Grants up to $18,000, and
• Materials Efficiency Grants up to $13,000

Eligibility to BBP programs is open to all sized businesses.

To further assist businesses, the program also provides access to expert advice and support needed to cut energy and materials costs, reduce greenhouse emissions, and improve energy productivity through a variety of events, services and training sessions.

If you would like further information about the grants, including which is most suitable for your business, you can contact the Sustainability Victoria team on grants.enquiries@sustainability.vic.gov.au or call 1300 363 744 and ask to speak with a Business Productivity advisor.

The Digital Economy Strategy consultation process is underway and all Australians are invited to share their views. Tell the Australian Government what you think the key issues, challenges and opportunities are for Australia in the digital economy by visiting their Consultation Hub and making a submission before 30 November 2017.

Visit the new online forum if you want to make a comment or see other ideas and suggestions on key issues on Australia’s digital future, and what they need to do to make it prosperous and positive for everyone. New topics will be added weekly.

JobsBank is a new Jobs Victoria initiative that will provide intensive support to long-term jobseekers with complex needs, and to the businesses who pledge jobs for them.

The Premier and Minister for Employment announced JobsBank on 15 August 2017 and asked leading businesses across Victoria to participate in this new $5 million Jobs Victoria program by each pledging at least five jobs for a minimum period of six months.

Pledging businesses will receive intensive support to help make this work. A dedicated employment broker will match businesses with the right jobseeker, help them develop a culturally safe and supportive working environment, and provide post-placement support.

Jobseekers participating in this initiative will be drawn from groups in our community most a risk of being left behind. JobsBank will see government and business working together to support these Victorians into work.

Register your business’ interest in supporting Victorian jobseekers under JobsBank here and a Jobs Victoria representative will be in touch.

11 Australian businesses will share in $5 million from the Accelerating Commercialisation element under the Entrepreneurs’ Programme to help launch their innovative products, processes and services into domestic and international markets.

What are the grants for?

Recipients will use the funding to conduct commercialisation activities to help bring their innovative idea to market. Commercialisation Advisers from the Programme will help navigate through the challenging stage of product development.

To date 253 Australian businesses have benefited from the commercialisation funding provided under the Entrepreneurs’ Programme.

The latest round of funding will assist:

- Commercialising a battery-less jump-starter for the automotive or marine sectors, that can charge off a failed or discharged battery using its residual energy.
- Developing a stretcher loading system that rapidly loads ambulance stretchers carrying critically ill and injured patients into aircraft without lifting by paramedics.
- Testing the commercial viability of a cloud-based online mediation tool to help dispute resolution professionals reach faster and cheaper resolutions for parties and redirect smaller matters away from courts and tribunals.
- Commercialising and scaling-up a pre-fabricated building system that enables large-scale buildings projects to be delivered faster, more cost effectively and at a higher quality than with conventional building materials and processes.

Check out more successful funding offers and their projects.

Following it's sell-out success at the 2016 Art & Industry Festival, IF: Industrial Fashion is back!

Williamstown Town Hall will again open its doors for an extraordinary night of fashion and performance.

Our most daring and innovative fashion makers have drawn inspiration from the architecture that surrounds us to reinvent our built environment in a wild and wearable form.

From the cutting edge of the cutting table, Industrial Fashion is an energetic, exuberant and eye-popping theatrical event.

Williamstown Town Hall
104 Ferguson St, Williamstown
24-26 November

BYO food. Drinks available at bar prices.

For ticket details visit www.hobsonsbaytickets.com.au