Business Enterprise Centre (BEC)
Department Summary
The Business Enterprise Centre (BEC) delivers high quality training, consultancy and advice to the small and micro business sector. We provide specialist training in business management and planning.
Department Vision/Mission Statement
The BEC is particularly concerned with providing for the needs and demands of individuals who derive the majority of their income from small business activities. The BEC aims to contribute to the economic development of the Kangan Batman TAFE catchment area and play a significant part in supporting and promoting self-employment and self-sufficiency. The BEC team will achieve this by being responsive to marketplace changes.
Services
The BEC delivers high quality training, consultancy and support to the small and micro business sector.
We service Melbourne's inner, western and north-western suburbs, from locations in Essendon, Richmond, Deer Park, Moreland, Werribee, Sunbury and Broadmeadows.
We specialise in small business management and planning, business training, counselling and networking.
Small business management training is available during the day or evening, or through flexi-mode (home study). More than 600 students participated in over 34 certificate groups during 2008. Training is focused on the creation of a business plan.
The New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) program is conducted from 22 locations across Melbourne and Gippsland through the Greater Melbourne Employment and Training Services (GRAMETS) partnership between Kangan Batman TAFE, Box Hill TAFE and Chisholm Institute. GRAMETS is Australia's second largest provider for NEIS, while Kangan Batman TAFE is Victoria's largest provider.
Business counselling is an outreach service and appointments can be made for the business on-site or at our locations in the Cities of Melbourne, Yarra, Moonee Valley, Hume and Brimbank. This initiative is sponsored by the Australian government and the City of Hume.
The BEC's small business network provides an informal training and commercial opportunity for many local businesses at a 'Business Expo' held twice yearly.
The BEC also manages the Institute's accounting programs. About 250 local and international students study accounting full or part-time at Broadmeadows campus each year, along with 100 students in China.
Course Offering
Accounting and Financial Services
Small Business Management
Our Facilities
The BEC operates out of quality training and counselling rooms at our nine locations; Richmond, Werribee, Moreland, Essendon, Broadmeadows, Deer Park and Sunbury. A business counsellor is also available to visit businesses.
Our Staff
The BEC fosters a learning culture and continuous improvement principles. The seven core staff members are qualified and experienced. Current training undertaken by staff includes Certificate IV in Business Facilitation (AusIndustry approved), Masters in Marketing, Graduate Certificate in Leadership, and Graduate Certificate in Action Learning.
Kangan Batman TAFE Business Enterprise Centre staff members:
| Manager | Tim Cremean |
|---|---|
| Assistant Manager | Joe Imbesi |
| Senior Staff | Angela Nitchov (Mentoring Co-ordinator) |
| Administration Staff | Carmela Arceri |
| Leigh Spiden | |
| Danielle Webb | |
| Belina Chenery | |
| Helen Temucin | |
| Sessional Staff | Marion Ipsen (Marketing) |
| Susanna Palomares (Marketing) | |
| Martin Dowling (Marketing) | |
| Colin Dashwood (Accounting) | |
| Brian Waring (Accounting) | |
| Graeme Lankford (Bookkeeping) | |
| Rod Cook (Accounting) | |
| Ilona Way (Marketing) | |
| Gaynor Karavassilis (Marketing) | |
| Karen Bailey (Marketing) | |
| Eula Jackson (Accounting) | |
| John Tsimbouklis (Accounting) | |
| Mentoring Staff | Geraldine Barr |
| Trevor Smith | |
| Bob Hamilton | |
| Steve Hayes | |
| Denis Kosnar | |
| Barry Mills | |
| Leigh Mawby | |
| Gordon Ireland | |
| Adnan Hirmiz | |
| Ifsal Syed | |
| Peter Kenyon | |
| Brian Meadows | |
| Julie Carsewell |
Our Customers
- The BEC's customers include existing small businesses (85% of Australia's businesses with less than 20 employees) and those interested in starting or developing their business ideas.
- All three levels of government use BEC services to serve the small business sector.
- More than 600 clients trained with the BEC in 2008 with a similar number attending network nights. Approximately 1500 interviews or counselling sessions were held.
- The BEC assists social security recipients into self-employment by delivering the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS).
Achievements and Awards
2008
- Kangan Batman BEC led the national feedback to the Commonwealth on the continuation of the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme. Through manager Tim Cremean, also National NEIS Association President, several meetings were held with Minister O'Connor and the Skills Australia board. NEIS will once again be offered as a separate tenderable program as a result of these efforts.
- The BEC is a pioneer partner with the National Australia Bank in the low interest micro business loans program. The NAB has now increased total funds available to $100 million.
- Several BEC nominated businesses were finalists in the AAMI business awards presented at the National Small Business Development Conference held in Melbourne. Kangan Batman TAFE mentor Martin Dowling won the prestigious NAB Best Mentor award.
2007
- Business Counselling Service - about 450 business counselling sessions were recorded.
- Training - 600-plus small business owners enrolled in one of our courses, including NEIS or Certificate IV in Business.
- New Enterprise Incentive Scheme - Kangan Batman TAFE is Melbourne's largest provider. In 2006 we assisted more than 310 new businesses. Our business continuation rate of 86% after 15 months is one of the highest in Australia.
- Seven of our business clients were nominated for the national AAMI business awards. Nationwide Recruitment was a finalist in the business growth category at the Perth small business development conference.
2006
- The City of Hume recognised the BEC Manager by awarding him the award for "Development and Support for Small and Micro Business".
- Businesses trained or nominated by the BEC won awards such as;
Best SME award City of Moonee Valley
Hall of Fame NNA AAMI Award
Hall of Fame runner up - An episode of Channel 9's "Your Business Success" was devoted to Kangan Batman TAFE BEC's work in the NEIS scheme.
2005
- More NEIS places were awarded. Kangan Batman TAFE delivered 330 new businesses a year through the program - about 25% of Melbourne's total.
- Department of Employment Workplace Relations (DEWR) star rating rated Kangan Batman TAFE Melbourne's best performing NEIS provider, with a successful business outcome rate of 86%.
- Seventeen more businesses joined the BEC's Business Breakthrough Program funded by AusIndustry.
- BEC staff member Morena Munafo won a National Award. She was presented with the National New Enterprise Incentive Scheme , Abustralian Better Business Insurance (NNA ABBi) award by Minister Peter Dutton at the Small Business Development Conference in Hobart.
- BEC won the Kangan Batman TAFE Partnerships Award for its work with Box Hill and Chisholm. The award was presented by the Office of Training & Tertiary Education's (OTTE) Patricia Neden at a function at the Events Warehouse.
2004
- Anthony O'Brien was elected secretary BECN Vic Inc.
- BEC ran AusIndustry funded Business Breakthrough Growth Program in alliance with the cities of Hume and Moreland.
- Four BEC assisted business were finalists in the national ABBi awards.
- Isabel's Cakes won Moonee Valley Business Innovation Award.
- BEC Manager co-convened a national small business development conference in Alice Springs.
2003
- Joint project with Moreland City Council "Morebiz".
- Joint project with Hume City Council - Business Counselling
- Record year with 1000+ business management enrolments.
- Two BEC clients short-listed for national small business success ABBi awards.
- Subcontracted to a national DEWR project for the development of an on-line business readiness assessment tool.
2002
- BEC wins new three-year NEIS contract and remains Melbourne's largest provider.
2001
- Pilot small business loans project with Brotherhood of St Laurence and Fitzroy/Carlton Credit Co-op.
- BEC delivers special business mentoring project for DEWRSB.
- A BEC student, Sonya Cameron, is named Kangan Batman TAFE Student of the Year. Later in the year, Sonya was also one of three finalists in the Victorian Training Awards Vocational Student of the Year category.
- The BEC Manager holds positions as Secretary for the BEC Network Victoria Inc. and President of the National NEIS Association.
2000
- Kangan Batman BEC is now Melbourne's largest provider of NEIS, delivering 21% of Melbourne's service.
1999
- Two staff members presented papers at the national SEAANZ conference.
- A BEC student, James Lye, was the Gold Medal winner for Kangan Batman TAFE's Training Services Group. Later that year, James was also one of three finalists in the Victorian Training Awards Vocational Student of the Year category.
- The Commonwealth Government's DEWRSB department rated the BEC's NEIS performance at the highest level and increased our contract.
1998
- A BEC client, Bacchus Marsh SheepSkins, was awarded an AusIndustry Export Assistance grant.
1997/98
- The BEC conducted the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) Best Practice Project for Small Business Support (a national project).
1997
- A BEC client, Isabel's Cakes, was nominated for the National NEIS Association's Food Business of the Year award.
1996
- Kangan Institute of TAFE was the Victorian OTFE nomination for Training Provider of the Year based on the BEC's services to small business.
