Help for small business in hard times
19 March 2009
Kangan Batman TAFE has been selected by the federal government to deliver a new program which supports new and emerging businesses through dedicated business coaching.
The Right Track Help for New and Emerging Businesses program will be delivered by Kangan Batman TAFE's Business Enterprise Centre (BEC) starting next week to clients in Hume, Moonee Valley, Brimbank, Yarra and Melbourne.
BEC manager Tim Cremean says the initiative was developed to address the problems many small businesses face in times of financial strain.
"This is an innovative program which allows us to deliver free business advice and referral services to help small, micro, home-based and emerging businesses across five municipalities in the greater Melbourne area," he says.
"Through the BEC and three experienced business coaches, we can offer confidential advice and support with marketing, budgeting and planning."
This latest government contract expands the BEC's range of business initiatives aimed at encouraging new business, strengthening networking opportunities and providing industry-relevant counselling. Since the centre's establishment in 1993, Tim estimates the BEC has helped thousands of small businesses, including around 4000 start-ups through the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS).
"In times of stress, making sound business decisions can be hard, but with this new program, small business owners no longer have to suffer in silence," Tim says.
"This is a professional government-sponsored service to listen to concerns and provide tailored advice which could help business owners chose a safer path through the current down times.
"We understand the time pressures on business owners, so we offer a flexible service with meeting rooms available in Broadmeadows, Essendon, Sunshine, Richmond and Docklands or a visit can be made to individual business sites."
For more information, call the BEC on (03) 9094 3008 or visit BEC site
