Business boost

SMALL business owners and managers within Casey and Cardinia have the opportunity to network, reflect on their own businesses and generate new ideas as part of a new young entrepreneur mentoring program.
Casey manager strategic development Liam Hodgetts said the South East Victoria Business Mentoring Program, run in partnership between the City of Casey, Bass Coast Shire and Cardinia Shire and funded by the Australian Government, was seeking local business owners to participate.
“This program encourages a diverse range of businesspeople to come together and exchange ideas and seek advice from peers and experts,” Mr Hodgetts said.
Participants will gain the skills to analyse their business and identify its future direction. The program will equip participants with tools and methods to help them set strategic and financial goals, conduct business planning, manage cash flow and market their business. The program includes four two-hour workshops and four one-on-one, ‘business acceleration sessions’ delivered by the Small Business Counselling Service, plus ongoing access to the business support website.
Places are limited to 20 positions within each municipality and eligibility criteria apply. Applications close Friday, 6 October 2006. For more information, or to book your place, contact project coordinator Amy Petch on 0417 153 667 or email contact@amypetch.com.au.