Business Success Group will help fight cancer and take part in Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea on Thursday 26 May 2011.
BSG is encouraging all former and current students to join us at our Brisbane office in Fortitude Valley, with all proceeds going towards cancer research.
Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea is an initiative of the Cancer Council, and this year aims to raise $11 million across the nation.
With half of Australians being diagnosed with a form of cancer before the age of 85, this is your opportunity to help fund life saving research, cancer prevention, and support.
To join BSG’s event, please RSVP by clicking the following link:
http://qld.cancercouncilfundraising.org.au/bsgroupmorningtea?langPref=en-CA
Event details:
Where: Level 3, South Tower, 527 Gregory Tce, Fortitude Valley Qld 4006
When: 26/05/2011 10:00AM - 11:00AM
Nerelle Nicol commenced the NEIS program in June 2010 and is now running her own consulting and community engagement agency, N.Nicol Consulting. We sat down and asked her a few questions about her NEIS experience and the success she’s had since opening for trading.
What’s the best thing about being your own boss?
As your own boss you get to work from home, which means I have time to spend with my grandchildren — something that’s very important to me. I also have more flexibility and a better work/life balance than when I was in the workforce.
How was NEIS able to help you achieve your goals?
Had I not gotten into NEIS I definitely wouldn’t have made it. I struggled for six months trying to get my business established before starting the program. The things that make NEIS really work are the ongoing support you get, the fact that I know there’s someone you can turn to when you’re having trouble, and the DEEWR benefits mean that I know there is money coming in so I can focus on my business.
What did you like about working with Business Success Group?
It’s great to have local support and know that I can go into the BSG office. I feel like I’ve developed good rapport with the staff there, and to know that they’re always open to helping is reassuring. There’s also the external support and encouragement they provide – I would not have had the opportunity to do some of the things I’ve done, like attending the Cairns Chamber of Commerce dinner, without their help.
Do you think your level of success would have been possible if your NEIS experience was split between a separate training agency and a mentoring agency?
I believe that the process should be somewhat holistic, that there should be a shared understanding with everyone involved. Having everything run within one organisation really suits me – I don’t need to have all these other external people involved in what I’m doing – what you need as a business person just starting out is localised support and a central coordination point.
What’s made you most proud after opening your business for trading?
The biggest difference I’ve noticed is that people are contacting me, asking for me to send my information, wanting to be able to say that I’m involved with a project, instead of the other way around.
Where do you see your business going from here?
I know I have the opportunity to grow; I just need to know it myself and go for it. BSG offers more support than I even knew at the start of the program. I can’t let anything distract me and am ready to stay focused and really go for it in the New Year.
How has participating in the NEIS program changed your life in aspects other than your work?
You have to step back and take an objective look at yourself and what you’re doing, and that’s been really helpful to me. At some level you have to reevaluate yourself and your commitment to your business. You face challenges head on and know what commitment and discipline you need within yourself – believing in yourself and knowing you can do things and succeed is really important.
What advice do you have for future NEIS participants?
Starting your own business can be pretty scary — just go for it. Think about what you want, make a plan and get into the program. Keep up your dream and do what you want to do. I’m not saying it’s easy, you have to be disciplined and work hard – be realistic in what you want and know how you define your own success.
Find out more about the NEIS program at the BSG website, www.bsgroup.com.au
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Senator Nick Sherry at Business Success Group’s E-Nable launch.
Business Success Group was joined by Senator the Hon Nick Sherry on Thursday in Brisbane for the launch of E-Nable, a free training program for Queensland small businesses.
50 local small businesses were present on Thursday at the Brisbane Marriott Hotel to launch Business Success Group’s free online training initiative, which will teach small businesses how to increase their online presence for the lowest cost.
The launch of the program, which is funded by the Federal Government under the Small Business Online initiative, was attended by the Minister for Small Business, Nick Sherry, who stated the importance of the correct online strategy in the modern business world.
“Some small operators aren’t fully aware of how having an e-Business capacity will better their business,” Senator Sherry said.
A Sensis e-Business report in August 2009 found that only 57 per cent of small businesses had an online presence.
“E-Nable throws down the gauntlet to Queensland small businesses to conquer any fears they may have and get online,” he said.
E-Nable will assist 400 small businesses in Queensland, with training to be conducted online, in workshops of up to 10 people at Brisbane, Toowoomba, Bundaberg, and Cairns, as well as one-on-one sessions.
The program covers three key areas: maximising a company’s online presence by developing the right type of website; how to make money off the website and integrating it into a business model, and getting the most out of e-marketing.
Business Success Group Director Steve Dewsbery said that small businesses are missing out on a larger share of the market, with many still not having websites, and others that do are not fulfilling their potential.
“For many small businesses an online presence is now as important as a physical shopfront, because consumers are now savvy enough to research products before buying,” Mr Dewsbery said.
He asks business owners to consider whether they would personally buy a product off of a website that lacks credibility, because that is the decision their own costumers face.
“The first place many consumers go to research is online – and if your website isn’t at the top of search listings, or targeted towards the right target market once they do click your link, you’re missing out on huge sales opportunities,” he said.
Registrations for the E-Nable program are now open to all Queensland small businesses with an ABN and fewer than 20 employees, and interested small business owners can call 07 3666 5900, or visit www.bsgroup.com.au/smallbusinessonline.aspx for more information and to register.
Business Success Group is a Recognised Training Organisation, and has forged a strong relationship with federal governments – delivering Federal Government initiatives for 17 consecutive years.
The objective of the e-nable program is to assist small businesses to significantly enhance their web presence and engage in e-business capabilities, in order to help reduce their costs and improve their market opportunities.
This is an Australian Government funded initiatve under the Small Business Online Program.
E-Nable is delivered online and is available freely to all Queensland small businesses (business with less than 20 employees) while places remain. The program assumes a basic level of IT knowledge and is recommended for business’s who already have their own webpage.
The program consists of an optional introductory information session followed by three major online modules, which are broken down into short informative courses for delivery.
More information about the e-nable program is available from the BSG website at www.bsgroup.com.au
Enrollments can be made on the BSG elearning website at http://elearn.bsgroup.com.au
Online Presence Module Overview
The key to creating an intelligent online presence is to understand how the basic functions of the business website work and how customers interact with it. Unless the small business has a monopoly on whatever they sell or do, their website needs to work quickly, smoothly and with absolute clarity.
Visitors to small business websites have high expectations and know their competitor is just a click away. Quality sites must provide relevant and meaningful information and outstanding online experiences to keep visitors engaged.
The e-nable project places the onus on the small business owner/manager to become totally involved with the development and management of their web presence through the utilisation of simple web authoring tools.
Business Integration Module Overview
In an environment where competitors are easy to find, low cost business practices are becoming an increasing necessity. The Business Integration Module will look at the tools businesses can use to reduce their overall running cost and increase efficiency through integration of online services.
As the digital age marches onward, practices such as online shopping transactions and cloud computing (among others) are being far more common and as such, a wealth of tools have become both freely and cheaply available specifically to help small business in this regard. This module will clearly explain what these tools are, how they work and which ones might be appropriate for your business.
E-Marketing Module Overview
The concept of e-marketing is an extension of an organisation’s overall marketing strategy into the digital world. With appropriate e-marketing tactics small business are able to level out the playing field against larger competitor companies. Many small businesses are already engaging in various forms of e-marketing, such as bulk emailing and web advertising, but fail to track and capture appropriate data about the overall success or failure of such campaigns.
The e-marketing module endeavours to help businesses utilise the best methods for identifying and influencing their target markets, as well demonstrating simple, low cost and free methods for monitoring the ROI and client statistics of e-marketing campaigns. This module also will outline some of the financial dangers of various e-marketing practices and techniques for essential online practices such as Search Engine Optimisation (SEO).
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Employees living or working in New South Wales can now apply to complete a Certificate IV, Diploma or Advanced Diploma level qualification at Business Success Group (BSG) with funding assistance from the Australian Government.
Under the Productivity Place Program, part of the Australian governments Skilling Australia for the Future initiative, applicants can reduce the cost of completing a qualification by around 90%.
Currently funding is available for the following qualifications:
“This provides both employers and employees a mutually beneficial situation” BSG director Steve Dewsbery said. “The training programs provide business with a unique opportunity to train their staff at an extremely reduced cost.”
“Because the training programs are designed to be completed by people in the workforce, they are structured so as not to impact on an average 9-5 working day.”
Training delivery can be done either on a self-paced correspondence basis, or for group enrolments BSG is able to conduct in-house or offsite workshops in a flexible format. Training programs can be customised for group enrolments to reflect the day to day activities of the organisations.
More information is available from the BSG website at www.bsgroup.com.au/funding
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Eligible job seekers with feasible business ideas, as well as existing small business owners, are invited to attend a free seminar conducted by Business Success Group (BSG) at the end of this month.
Held at the Dalby Chamber of Commerce and Industry, marketing co-ordinator for BSG, Steve Collier, said the seminars will provide information for prospective small business owners to get started, as well as how existing business owners can increase their online presence. “It’s for eligible job seekers with feasible business ideas” he said.
“It’s also for existing small business owners where there is also government funding for them to access training to significantly enhance their business presence on the internet, through tutorials.”
Erica Stewart, Manager of the Dalby Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that the program was “very supportive” and seemed like a valuable tool for small business owners.
The two hour seminars are free of charge and will take place in Chinchilla from 9:30 am at the RSL Memorial Club and from 1:00 pm in Dalby at the Dalby Chamber of Commerce and Industry on August the 24th.
More information on the seminars and the program can be found on the BSG website at www.bsgroup.com.au\latestnews.aspx
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Are you on Centrelink benefits and have a great idea for your own small business?
The New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) offers job seekers a way to become intendant of Centrelink by establishing and running their own small business enterprises. Business Success Group has been contracted by the Australian Government to deliver the NEIS program.
Overview of the Program
There are two main components to the NEIS program:The training component, andThe mentoring component.
The training component typically takes eight to ten weeks to complete and will provide participants with one of the following qualifications:-Certificate III in Micro-Business Operations, or-Certificate IV in Small Business Management.
In addition to receiving a nationally accredited qualification, during this stage of the program we will help participants to create and develop their own business plan. Throughout the training component, participants will continue to receive their current Centrelink payments.
The mentoring component spans the first twelve months of the businesses’ operations. During this period, Business Success Group will assign a NEIS Mentor to the business, to offer help and guidance on any of the issues that may be encountered. The mentor does not participate directly in the operations of your business, but acts in an advisory capacity, offering knowledge from their years of business experience.
Benefits of NEIS
NEIS participants receive:-Up to $5000 in free business management training as part of the Productivity Places Program.*-12 months of free business monitoring.-12 months of NEIS allowance of $462.80 per fortnight, regardless of business profits.-Applicants may be eligible to receive rental assistance for the first 6 months of operations.
Neither Business Success Group nor the Commonwealth Government are able to provide loans or lump sum payments to participants as part of the NEIS program.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for NEIS applicants must be:-Receiving a full or part pension or allowance from Centrelink (eg. Newstart Allowance, Youth Allowance, Sole Parent Pension, Disability Pension, etc.)-Registered with Centrelink as looking for work and have a valid Job Seeker Identification Number. (If applicants are receiving a benefit that does not require them to look for work, but they have a valid Job Seeker ID, call us to confirm their eligibility.)-Over 18 and not eligible for the Aged Pension.
There is no minimum period of eligibility for the NEIS program. Provided applicants have received either one full or part payment from Centrelink, they will be eligible for the NEIS Program.
NEIS is only available for new businesses. Applicants are not able to enrol in NEIS for the purchase of existing businesses, franchises or sole agencies. Business proposals must be considered both legal and reputable.
You can find out more about the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS), including how to enrol, on our NEIS Overview Webpage.
You can find out more about Business Success Group on our website at www.bsgroup.com.au
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