Business in Cockburn eNews

View this in your browser | April 2020

Welcome to the Business in Cockburn eNewsletter. We will update you every month on what is happening in the City of Cockburn and how it may impact your business.
For information on business support please visit the Business in Cockburn website.

Financial support for Cockburn businesses

The City of Cockburn has adopted a financial relief package, including a freeze on rate increases, to support its residents and businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic. A motion was passed at the Ordinary Council Meeting on Thursday, 9 April 2020 to approve the package for inclusion in next year’s budget.

The measures include:

A zero percentage average increase to rates next year
Freezing of all City determined fees and charges at 2019/2020 levels
Eliminating instalment and penalty interest on rates as well as other associated fees and charges
Removing the mandatory waste service levy from those commercial/industrial properties not using the City’s waste service
A Sporting Clubs COVID Support Package – Stage 2, to provide short term hire fee relief or reduction for when the City’s facilities reopen
Providing options for rent relief to tenants of City-owned or controlled premises, commensurate with demonstrated COVID-19 impacts

Penalty interest and other charges on outstanding rates have also been cancelled for the remainder of this financial year.

For more details on the support the City can offer you or your business, please head to the City's website.

Register now for free business advice

The City has partnered with Business Foundations to deliver a range of free, one-on-one, tailored advisory sessions for eligible businesses. Sessions can be accessed online or by telephone.

1. Stimulus Advisory sessions
A one hour session to help you to better understand the Federal and State Government stimulus packages and what support is available for
your business.

2. Small Business First Aid
Three sessions to review your business essentials:
Session 1 – Strategic business review
Session 2 – Review of cashfl ow and expenditure
Session 3 – Sales and marketing review

Is my business eligible?
To be eligible for the advisory sessions, you must:
• Own a business based in the City of Cockburn; AND
• Be a small business as defined by Australian Bureau of Statistics (fewer than 20 employees) and the Australian Taxation Office (annual revenue less than $2 million).

To access our advisory support, please call 08 9411 3444 or click below to email the Business Engagement Officer, who will arrange a call back from a qualified Advisor.

Small business needs our business

Local businesses helping the vulnerable

Some great businesses in Cockburn are reaching out to help our most vulnerable citizens. To make those businesses easier for you to find, we've compiled them into one, easy to access Community Business Directory. Businesses from butchers to pharmacies, automotive and accommodation are all generously giving what they can to help support our community through discounts, drive through services, contactless payments and home delivery to name a few.

If your Business would like to take part, contact the City on 9411 3444 or email business@cockburn.wa.gov.au.

Directory of businesses helping the vulnerable

Small business needs our business

On Wednesday 8 April 2020, the Department of Premier and Cabinet launched a state-wide advertising campaign encouraging the Western Australian community to support small business.

The advertising campaign will run until 6 June, 2020, promoting the message ‘Small business needs our business’.

Go to wa.gov.au/supportsmallbusiness for some ways to encourage your customers to support small business.

Community helps drive pub's success

The current pandemic has had a huge impact on businesses, with many changing the way they operate and trying to adapt to a new and difficult environment.

The Berrigan Bar & Bistro in South Lake has had to shut its doors to regular customers and instead has started preparing affordable meals for the community, using their drive thru as a collection point. From 10am-8pm customers can drive through, pick from a range of $10 ready-made meals and use tap and go for contactless payment.

Owner Cameron Vinicombe said the support from the community has meant that they have been able to reinstate three of their chefs who had been stood down. They are also eligible for the JobKeeper payments, so may be able to put on more staff and expand their menu to in the coming days.

Support your local and keep an eye on their Facebook page for some exciting new menu items.

Berrigan Bar & Bistro, 758 Berrigan Dr, South Lake WA 6164
www.facebook.com/theberrigan

If you have also adapted your business to suit the current environment please contact the Business Engagement Officer to share your story.

Henderson Waste Recovery Park still open for business

Just a reminder that the Henderson Waste Recovery Park is open to the general public Monday to Friday and open for trucks seven days per week. The ReUse Shop is closed until further notice. All bin services are operating as usual.

Opening hours are:

Transfer station
- 8am to 4.30pm for cars and trailers
- Gates close at 4.30pm
Trucks on weighbridge
- 7am to 4pm from Monday to Saturday
- 8am to 4pm on Sundays

Business Grants up to $4000

DEADLINE EXTENDED!

Sustainability Grants from the City of Cockburn provide an opportunity for businesses to implement projects that help create a better tomorrow.

Small Business applications are now open, so apply before the end of April to undertake a project with one or more of the following themes:

Giving Back aims to improve social equity and involvement across the City
Protecting our Future aims to build resilience to climate change and/or safeguarding biodiversity
Strong Communities aims to support community development, events and inclusive neighborhoods
Water, Energy and Waste aims to promote resource use efficiency
TravelSmart aims to support the uptake of alternative transport
Healthy Lifestyles aims to promote opportunities for improved public health outcomes in the community.

Apply Today!

Marketing in the midst of the Cononavirus

Marketing can never stop. Even when a pandemic seems to be consuming everyone’s attention, you still need to get your message out.

With the required response to COVID-19 upending normal business practices and trends, businesses of all sizes have been impacted by the rapid change in consumer behaviour.

There’s no easy answer in terms of how to respond to this. However, there are some practical steps that all businesses can take to adapt, and possibly even thrive in a time of crisis. Check out the Business Foundations Business Blog for tips on:

Re-evaluating marketing campaigns
Adjusting your business delivery model
Creative alternatives to live events
Communicating with customers and clients

Cashflow management for business
owners

Tuesday 21 April 2020
10-11am

Venue: Online
Cost: FREE

Iin this current environment of uncertainty and business disruption, cashflow management for business owners is essential. There are measures that you can help put in place to help your business cope financially.

Join Business Foundations advisor Carmelina Fiorentino in a one hour webinar, as she provides business owners with cashflow management information and tips to help your business survive the COVID-19 disruption.

Digital transformation for small business

Thursday 23 April 2020
9.30-11am

Venue: Online
Cost: FREE

Learn how to sell, share and ship your products and services from the comfort of your lounge room!

Join Business Foundations advisor Kim Veale in this 1.5 hour webinar, where she will show you how to:

Set up a free website (and accept online payments using Square-up)
Organise fast, affordable door to door shipping through Sendle
Deliver engaging workshops/ training sessions online using Prezi
Host meetings remotely using Zoom
Take online bookings using Setmore
Provide examples of businesses that have adapted and innovated to still provide value to customers during the Covid-19 crisis.

If you have any queries or would like to get in touch with Sarah Kahle, Business Engagement Officer please email business@cockburn.wa.gov.au or call 08 9411 3444