Local First Nations businesses invited to explore defence industry opportunities

The City of Cockburn and Henderson Alliance are proud to present the Defence Supplier Yarn, a groundbreaking event aimed at introducing local First Nations businesses to Western Australia’s booming defence industry. It is being held in collaboration with Waalitj Hub and is sponsored by Babcock and Adisyn. 

The Defence Supplier Yarn will facilitate networking, collaboration, and relationship building between First Nations businesses and key defence industry decision-makers. The event features guest speakers, networking sessions, and information stalls. 

A pre-event training workshop on 29 January 2025 will support First Nations businesses with insights and skills essential for successfully pitching to the defence industry.  To express your interest in the free pre-event workshop, contact business@cockburn.wa.gov.au.

Register to join us from 3 to 6.30pm on Wednesday 12 February 2025, in the Function room at the City of Cockburn, 9 Coleville Crescent, Spearwood.

Looking for funding opportunities?

The City has launched the Cockburn Funding Finder to help local businesses access grants and funding opportunities quickly and easily.

Free to use, you can access a comprehensive database of grants with $71.7Billlion dollars of funding available. When you register you’ll receive personalised email alerts, and helpful tips to boost your chances of success.

Register today and discover what funding is available for your business. 

Are you ready to feel inspired this International Women’s Day? 

Then join us on Thursday 6 March for a day of celebration, conversation and camaraderie. 

‘March Forward Together’ is an event for business and professional women in Cockburn and surrounding areas, co-hosted by the City of Cockburn, the Melville Cockburn Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) and Entrepreneurs in Residence (EiR).  

 Highlights will include: 

• Keynote on Mary Raine’s legacy by Dr Amelia Scaffidi 
• Four fun, informative and interactive breakout sessions led by experts
• Panel discussion on what March Forward looks like for Cockburn business women
• Networking with female entrepreneurs and local businessowners (all genders welcome).

Tickets are $25 and spaces are limited with early registration open now.

Ready to start 2025 with a cuppa connection?

Connect with fellow Cockburn micro business owners at this free, friendly, and local networking group. The Micro Business Networking meeting is on Wednesday 29 January in the library conference room at the Cockburn Health and Community Facility, Success.

Enjoy a relaxed morning with:

• Informal networking: Build connections with other local small business owners.
• Two guest speakers: 
  • Digital expert and founder of the Business One Stop Shop (BOSS), Liz Haselgrove, will share why your Facebook posts may not work and how to change that!
  • Small business champions Business Foundations will show you how to access the Digital Solutions program with funding from the City. 
• Morning tea: Light refreshments and morning tea provided.

Join us on Tuesday 21 January from 10-12 as presenter Danielle Clayton unpacks how to effectively connect with customers in today's fast-paced digital world. This introductory workshop provides small business owners with a valuable overview of user-friendly digital tools that can significantly enhance efficiency, improve customer engagement, and automate key business processes. 

Get an overview of the following apps:

• Project management: Trello, Asana, Toggl Track
• Collaboration: Slack, Zoom, Google Meet
• Website builders: Google Business, Square Sites
• Online booking:  Calendly, Square, Stripe
• Marketing: Canva, MailerLite, Mailchimp, Eventbrite, Try Booking
• Bookkeeping: ZipBooks, Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks

Are you part of WA’s heavy industry sector?  

The WA Government’s Carbon Innovation Grants Program supports heavy industry’s transition to net zero emissions by 2050. With $15 million available, the program funds feasibility studies, pilot projects, and capital works that reduce, avoid, or offset carbon emissions.

Focused on fostering innovative carbon abatement technologies, the program is administered through competitive grant rounds. Applications for Grant Round 2 are now open and close at 5pm on Friday 28 February 2025.

Take this opportunity to drive climate action and innovation in your sector!