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Attention all aspiring entrepreneurs!

Time is running out for you to join this year’s CUL-TI-VATE program intake before it’s full.

This annual start-up program will kick start and accelerate your business idea through a process of validating it, understanding if there is a market for it and determining the viability of making a living or side hustle out of it.

The program commences on 6 March 2024 and will be held over six consecutive Wednesday evenings (6-8pm).

There are limited places remaining in the 2024 program, so don't miss out, apply now!

Join us for an International Women’s Day afternoon tea to recognise and celebrate the participation and contribution of Brimbank women in our economy.

Brimbank City Council in partnership with Watergardens Town Centre is excited to present a jam-packed event featuring inspirational speakers, entertainment and delicious refreshments.

Date:    Wednesday 6 March 2024

Time:   3-4.30pm

Where:   Switch Restaurant, Watergardens Town Centre

Cost:  $20

Register Here

Register for these free or low-cost business development workshops and help set your business up for success in 2024.

FEBRUARY

Generating Cash Flow
Wednesday 28 February, 10am-12pm, Free 

Managing cash flow in your business is an art – and an art worth learning.

Learn how to identify the cash flow drivers critical to your business’s survival, understand how to use the cash conversion cycle to your benefit and improve your business forecasting at this free seminar.

Register here

MARCH

Elevate Your Business with a Winning Marketing Plan
Tuesday 5 March, 6-8pm, $20

Get practical guidance and actionable insights to crafting a marketing plan that drives real results for your business at this workshop, tailor-made for small business owners like you.

Register here

Getting Started with Pinterest
Thursday 21 March, 6-8pm, $20

Pinterest is a powerful free tool to deliver customers direct to your websites.

Join us at this free workshop to explore Pinterest as a marketing tool for your business as we discover how to use it to leverage your marketing efforts!

Register here

APRIL

Creating an Effective Email Marketing Campaign
Wednesday 17 April, 6-8pm, $20

Unlock the full potential of email to deliver you more customers.

This workshop will show you how to harness the true power of email to propel your business sales forward.  

Register here

Time Lord, Les Watson, will host the event, so join us for a free fun-filled morning of networking.

At this Meetup, you will have the opportunity to:

  • Pitch your business in our 20 second lightning pitch
  • Connect and network with other business owners
  • Discover businesses you didn’t know existed in your own backyard!

Light refreshments will be provided.

Date:  Tuesday, 27 February 2024

Time:  7-8.30am

Where: Quest Watergardens, 451 Kings Road, Taylors Lakes

Register here!

FREE COWORKING DAY

Get out of your home office!

iHarvest Coworking Sunshine is hosting free trials for local start-ups, entrepreneurs and micro business owners so they can experience coworking for themselves.

Bring your laptop and enjoy a day working alongside like-minded people in this friendly and collaborative office space with panoramic views of the city.

Date:   Tuesday 27 February 2023

Time:   9am – 5pm

Where: iHarvest Coworking, L4 301 Hampshire Rd, Sunshine (Brimbank Civic and Community Centre)

Cost:  Free

Register Here

Lunch & Learn – Market Research and Validation

Join small business expert Ali Karami from the Small Business Mentoring Service at the first iHarvest Lunch & Learn for 2024.

Ali will share tips on conducting market research, validating your ideas and how to refine them based on feedback.

Date: Tuesday 27 February, 2023

Time: 12-1pm

Where: iHarvest Coworking Sunshine, 301 Hampshire Road, Sunshine

Cost: $10

Light refreshments are served and places are limited - so book NOW!

Register Here

Mentoring Clinic

Business mentor Ali Karami has three one-hour timeslots remaining for confidential and affordable one-on-one business mentoring sessions.

Get in quick to secure Ali’s expert guidance for your start-up or small business.

Date: Tuesday 27 February, 2024

Time: 9am-2pm

Where: iHarvest Coworking Sunshine, 301 Hampshire Road, Sunshine

Cost: $33

Register Here

These Awards recognise the achievements and ingenuity of Victoria's startup sector.

Nominate someone for the ‘Investor of the Year’ or the ecosystem ‘Hero of the Year’ award categories

For further information and to nominate, click here

The Brimbank Economic and Employment Advisory Group (BEEAG) is a business advisory committee to Brimbank City Council that will discuss local economic, investment, and workforce development matters with the aim of building the City of Brimbank’s economic capacity and prosperity.

Council is inviting Expressions of Interest (EOI) for suitably qualified business people to apply to join this newly constituted group.

Brimbank-based local business owners, operators or managers from the following key sectors are encouraged to apply for a four-year term on the BEEAG: 

  • Manufacturing
  • Construction
  • Retail Trade
  • Visitor Economy (including Accommodation & Food services)
  • Education & Training (including Employment services)
  • Transport, Postal & Warehousing
  • Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
  • Health Care & Social Assistance.

Please review the BEEAG Terms of Reference.

Click here to complete an Expressions of Interest. Submissions close 4pm Tuesday 27 February 2024.

For further information contact the Coordinator Economic Development on 9249 4000 or via ecodev@brimbank.vic.gov.au.

Join us for this free business event at Mount Zero Olives where owner, Richard Seymour, will conduct a behind-the-scenes tour of their facility.

Richard will outline the warehousing and packaging sustainability initiatives they have undertaken and how they have significantly reduced their energy consumption.

Enjoy complimentary post tour drinks and snacks, including olive and olive oil tastings, as you network with other like-minded businesses.

Date:   Wednesday 20 March 2024

Time:  5.30–7pm

Where: Mt Zero Olives, 6 Law Ct, Sunshine West

Register Here

Congratulations to local Brimbank business, Bulla Dairy Foods, for winning the top prize of ‘Champion Cream’ at the 25th Annual Australian Grand Dairy Awards for its Crème Fraiche. 

Bulla Foods Distribution Centre and Head Office has been based in Derrimut for 20 years and employs over 250 people. 

The Victorian and Federal Governments Solar for Apartments Program is offering grants of up to $2,800 per apartment to Victorian Owners Corporations to reduce the cost of installing solar on apartment buildings.

To see if your building or project is eligible, click here.

Brimbank Council has joined with several councils across Victoria to support businesses to procure renewable energy through an independently facilitated Business Renewables Buying Group.  

If your business is spending over $100,000 per annum on electricity and is interested in accessing renewable energy, you may wish to attend our Information Webinar. This is a great opportunity to hear directly from the facilitator about the program.

Date:  Thursday 22 February 2023

Time:   11am – 12pm

Where: Online

Cost:  Free

Register Here!



Learn new skills to build your business: 

Small Business Victoria
A series of free interactive webinars and courses to improve business success. For further information click here  

Digital Solutions – Australian Small Business Advisory Services - Make the most of digital tools and get advice specific to your business needs.  For further information click here 

ATO: Support for Small Business Webinar
A series of free interactive online webinars where you can ask experienced tax specialists questions - Register here






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Our mailing address is:
PO Box 70, Sunshine 3020

For further information about this newsletter please contact the Economic Development Unit on 9249 4000 or email ecodev@brimbank.vic.gov.au

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