The Hunter Region BEC provides an initial contact point for you or anyone wishing to start an enterprise or existing enterprises experiencing issues with business.

This can be as simple as giving you assistance on the correct channel for the advice, or could involve referral to specialist professionals, such as Accountants, Lawyers, or Government agencies.

Our Business Adviser can help you with the development of a Business Plan, Bookkeeping, Marketing and Sales ideas.

Our Manager can assist you with issues related to Recruitment, Equal Employment Opportunity, and referrals to specialist Industrial Relations people.

We have direct access to Local Government Economic Development in your area, and State & Federal agencies who can also assist you.

You will become a member of one of the fastest growing business support networks in the Hunter.

We have direct access through our association with the various Chambers of Commerce in the Hunter who may be able to help you with Planning and Council issues.

Our one stop website is full of useful information and links to other government agencies.

Membership of the Hunter Region BEC gives you concessional discounts to our training workshops; room hire and direct access to any networking function the BEC is planning.

PROMOTION:

The Hunter Region BEC produces a quarterly newsletter and monthly electronic newsletter “What's doing” for members and the wider business community.

Membership of the Hunter Region BEC allows you to have marketing access to our Website and our member's directory.

The Hunter Region BEC promotes and facilitates the annual Lower Hunter Business Excellence Awards covering the shires of Cessnock, Maitland and Dungog.

The Hunter Region BEC has a good working relationship with the local media and is able to provide media exposure through newspaper supplements and editorial opportunities.

NETWORKING:

Membership of the Hunter Region BEC gives you access to the resources of various organisations across the Lower Hunter including NSW Department of State & Regional Development, Newcastle, Maitland, Kurri Kurri & Cessnock Chambers of Commerce, Cessnock, Maitland and Dungog Tourism, and Muswellbrook and Singelton Shire Councils.

As well as other Government agencies.

TRAINING:

The Hunter Region BEC provides regular training workshops in a number of disciplines, including Business Planning, Record Keeping, Sales & Marketing and Customer Service, all at very reasonable prices.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS:

The Hunter Region BEC conducts an annual dinner to promote women's achievements in the business world, and also promotes the”Business Woman of the Year” at each year's Lower Hunter Business Excellence Awards.

HOME BASED BUSINESS:

This area of the Australian business scene is the fastest growing industry. The Hunter Region BEC provides home based businesses with opportunities to network, communicate with other home based businesses in a similar environment, and the social contacts that mainstream businesses have on an ongoing basis.

BUSINESS MENTORING:

The Hunter Region BEC has trained mentors to assist you with the growth of your business at very affordable rates. This includes but is not limited to Sales & Marketing, Finance, Business Planning and Record Keeping.

LEASED OFFICES & LIGHT INDUSTRIAL SPACE:

The Hunter Region BEC manages a Business Incubator that has been set up by the Federal Government to give new start businesses and businesses wishing the relocate to the Hunter an opportunity to test their business in an environment where there is flexible lease arrangements at very moderate rates until the business is well established, usually within three years.

INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY:

The Hunter Region BEC also has opportunities for the Indigenous community to become self employed through the services of our own Aboriginal Enterprise Development Officer.

Our Aboriginal Enterprise Development Officer (AEDO) services the Indigenous communities from the Central Coast to the Upper Hunter.

NEW ENTERPRISE INCENTIVE SCHEME (NEIS)

The Hunter Region BEC is part of a consortium that includes Lake Macquarie Small Business Centre and the Hunter Business Centre to deliver the Federal Governments NEIS (New Enterprise Incentive Scheme) training business

Start-up and business mentoring for unemployed people wishing to commence a business of their own. See the NEIS website at www.newhunterbusiness.org