June News

WELCOME TO THE JUNE EDITION OF THE BEC NEWS

Here we are half way through the year with economic melt downs and Swine Flu capturing the headlines. If you went to the Lovedale Long Lunch you would have wondered where the economic crisis actually is. Things really do need to be put into perspective.

Sure there will be some adjustments to the economy and many will lose their jobs as a result of the economic crisis, but the recent presentations by the Hunter Valley Research Foundation don’t paint the gloomy picture that the media would have us believe.

As for the Hunter, the announcement in the budget of the approval to build the F3 Freeway augers well for economic development in the Region. We are witnessing triggers already with the announcement of WIP’s $68 million development in HEZ, the approval of the Laing O’Rourke project in HEZ and the approval of Huntlee at Branxton.

As Dr Phil O’Neill of UWS said “Tsunami’s come in waves”. The next Tsunami is about to engulf the Hunter and we had better be ready for it.

We have had an excellent working relationship with the existing providers over the past eight years. Wesley Uniting Employment in particular has had a close relationship with the BEC sponsoring the Annual Business Awards and Golf Day.

In addition to Salvation Army Employment Plus and Mission Employment current providers we will have new players in Jobfind Australia, Joblink Plus, Breakthru Employment and others not known at this stage. It will be a very competitive environment over the next three years as employers and unemployed clients come to grips with the new arrangements.

We have a new sponsor this year ARKUNA CARE of Abermain. Thanks to Marcus for offering to be a sponsor.

You have until the 30th July to return your entry. This year’s awards will be held at the Cessnock Ruby League Supporters Club on the 4th September.

Close your door, divert your phone, and give yourself ONE hour.

So, you have decided to take a ONE hour break. Next ………………..
Get out a piece of paper and identify the “Cogs” in your business machine ….. starting 
with a flowchart of the process that brings a customer or client into your business.
 
 When they are a prospect what happens? What is the process to either convert them to a customer or let them slip away
 Map out what happens when you first win a new customer. Write down the “Wow” factor when delivering the product or service.
 What happens after the first sale. Pencil in the after sales process.
 What happens to invite them to come back, to refer to a friend, to consider other services etc. Write it down.

Next, write down your gut feelings and how you should be doing it better.

After you have exhausted your hour………..

The next thing is to pick ONE thing that you can address easily today. And Do It. Then pick another. Soon you will be removing the road blocks to success.

Small businesses with a turnover of less than $2 million per year will now be able to claim a bonus tax deduction of 50 per cent on the cost of eligible assets worth $1000 or more acquired between 13 December 2008 and 31 December 2009.    
The already announced tax break for larger businesses is part of the legislation titled Tax Laws Amendment (Small Business and General Business Tax Break) 2009 that has passed through Parliament.

The path has been cleared for small businesses to invest in new assets such as computer hardware, shop fittings and business vehicles and to make capital improvements to existing machinery and equipment. 

The tax break will have the double benefit of stimulating the economy in the face of the global recession and helping to create more productive businesses as the economy recovers.

This new tax break is part of the Government's nation building for recovery plan.