BUSINESS COACHING FOR SUNSHINE COAST WOMEN
Published Thursday, 05 July, 2007 at 01:00 PM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Minister for State Development John Mickel today announced almost $30,000 in grants to support business coaching for Sunshine Coast and Hinterland women.
The Women in Business Coaching Scheme (WIBCS) grants have been awarded to the Maroochydore Chamber of Commerce ($14,550) and the Maleny-based Local Enterprise and Economic Development Co-operative (LEED) ($15,000).
Each organisation will operate an intensive coaching program over the six months to November 2007.
“The WIBCS is an initiative of the Department of State Development and supports the long-term growth and development of Queensland businesses owned and operated by women,” said Mr Mickel who is a guest speaker at tomorrow’s Property Council of Australia Sunshine Coast lunch at Mooloolaba.
“It does this by providing grants to local organisations to run one-on-one business coaching along with skills development workshops for businesswomen.
“Both the Maroochydore Chamber of Commerce and LEED were successful participants in the WIBCS in 2006 so have a proven track record.”
Mr Mickel said the LEED program would operate out of the Hinterland Business Centre at Maleny as well as training venues in Nambour, Mapleton and Palmwoods. Ten local businesswomen will benefit from the one-on-one coaching.
“This particular program targets self employed women mostly in the health and creative industry sectors,” Mr Mickel said.
“Those industries are considered priority sectors for the region. And the Hinterland has previously been identified as isolated from most business support services so clearly there is a real need for coaching of this type.”
The Maroochydore Chamber of Commerce WIBCS program targets businesswomen mainly from the coastal strip incorporating Maroochydore, Noosa and Caloundra Shires.
“Again, the priority here is to equip participants with vital business management skills,” Mr Mickel said.
“The Queensland Government is committed to fostering sustainable growth and increasing employment on the Coast.
“Small Business operators play a very important role in maintaining Queensland’s reputation as the Smart State so it is critical we provide appropriate support.
“More than 75 per cent of businesses on the Sunshine Coast employ fewer than five people and a third of all businesses are run by women. In addition, many businesswomen operate home-based enterprises so they can feel removed from the wider business community.
“Initiatives such as the WIBCS aim to overcome that sense of isolation and lack of opportunity to hone business skills.”
Mr Mickel said the WIBCS was first piloted in 2003. It provides up to $15,000 funding to not for profit economic and business development organisations to run one-on-one and group coaching sessions and workshops for local businesswomen.
__________________________________
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784.
Local Enterprise and Economic Development Co-operative: 5429 6488
Maroochydore Chamber of Commerce: 5443 5661
The Women in Business Coaching Scheme (WIBCS) grants have been awarded to the Maroochydore Chamber of Commerce ($14,550) and the Maleny-based Local Enterprise and Economic Development Co-operative (LEED) ($15,000).
Each organisation will operate an intensive coaching program over the six months to November 2007.
“The WIBCS is an initiative of the Department of State Development and supports the long-term growth and development of Queensland businesses owned and operated by women,” said Mr Mickel who is a guest speaker at tomorrow’s Property Council of Australia Sunshine Coast lunch at Mooloolaba.
“It does this by providing grants to local organisations to run one-on-one business coaching along with skills development workshops for businesswomen.
“Both the Maroochydore Chamber of Commerce and LEED were successful participants in the WIBCS in 2006 so have a proven track record.”
Mr Mickel said the LEED program would operate out of the Hinterland Business Centre at Maleny as well as training venues in Nambour, Mapleton and Palmwoods. Ten local businesswomen will benefit from the one-on-one coaching.
“This particular program targets self employed women mostly in the health and creative industry sectors,” Mr Mickel said.
“Those industries are considered priority sectors for the region. And the Hinterland has previously been identified as isolated from most business support services so clearly there is a real need for coaching of this type.”
The Maroochydore Chamber of Commerce WIBCS program targets businesswomen mainly from the coastal strip incorporating Maroochydore, Noosa and Caloundra Shires.
“Again, the priority here is to equip participants with vital business management skills,” Mr Mickel said.
“The Queensland Government is committed to fostering sustainable growth and increasing employment on the Coast.
“Small Business operators play a very important role in maintaining Queensland’s reputation as the Smart State so it is critical we provide appropriate support.
“More than 75 per cent of businesses on the Sunshine Coast employ fewer than five people and a third of all businesses are run by women. In addition, many businesswomen operate home-based enterprises so they can feel removed from the wider business community.
“Initiatives such as the WIBCS aim to overcome that sense of isolation and lack of opportunity to hone business skills.”
Mr Mickel said the WIBCS was first piloted in 2003. It provides up to $15,000 funding to not for profit economic and business development organisations to run one-on-one and group coaching sessions and workshops for local businesswomen.
__________________________________
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784.
Local Enterprise and Economic Development Co-operative: 5429 6488
Maroochydore Chamber of Commerce: 5443 5661