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  • 24-Nov-2014 11:55 | Anonymous

    NSW Minister for Resources, Special Minister of State and Leader of the House, the Hon Anthony Roberts MP recently told a packed forum former NSW Governor Lachlan Macquarie had it right when it came to describing the journey from Sydney's CBD to Parramatta.

     

    Mr Roberts said he had been reading the diaries of Major General Macquarie who was the fifth Governor of NSW from 1810 to 1821.

     

    He told a WSBC function welcoming Hugo Halliday PR & Marketing to Parramatta at the Commercial Hotel when it came to travelling along Parramatta Road, "nothing seems to have changed."

     

    "Governor Macquarie wrote in his diary around November 1820 he and his wife Elizabeth travelled by sulky from Sydney to Parramatta to go to Government House," Mr Roberts said.

     

    "Macquarie noted the journey along Parramatta Road took around 1.5 hours. The journey today is around the same even though we have motor vehicles and the road has bitumen.

     

    "The NSW Government is working hard to alleviate the traffic congestion and make the journey faster and more convenient through a number of major initiatives including the Westconnex motorway."

     

    Mr Roberts said the WestConnex is a 33km motorway proposed to travel from Parramatta along the M4/Parramatta Road corridor to Beverly Hills.  It is proposed to connect Parramatta, Sydney Airport and Beverly Hills.

     

    He said he had worked with Hugo Halliday when it had its offices next to his electorate office in Gladesville with good results. 

     

    Managing Director of Hugo Halliday PR and Marketing Bill Pickering said moving his office to Parramatta is to keep pace with Sydney’s shifting business landscape.

     

    “No longer is the Sydney CBD or nearby suburbs considered as the heart of our State’s capital – Parramatta took this title long ago,” Mr Pickering said.

     

    “Businesses looking to prosper must consider making the move west to keep pace with where the action is in regards to connectivity and clients.”

     

    Mr Pickering told the WSBC forum his company is a diverse  public relations and media and marketing firm that works with clients seeking advocacy with all levels of Government, media training and exposure and community relations expertise.

     

    Hugo Halliday is currently renovating its new office at 52 O'Connell Street, in the Parramatta Business Centre and should open for business within a few weeks.

     

     

  • 24-Nov-2014 10:33 | Deleted user

    Local Shoppa is a free mobile app that enables customers to browse, favourite and stay notified of local deals and offers available from near-by businesses.  

     

    Available on iPhone and Android, the app uses location-based technology and permission-based notifications to display deals that are relevant to the user’s real time location and shopping preferences. 

     

    Customers can ‘favourite’ businesses and shopping categories to stay notified and quickly refer to deals of interest. 

     


     

    Deal redemption is quick and easy. To get the deal, customers simply need to present or mention the app at the time of purchase. If customers wish to make an enquiry or book via phone, they can simply click-to-call from the app. There is also the option for customers to instantly click to buy online if the deal can be purchased on the business owner’s website.   

     

    Local Shoppa partners with local retailers, restaurants, service providers, online brands and businesses across all categories.   Businesses access the Local Shoppa content platform to promote deals that are published on the app. Customer purchase and deal redemption is not facilitated within the app. Instead, the business has full transactional control and 100% revenue return on deal purchases. This sets the Local Shoppa advertising solution apart from other daily deal platforms because small businesses feel ‘hard done by’ with up to 50% revenue shares mandated by other daily deal sites.

     

    To check out the current businesses and deals on Local Shoppa, download the app via localshoppa.com.au

     

    To advertise on Local Shoppa visit www.localshoppa.com.au/business 

  • 21-Nov-2014 10:34 | Deleted user

    Do you know an extraordinary woman from Greater Western Sydney?
    Nominations are now open for the 2015 UWS Women of the West Awards




    Celebrate the achievements of women in our region – women from different parts of the community including business and local industry, education, health, charity and community groups – who are committed to improving the local community and the lives of others. Nominates these inspirational women for, WSBC gold member, the University of Western Sydney's Women of the West Awards. 

    The awards were established by the University to recognise the significant contributions and achievements of women from the Greater Western Sydney region.

    Nominations are open for the following categories:

    • Women of the West
    • Young Women of the West (specifically for women aged between 18 & 28 years old)

    The winner of each category will receive a grant of $5,000 to further develop their leadership and advocacy work in their local community.

    Entries close Friday 12 December 2014.

    The winners will be publicly announced at the UWS International Women's Day celebrations in March 2015.

    For further information or to submit a nomination, please visit uws.edu.au/womenofthewest.

    Please feel free to share this email with anyone who you think may be interested in hearing about the award.

    We look forward to receiving your nomination for the UWS Women of the West Awards.


  • 21-Nov-2014 09:47 | Deleted user

    Last week the Barangaroo Skills Exchange was awarded the Premier’s Partnership Award as a part of the 2014 Premier’s Awards for Public Service*. The Barangaroo Skills Exchange (BSX) was established to deliver skilling and training for the Barangaroo urban regeneration project, Sydney’s largest redevelopment project this century.

     

    The partnership involving Lend Lease, WSBC Platinum Partner TAFE NSW and the Construction and Property Services Industry Skills Council aims to raise the bar for safety, trade skills and greenskilling in the construction industry and is on track to deliver 50,000 learning outcomes over the ten year construction period.  

     

    TAFE NSW – Western Sydney is the lead training provider for the project which covers a wide variety of training including work, health and safety, construction trades, language, literacy and numeracy and much more.

     

    BSX Project Manager Ron Wright said that while the project is directly giving skills to Barangaroo site workers, it is also fulfilling a much longer term role for the construction industry. 

    “This project is raising safety and quality standards in the construction industry and is also meeting objectives for the western Sydney region. 

     

    “The NSW Government saw this as an opportunity to reinforce the viability of the industry and to invest in employment outcomes for the Greater West. Workers from western Sydney play a huge part in the construction of Barangaroo. This training that is going on in the city will be taken back to regional projects in the future.

     

    “TAFE Western Sydney is proud of the part it is playing in the project which is ensuring a lasting positive legacy for the culture and skill set of the construction industry into the future.”

     

    Lend Lease Barangaroo South Managing Director Andrew Wilson said that the BSX was about creating a legacy. 

    “Extraordinary outcomes really mean that a whole industry can move to another paradigm through the intervention of skilling. That’s what we are trying to create here, a legacy for the industry that’s not just about Lend Lease. It is about the whole workforce changing as a result of this project, and the BSX is allowing us to do that on the ground,” Mr Wilson said. 

     


    * About the Premier’s Public Sector Awards

    The Premier’s Public Sector Awards recognise outstanding performance and achievements in the NSW public sector, comprising six award categories which link to the strategies set out in NSW 2021, the Government’s agenda for change in NSW. The Premier’s Partnership Award recognises outstanding partnerships between public sector teams and business, nongovernment and/or academic/training organisations delivering results against at least one goal in NSW 2021.



  • 20-Nov-2014 21:47 | Deleted user

    In the last WSBC Business Leader Luncheon AusIndustry announced the launch of the new Entrepreneurs' Infrastructure Program. Below we highlight how you can access the program and benefit from funding.


    If your business needs help to grow and commercialise ideas, you can now apply for:

    • Accelerating Commercialisation
    • two new Business Management services (Business Growth and Supply Chain Facilitation).

    These new programmes are offered as part of the Australian Government’s $484.2 million Entrepreneurs’ Infrastructure Programme.


    Businesses needing help to bring their ideas to market can now access the Accelerating Commercialisation element.


    Businesses can also access two new services under the Business Management element of the Programme, which provides support for business improvement and growth.

    Accelerating Commercialisation


    Under Accelerating Commercialisation, experienced Commercialisation Advisers will guide your business through the commercialisation process. The programme will provide you with the advice, experience and networks you need to attract investment and to commercialise your ideas.

    Eligible businesses may also receive matching grants of up to $1 million.


    Accelerating Commercialisation will support entrepreneurs, start-ups and innovative businesses to create the technologies, jobs and industries of the future.


    New Business Management services

    If you meet Business Management eligibility criteria, you can apply for two new services:

    • Business Growth services, which will work with high growth potential businesses for up to two years to develop and embed the capabilities, knowledge and strategies to accelerate growth.
    • Supply Chain Facilitation services, which will encourage businesses to participate in domestic and global supply chains and to generate sustainable business growth, as well as provide opportunities to connect and network with their customers.

    Both complement Business Evaluation and Business Growth Grant services launched under the Entrepreneurs’ Infrastructure Programme on 1 July 2014.


    Who is eligible?

    To apply for Accelerating Commercialisation and Business Management services, you’ll need to meet relevant services eligibility and merit criteria. For more information, visit the Eligibility page or call 13 28 46. More in depth face-to-face assistance is also available from AusIndustry’s national network.


    How do I apply?

    Visit the Entrepreneurs Infrastructure Programme page for information on how to apply today.



  • 20-Nov-2014 11:16 | Anonymous

    Spectators at the fifth annual ‘Flowers in Motion’ event were entertained, entranced and had their taste buds excited by the symphony of talent on display across a range of TAFE disciplines.

     

    TAFE NSW – South Western Sydney Institute’s (SWSi’s) Padstow College once again hosted ‘Flowers in Motion’ – a showcase of floristry and beauty skills - on Thursday, 13 November 2014. 

    Some 1000 spectators indulged in a veritable feast for the senses - a showcase of entertainment, floral displays and delicious food and drinks served up by TAFE SWSi students. 

    The centrepiece of the event as usual was a catwalk parade featuring 60 models wearing elaborate floral couture designed by Floristry students from TAFE SWSi, Padstow College. 

    However, TAFE SWSi Floristry Head Teacher, Joanne Hynard, said the event also provided a platform for a broader range of students to flaunt the skills they’ve acquired at TAFE.  

    “There were 200 to 250 floristry students of all different levels involved in showcasing their work,” she said. “However, we also had the event management students running the show; the hair and beauty team doing the makeup; the hospitality section catering the event; butchery supplying the meat products and the photography section doing the video and photos.”

    ‘Flowers In Motion’ also featured static floral displays aligned to the theme of the event – a Symphony of Flowers. Hence, spectators encountered displays dubbed the Claire de Lune, Swan Lake, Mozart, Madame Butterfly and Bolero.

    Music for the catwalk parade was also in tune with the Symphony theme and featured a wide range of music from Phantom of the Opera, Hair, ballroom, disco, dance of the flowers; Vivaldi’s four seasons and culminating in the sounds of Disney from films including Mulan and Maleficent.

    Spectators were also treated to performances from roaming violinist, Arshur Varde, and Aria – an operatic woman’s quartet – in the entertainment marquee.

    New sponsorship funds enabled this year’s ‘Flowers in Motion’ to introduce a number of innovations that enhanced the viewing and listening pleasure for spectators, Ms Hynard said.

    “One sponsor provided us with ten thousand dollars’ worth of lighting,” she said. “And for the first time the models had a real catwalk at the higher professional viewing level. Previously we had a makeshift catwalk made up of cut down tables and desk,” she said.

    Ms Hynard said the 2014 event exceeded all expectations, with record-breaking attendance and student participation.  

    “The 2014 ‘Flowers in Motion’ is officially the biggest ever showcase of floristry, hair and beauty skills in Sydney,” Ms Hynard said.

    TAFE SWSi is one of the NSW’s premium trainers in Floristry, Beauty, Hairdressing, Hospitality, Butchery, Photography and Events, supporting industries which together employ thousands of students.

    ‘Flowers in Motion’ 2014 was sponsored by the Student Association; Sydneywide Party Hire; Bankstown City Council; Randstad; Romeo’s Chair; Koch & Co; ARIA; Ashur Varde – Violinist; and Sweet Treat Carts, Colombian Rose, Eleven Australia, Revesby Workers’ Club, Best Business, Leekien Grocery and Brunch Affair.

     www.swsi.tafensw.edu.au

     

     

     

     

  • 20-Nov-2014 09:09 | Anonymous

    The Bankstown Business Advisory Service is pleased to invite businesspeople to its final networking event for 2014, which will incorporate a breakfast with expert speakers, a round of golf followed by lunch, and a chance to win a new car.

     

    Important:

     

    Businesses can register to attend either or both of the breakfast and the golf followed by lunch. Places for the round of golf and lunch are strictly limited to one person per business. Priority for the round of golf and lunch will be given to BBAS Members, with non-members placed on a waiting list; places will be allocated on a first come, first-served basis, and will be subject to email confirmation by BBAS.

     

    Guest speakers for Breakfast include:

     

    Joel Norris, Operations Manager, AusIndustry Entrepreneur Development, New developments in Commonwealth Government Support for SMEs

    Andrew Stainer, Co-Founder, The Helmsman Project, Investing in Bankstown's future talent - all hands on deck! 

     

    Networking Breakfast

     

     

     

    Date:

            

    Tuesday 2 December 2014

     

    Time:

     

    7.30 - 9.30am (Breakfast)

     

    Venue:

     

    Bankstown Golf Club 70 Ashford Avenue Milperra 

     

    Parking:

     

    Parking on premises

     

    RSVP:

     

    By Tuesday 30 November 2014

     

    Cost:

     

    BBAS Members Free - Non Members $25

     

     

     

    Networking Lunch & Golf

     

     

     

    Date:

     

    Tuesday 2 December 2014

     

    Time:

     

    10.00am- 3.00pm

     

    Venue:

     

    Bankstown Golf Club 70 Ashford Avenue Milperra

     

    Parking:

     

    Parking on premises

     

    RSVP:

     

    By Tuesday 30 November 2014

     

    Cost:

     

    BBAS Members Free - Non Members $50

     

     

    To register your interest or obtain more information contact Domenica Mirarchi on 9707 9227 or email Domenica.mirarchi@bankstown.nsw.gov.au

  • 20-Nov-2014 08:55 | Anonymous

    A NEW multimillion dollar transport, engineering and technology centre is beginning to take shape at TAFE South Western Sydney Institute (TAFE SWSi) Wetherill Park College.

     

    The refurbishment of the College to accommodate the new SWSi Wetherill Park TAFE Transport Technology Centre initially required the demolition or removal of certain buildings or structures. 

    In a move that will undoubtedly be music to the ears of the NSW Government (who is funding the project) the college has come up with a novel approach to cutting costs during the demolition phase.

    Buildings earmarked for demolition have been auctioned off at bargain prices but on the condition that the buyer removes the building at their own expense. 

    TAFE SWSi Wetherill Park College Manager Brian Mulvey said the college had quotes of around $100,000 for the removal of a big demountable classroom; a big storage shed and spray booths. Crane costs alone to remove the demountable would have been $45,000. 

    “We ended up selling them for six to seven thousand dollars so we’ve made a big saving that can go towards enhancing student experience on the campus,” he said. 

    The centre is destined to be the largest automotive training facility in Sydney and will offer students a 21st century learning experience with the integration of technologies that allow students to be focused on workshop related tasks rather than traditional classroom-based learning. 

    TAFE SWSi Teacher Chris Greentree said one of the major innovations would be Wi-Fi saturation through the classrooms, workshops and common areas connecting students to the National Broadband Network (NBN). 

    “This means the learning experience will be enhanced for students because teachers will be able to show students things in video rather than relying on textbooks,” he said. 

    TAFE SWSi Institute Director Peter Roberts said it was great to see such innovative thinking to cut costs for a project designed to be at the cutting edge of innovative learning. 

    “The Centre itself will have state of the art facilities and provide a huge boost to training and career opportunities to people in the region and beyond.” 

    The Centre will open in 2016 and offer students a number of course options including light vehicle technology, heavy vehicle mechanical technology, plant mechanics, automotive electrical technology, speciality automotive courses and engineering technology courses.

    www.swsi.tafensw.edu.au

     

     

  • 19-Nov-2014 21:03 | Deleted user


     

    Managing Director of WSBC Gold Member, Hugo Halliday PR & Marketing Pty Ltd, Bill Pickering, whose firm jointly hosted a networking event in Parramatta last Friday, said he and his team were delighted with the support and warm reception received from the WSBC executive and business members.

     

    “Our launch into western Sydney corresponded with one of the hottest days on record, but we still managed to attract around 60 attendees keen to talk business and explore potential networking opportunities and business connections. 


    The diversity of enterprises – ranging from financial and educational  institutions, senior Government agencies and local and state political representatives, professional services to a variety of entrepreneurial businesses – made the afternoon a great success".      


    “We look forward to establishing our permanent office and starting our Parramatta-based business operations in the next two weeks.”


    WSBC General Manager, Michael Sugg welcomed Hugo Halliday to Parramatta and to the Western Sydney Business Connection community. "We were also delighted to have The Hon. Anthony Roberts MP, Minister for Resources and Energy and Leader of the House, join us to share his insights and welcome WSBC Gold Member Hugo Halliday PR & Marketing to Parramatta" commented Sugg.



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