With the ageing of the Australian population and the retirement age now set to rise to 70, it is more important than ever to encourage experienced workers to remain in the workforce and also introduce programs to pass their skills and knowledge on to others.

In recognition of the fact that mature age workers are critical to Australia’s ongoing economic success, the Australian Government has responded with the Experience+ initiative to support mature-age people to participate in the workforce.

At IPA we’re delighted to have been appointed by the government to consult to employers on mature aged workforce participation as an official provider to the Corporate Champions Program.

Within this initiative, specific support is available to assist employers in recruiting and retaining mature aged workers as well as developing succession plans.

It has been identified that maintaining momentum around workforce participation will require a long-term approach which recognises that achieving sustainable change will be a generational undertaking. As will addressing workforce participation both to introduce new workers to the workforce as much as retain and re-enter existing workers to the workforce.

To work towards this, “Corporate Champions” is part of a $70 million, 4 year allocation, announced by the Government in April 2012, to assist organisations focus on maximising mature age participation and help address negative attitudes and recruitment practices towards mature age people.

Through this program, employers can get assistance to develop workplace practices that assist them to employ mature-age workers and to keep them working in their business for longer, as well as providing some financial incentives.

Your business can reap the benefits of a package of mature age assistance including up to a $10,000 Restart Incentive, grants of up to $4,400 for skills recognition and large employers can receive up to $20,000 worth of consulting assistance consisting of

• A professional assessment of workforce strategies, recruitment and retention practices
  
• Practical help developing an action plan using the Investing in Experience Tool Kit. This could include updating recruitment processes, rolling out new flexible working arrangements and putting into practice retention and mentoring programs for mature-age workers
  
• Support to access Australian Government financial assistance including the Experience+ Jobs Bonus
  
• Advice on positive age management, superannuation, occupational health and safety, career planning, training and age discrimination
  
• Small, medium and large employers may be eligible to receive support through the Corporate Champions program
  
• The program is delivered by a number of expert providers who work with employers in both regional and metropolitan areas across Australia

Platinum Partner, MatthewsFolbigg young lawyer, Clare Kerley, was one of three winners in the Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety Category at the Lawyers Weekly 30 under 30 awards.

The winners in the Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Awards are ready to leave their mark on the legal profession.

Around 300 people gathered in Sydney’s Ivy Ballroom on Friday night (16 May) to hear the announcement of the 30 winners across 10 categories at this year’s Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Awards.

A number of the winners came from boutique or small firms, emphasising that clients are attracted to specialist advice rather than big firm reputation in selecting external legal providers.

“The level of access I have to work, the hands-on approach to clients and matters that a small firm gives is extremely rewarding,” said Clare Kerley (picture below left), from Matthews Folbigg in Parramatta, who was one of three winners in the Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety category.

Clare (pictured on the far left with the other winners in this category, Erin Lynch from boutique firm People + Culture Strategies, David Burnton from national firm Mills Oakley and Betty Ivanoff), added that it is “a misnomer” that small firms don’t get big work.

Clare’s client list includes government agencies with over 5000 employees. She is also currently the chair of the NSW Young Lawyers Workplace and Safety Law Committee and a past Generation Connect Chair.

The Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Awards were open to lawyers throughout Australia, in private practice and in-house, who were under 30 years of age on 16 May 2014, the night of the Awards. Three winners were selected from each of the 10 categories.

June Special Offer - Exclusive to WSBC Members.

When booking our seafood buffet during the month of June all WSBC members will receive a complimentary bottle of our Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc (image attached if required) with every booking. Oyster Bay is the  perfect accompaniment to our Sensational Seafood Buffet. To book call 02 9689 3333 and mention that you are a WSBC member to claim this offer.

Every business has intellectual property (IP) - in the brand, the products, processes and innovations.  When they're commercially valuable, owning the rights to this IP can protect you from copycats, attract investment, increase your business asset value and secure your operations.

In this short interview Styli Pelekanos, the General Manager of Regents Park manufacturer, Brio, shares his insights into the company's IP protection strategy. Discussing challenges, risks and successes experienced in a growing manufacturing company, Styli gives direct insight and valuable advice for innovators, startups and SMEs on intellectual property protection.

Hello Parramatta – Take advantage of the growth!

I’m sure you’ve heard a lot recently about the future of Western Sydney, how the area represents unmeasurable potential and prosperity for those living and working in the region.

With this spotlight come unlimited opportunities for businesses like yours. There has never been a surer sign that the time is right to take your business to the next level and prepare for future possibilities. When you consider our region’s current growth, now is a smart time to make the move.

Strategic business advice, assistance and coaching are just some of the ways we can work with you to build a better business.

Moore Stephens has been supporting businesses in Western Sydney for many years. We have an experienced and committed team, new offices located in the heart of Parramatta, a strong existing client base across Western Sydney and an experienced group of partners ready to work with you directly.  

We welcome the opportunity to say Hello and discuss how we can help your business.

Visit our website helloparramatta.com.au for more information or contact me directly.

Rob Southwell
Managing Director / Moore Stephens Sydney
+61 (0)2 9881 3600

Join our community to access information relevant to you, contribute your ideas, hear what others say and network with likeminded individuals. To register, click here. 

WSBC General Manager, Michael Sugg, continues to engage and collaborate with Western Sydney organisations to voice your needs for Western Sydney and ultimately enhance your business growth.

Here’s a snippet of Michael’s last week:

• Michael met with The Committee for Sydney. The meeting resulted in a joint project to benefit all SMEs in Western Sydney. More information will be released soon.
• He represented WSBC at a talking heads session on the Strategy for Western Sydney. The session was organised by NSW Trade & Investment.
• A meeting with NSW Trade & Investment followed to discuss Advanced Manufacturing and Supply Chain resulting in our call for manufacturing success stories for Western Sydney.
• Attended and represented WSBC at the NSW Trade & Investment Breakfast to launch the National Manufacturing Week.
• Attended the National Manufacturing Week Exhibition.
• Received an invitation to be the speaker at the TAFEWSi Manufacturing Engineering Logistics and Transport Group (MELT) Dinner on 27 May.
• Hosted the inspiring Western Sydney Business Transformation Story of the Panthers Group, with CEO Warren Wilson and Executive General Manager of Rugby League, Phil Gould.
• Represented WSBC at the Committee for Sydney event in Parramatta with the Hon Stuart Ayres MP.

Membership renewals are approaching and we would like to offer all members who renew and pay before 6 June 2014, an additional two complimentary seats to the GWS Employment Forum on the 12 June. We would also like to take this opportunity to remind you of the membership benefits by following the links at the bottom of this email.

It has been a very positive year for WSBC and our members. Although markets are tough there appears to be a more positive sentiment to business in the West. It is the prime focus of politicians, advocacy groups and companies now recognising the opportunities that exist and investing their time and dollars.

There are also many positive examples of businesses in the West that are succeeding and together with Newscorp we have profiled some of them in their ‘Champions of The West Campaign’. WSBC will continue to profile these organisations and highlight other success stories in our new strategy, complementing our traditional focus as a “Business Connector” with a new role that serves as a “Voice” of SME businesses in Western Sydney.

We are following up a number of manufacturing success stories and would love for you to get in touch with us and let us know your story too. Our Platinum Partners and Gold members are doing just that at present and I look forward to catching up with you all in the coming weeks to discuss the enhanced benefits and programs we have for you in the coming year.

Membership growth has continued to improve and we have grown our gold membership by 100% in the past 8 months. This means that we will have new and more people in the room for you to engage and connect with. On top of this we have introduced a facility for you to update your own company details to increase your profile and to inform WSBC and other members who you are looking to connect with. These are already delivering results and we have been able to connect a number of our members to one another.

With a variety of new networking events, partnerships and subjects for our major business leader luncheons planned, the 2014/15 membership year is shaping up to be an even better year. Key to this is understanding how the region can be shaped to deliver an optimised economic environment to maximise business success based on the needs of our members.

As such we offer a flexible approach to our membership and work in assisting you and our other members on achieving your business aims. We are not offering a membership in a box where one size fits all. This means that we will work with you to achieve your objectives and connect you for lead generation, development and growth of your business and in turn the growth of the Western Sydney economy.

If you have any questions regarding your renewal or you would like to discuss how you can gain maximum return on your membership next year please get in touch with us.

We look forward to working with you in the year ahead as we drive forward with our new strategy and deliver on our role as a business connector for your business and the “Voice” of SME business in Western Sydney.

HWL Ebsworth has further expanded its Norwest offering with the addition of Dorota Bryks as an Associate in the commercial team.

Dorota will work with Partners Matt Rowe and Brendon Noney and has expertise in the preparation and negotiation of contracts, business acquisitions and disposals including due diligence and business structuring.  She also provides clients with advice in areas of competition and consumer law, the Personal Property Securities Act and information and communications technology.  She is known for providing prompt, commercially-focused advice that is tailored to her client’s individual needs.

Dorota has experience across a wide range of industries including health, manufacturing, construction and consumer goods and she has serviced multinationals and their subsidiaries and small to medium enterprises.

HWL Ebsworth is the only national law firm with a presence and dedication to Greater Western Sydney having a fully integrated office at Norwest Business Park staffed by 5 Partners and 15 other legal and support staff.  Following the firm's upcoming acquisition of Adelaide independent law firm Kelly & Co, HWL Ebsworth will be ranked as the third largest legal partnership in Australia. This expansion will create a fully integrated national firm which will comprise 905 staff including: 187 Partners, 425 other legal staff and 293 support staff across offices in seven locations – Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Norwest (North West Sydney), Perth and Sydney.

In just two years Penrith Panthers have gone from the brink of insolvency to a business powerhouse planning an $850 million precinct.

Warren Wilson and Phil Gould are keynote speakers at the Western Sydney Business Connection lunch. (Photo: Matt Sullivan) Source: News Limited

Panthers CEO Warren Wilson and Executive General Manager of Rugby League Phil Gould last week shared how the business survived and thrived with the Western Sydney Business Connection.

Mr Wilson said it was important to share the company’s story.

Business leaders gather to gear the Panthers Transformation story. (Photo: Matt Sullivan) Source: News Limited

“We are a major player in Penrith and we think the Western Sydney area hasn’t been on the top of everyone’s list for many years,” Mr Wilson said.

“It’s about time that politicians, business organisations, and other groups recognise what we are trying to do out here and what’s available.

“We’re right in the middle of it in sport, community and business and we’re quite happy to put our hand up for Western Sydney, so this is a great opportunity to do that and share our story.”

The lunch gave business owners the chance to learn first-hand the key drivers behind the change, how to identify which areas of the organisation were in need of improvement, and more.

Michael Sugg, the General Manager of The Western Sydney Business Connection opens the lunch. (Photo: Matt Sullivan) Source: News Limited

WSBC General Manager Michael Sugg said the purpose of the lunches was to connect business leaders.

“Panthers are one of our platinum partners and they are one of the success stories,” Mr Sugg said.

“Today is about education and helping our members who are in business within Western Sydney, there are lots of things that you can take away as learning points and things that can be applied into one’s own business.”

WHAT MANAGEMENT FACED:

• A debt of $95 million
• No strategic plan
• Massively complicated and costly company structure
• Wrong people in the wrong positions
• Lack of reinvestment over last 10 years
• Poor internal reporting

THE FUTURE:

The Panthers master plan includes residential, commercial and entertainment developments.

Panthers Master Plan. (Credit: Architectus Group) Source: Supplied

Source: NewsLocal - Penrith Press by Kristine Tarbert. Original article.