Page Content:

Small businesses in NSW can now apply for the NSW Government’s Energy Efficient For Small Business Program.

The program is part of the NSW Government’s $150 million Energy Efficiency Strategy, tailored to help save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The program is available to small businesses which consume up to $20,000 worth of electricity per year or employ 10 employees.

The program offers a subsidised personalised energy assessment and action plan as well as a 50 per cent rebate of up to $5,000 for businesses which use between $5,000 and $20,000 a year in electricity, and $2,000 for businesses that use less than $5,000 a year in electricity.

The rebate is only available for items with a payback period of greater than two years.

More information at www.environment.nsw.gov.au/sustainbus/smallbusenergy

 

Article Date: 15/09/2009

Expiration: 31/12/2009

CaseStudy: No

ShowOnSiteMap: No

ShowCaseStudyFields: Yes

Page Content:

NSW will join the national industrial relations system from next year, cutting red tape for more than 200,000 of the State’s mall businesses and charities.

Following negotiations with the Commonwealth, the NSW Government has agreed to participate in the national IR system, Fair Work Australia.

The decision means that, from January 2010, the Commonwealth’s Fair Work Act will cover every employer and employee in the private sector in NSW. About half a million workers in the private sector in NSW will come under the umbrella of the national IR system from next year.

The decision includes the following arrangements:

• Seven members of the NSW Industrial Relations Commission will be appointed to Fair Work Australia;
• Fair Work Australia will be located in the Hunter and the Illawarra as well as Sydney; and
• The Fair Work Ombudsman and the NSW Office of Industrial Relations will work together for a period of 3½ years to ensure that employers and employees know their rights and responsibilities in the national system.

The NSW Government will introduce an urgent Bill into Parliament for the referral of industrial relations powers to the Commonwealth.

Article Date: 19/11/2009

Expiration: 28/02/2010

CaseStudy: No

ShowOnSiteMap: Yes

ShowCaseStudyFields: Yes

Page Content:

Three NSW companies – Australian Fashion Partners (fashion marketing, based in Kings Cross); Sphinx Australia (textile manufacture, based in Bankstown) and Ella & Sofia (textile design, based in Marrickville) have come together to form a fashion, design and manufacturing business cluster, with support from Industry and Investment NSW.

The ‘Born n Bred’ business cluster companies between them employ 24 people and have a turnover of $1.5 million a year.

Business clusters provide a great opportunity for companies to combine their diverse skills and their capital to create something new and exciting in their specific business sector.

The group was keen to find a way to prove to both Australian consumers and local product developers that domestically manufactured garments can be both high quality and competitively priced.

The Made Right Here label is their first venture together.

The new label’s first product range will be in the kid’s fashion segment, against some tough competition from offshore manufacturers.

$10,000 of NSW Government funding for the cluster will support the development of a new website, design of the new Made Right Here label and the production of samples.

For more information on Industry & Investment NSW clusters click here.

Article Date: 19/11/2009

Expiration: 31/01/2010

CaseStudy: No

ShowOnSiteMap: Yes

ShowCaseStudyFields: Yes

Page Content:

An Australian Federal Government superannuation clearing house service will be available for small businesses with less than 20 employees from July, 2010. The free service will be provided through Medicare Australia and is aimed to cut red tape.

To meet their choice of superannuation fund obligations, small businesses face the time and paperwork burden of paying contributions into numerous funds. The clearing house will cut this burden by enabling small businesses to pay their contributions electronically to a single location.

For more information click here.

Article Date: 19/11/2009

Expiration: 31/07/2010

CaseStudy: No

ShowOnSiteMap: Yes

ShowCaseStudyFields: Yes

Page Content:

Small business now have access to a range of free online resources to help them better understand their rights when it comes to employing staff.

The Fair Work for Small Business website is delivered by the Council of Small Business of Australia (COSBOA), the Workforce Guardian and Telstra Business.

The website gives businesses free access to a wide range of information about the new Fair Work Act in plain language.

The site includes video guides to help businesses navigate the new laws, free summary papers that can be downloaded, regular live interactive web sessions and electronic newsletters to keep businesses updated.

Jaye Radisich of COSBOA said the website is timely particularly in the current economic climate.

“When the new laws took effect on 1 July 2009, 85 per cent of employees or employers around the country were potentially affected.

“A recent Telstra survey indicated that four out of five small to medium businesses were unprepared for the new IR laws,” Ms Radisich said.

“Anecdotal evidence from our member organisations supports the research.”

“The site allows small businesses to get across the key issues in a matter of minutes.

“This is important because in most cases small businesses don’t have the luxury of an in-house HR manager or lawyer that many big businesses have,” she said.

Fair Work for Small Business is live online at www.fairworkforsmallbusiness.com.au.

Article Date: 15/09/2009

Expiration: 30/11/2009

CaseStudy: No

ShowOnSiteMap: No

ShowCaseStudyFields: Yes

Page Content:

On Wednesday 21 October, Commercialisation Australia (formerly known as the Commonwealth Commercialisation Institute) was announced to provide a radical new approach to commercialising promising Australian research and ideas. Commercialisation Australia will receive $196.1 million over the next 4 years, with ongoing funding of $82 million a year thereafter.

Commercialisation Australia will give successful applicants access to:

• specialist advice and services to build the skills, knowledge and linkages necessary to successfully commercialise their ideas. This includes funding of up to $50,000 to engage specialist services and, where it is deemed appropriate, up to $200,000 over two years to assist in the recruitment of experienced CEOs and executives;
• funding of up to $250,000 for proof of concept activities; and
• funding of up to $2 million for early stage commercialisation activities.

Successful applicants will be assigned a Case Manager for the duration of their involvement with Commercialisation Australia. The Case Manager will partner with the successful applicant, assessing its needs and monitoring their progress.

The Case Manager will be responsible for linking the successful applicant with a group of volunteer mentors - people with 'hands-on' experience in the various aspects of the commercialisation process.

Registration of Interest for Case Manager and Volunteer Mentor positions

Persons interested in being considered for the Case Manager or Volunteer Mentor positions are encouraged to register their interest with the Commercialisation Australia Team. Persons who register will receive information on the public recruitment process for Case Managers and for listing of Volunteer Mentors once these processes are underway. A Registration of Interest can be lodged here.

For further information about Commercialisation Australia please refer to the fact sheet, or contact the Commercialisation Australia Team by email ca@innovation.gov.au, or call +61 2 6213 7611.

Article Date: 13/11/2009

Expiration: 28/02/2010

CaseStudy: No

ShowOnSiteMap: Yes

ShowCaseStudyFields: Yes