Welcome to our June 2007 newsletter!

In this month's newsletter:

News from CEO David Baumgarten
Virgin Blue National Small Business Summit
Is VoIP the right choice for your business?

Do you have a cool company?
Speak up, speak out and speak well - demand attention!
Do a deal - working with others who have the IP rights

City of Randwick Bi-Annual Business Awards Program
Innovation Breakfast thanks
Established businesses to benefit from workshops

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

• Speak up, speak out and speak well - demand attention! - Newtown Business Breakfast, 19 June (Presenter Mariette Rups-Donnelly)
• Accelerate Your Business Growth - Growth Planning Workshop, 19 June (Presenter Linda Hailey)
• Import and Export - Bankstown Business Wednesday, 20 June
• Small Business Basics I - 20 June (City)
• Do A Deal - IP Australia Workshop, 21 June
• Small Business Basics I - 25 June (Bankstown)
• Thinking Success! - Business Thursday, 28 June

News from CEO David Baumgarten

Firstly, I would like to apologise to you if you received duplicate emails during May. It seems our emails were banked up out in cyberspace. I was conscious that we had a number of events that you may have wanted to attend, and not knowing if you'd received our e-invites, I resent them. We have now taken steps to ensure that this does not happen again.

The month of May was a monster month for us. Networking events alone included 2 Business Breakfasts, 6 specialised workshops, and 3 business skill workshops. More than 350 people attended these events. A big thanks to our events coordinator Leona De Bolt.

During the month 34 new micro-business operators graduated through the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS). Again, a big effort from my trainers and NEIS team.

During the month, I was honoured to be the Dinner Speaker for an Australian Taxation Office staff conference on the small-medium business sector and then on the micro-enterprise sector (see story below).

In the second part of the year we are introducing the Business Thursday concept for established businesses 2 years plus. These workshops will link in with our other three products for this market (story below).

June is going to be a little quieter as the focus for all of us is the end of the financial year. My wife and I are now on a week's leave in New Zealand to spend some time with our son and recharge the batteries.

Have a great month.

David Baumgarten
CEO

Virgin Blue National Small Business Summit

The annual Virgin Blue National Small Business Summit is on in Sydney next month.

This year's summit will cover topics such as industrial relations and workplace practices, taxation and regulatory reform, and new directions in business technologies and operations. The keynote luncheon presentation will be by Federal Opposition leader Kevin Rudd.

The event is convened by the Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia (COSBOA) and will be held at the Sydney Hilton. The one day summit is on Tuesday 3 July 2007; the opening dinner is the night before.

For further details visit www.smallbusinesssummit.com.au.

Hope to see you there.

Back to Top

Is VoIP the right choice for your business?

Small business operators struggling to understand how internet telephony can help their business have been given some assistance.

The Guide to VoIP for Small Businesses, released by SETEL (Small Enterprise Telecommunications Centre Ltd), looks at what Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) offers to the small business.

Small business situations that will not benefit from VoIP are described along with the potential productivity gains. The attitude towards VoIP is positive provided time is taken to gain the necessary knowledge - not necessarily a simple task for time-poor small businesses.

Some of the key recommendations outlined in the SETEL guide include:

• Small businesses must skill up on VoIP before venturing into this new domain.
• Small businesses must carry out their own self-assessment to determine if VoIP is suitable for their business practices and situation.
• There is no 'one size fits all' VoIP service for small businesses.
• Small business must be alert as there are almost no VoIP consumer protection measures.

Download a copy of the SETEL Guide to VoIP for Small Business or direct other enquiries to SETEL Executive Director Ewan Brown on (02) 62517823.

SETEL aims to advance the interests of small, micro and home business as consumers of telecommunications services with industry, government and regulators.

Back to Top

Do you have a cool company?

Nominations for the 2007 Cool Company Awards are now open.

Anthill's inaugural Cool Company Awards in 2006 were a big success, attracting overwhelming interest from within and beyond Anthill's readership of innovative business owners and professionals.

This year, we hope to increase participation levels and reward an even greater number of Australian companies that are bringing about change and defying convention to make Australia a more innovative and entrepreneurial place.

We are expanding the reach of the awards to include six new categories:
1. PricewaterhouseCoopers Coolest Company Award
2. Commercial Creativity Award (NEW)
3. Global Growth Award (NEW)
4. Innovation Award (NEW)
5. Social Capitalist Award (NEW)
6. Flying Solo Award (NEW)
7. X-Factor Award (NEW)

The application process commenced 8 June 2007.

Visit www.australiananthill.com to download a nomination form.

Back to Top

Speak up, speak out and speak well - demand attention!

19 June 2007

Leap out of your comfort zone and discover your potential.

How many times do we miss that opportunity because we hold back, only to kick ourselves later?

At this Business Breakfast we will demonstrate that with a little more awareness you can make sure your voice and body work for you, not against you.

Discover how to:

• Get your ideas across with energy and vocal colour
• Use your voice and body persuasively
• Let your natural personality shine through.
• Leap out of your comfort zone and discover your potential.

To find out more and book online see our Networking Calendars:
ESBEC - Networking Calendar
Clearly Business - Networking Calendar


Back to Top

Do a deal - working with others who have the IP rights

21 June 2007

Do a Deal - Focus on working with others who have the IP rights is the third workshop in our Trade Mark Centenary Workshop Series being held in conjunction with IP Australia.

In this workshop, we look at the options you have if cannot get IP rights and you find that you have to look at negotiation.

Our presenter Don Roach, proprietor of TMidentity Pty Ltd, specialises in the administration of trademark portfolios on behalf of SMEs.

Don will also show you how to respond when you find yourself in a position when you are challenged with legal action, and alternatives avenues or ways to continue to operate your business.

To find out more and book online see our Networking Calendars:
ESBEC - Networking Calendar
Clearly Business - Networking Calendar

Back to Top

City of Randwick Bi-Annual Business Awards Program

Randwick City Council, in association with the Combined Chambers of Commerce and ESBEC, will acknowledge the businesses of the City of Randwick with a prestigious bi-annual Business Awards Program.

Nominations are now open and will close Tuesday 3 July 2007. Judging is by anonymous independent judges from TAFE NSW.

Winners will be announced by the Mayor of Randwick during a Gala Presentation Evening at the Australian Jockey Club on Tuesday 21 August.

Entry forms are available from Precedent Productions on 9264 0757 or via the website www.thebusinessawards.com. For further information on these awards, please contact Shannon Bishop on 9399 0792.

Back to Top

Innovation Breakfast thanks

A special thanks to our speaker Ian Gardiner from Viocorp for giving us an insight into next generation internet broadcasting at our Innovation Breakfast in May. It seems no small business operator is immune from the next wave of internet communication.

We will continue with this theme and offer workshops with specialists in this area to guide and inform our small business clients.

We would also like to thank HP, Sensis and City of Sydney for supporting this breakfast. Also, special thanks to our partner in this event, IP Australia.

Back to Top

Established businesses to benefit from workshops

Following the success of our Accelerate Your Business Growth program and pending the re-launch of Business Buddies, we will shortly be introducing workshops based on the Business Thursday model for businesses that have been established 2-years plus.

These workshops are part of a program of five services we are rolling out for our established business sector:
1. Accelerate Your Business Growth
2. Business Buddies
3. Business Lounge
4. Business Thursdays for 2 years plus
5. Ask an Expert

Watch out for more info next newsletter.

Back to Top

Newsletter edited by Harvest Communication

Back to Top