SmallBusiness.wa.gov.au
The Small Business Specialists
Phone: 131 BIZ
Website: www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au
"Thank you BiZFiT!" Check out some of our testimonials
The final BiZFiT event was on Thursday 24 November 2011. From October 2009 to November 2011 over 2,600 contacts were made by West Australian business owners who benefited from this practical and relevant business resilience program.
In 2009, as a direct response to the global financial crisis, the State Government invested $2 million over two years to help the small business sector in Western Australia become more resilient. The Small Business Development Corporation created the BiZFiT program, to help business owners work smarter to safeguard their business against difficult times. However, BiZFiT was also aimed at addressing the challenges created by boom times, such as shortages of staff and difficulty in obtaining supplies.
The BiZFiT program was rolled out through 73 events across metropolitan and regional areas in various stages covering towns along the way as far south to Albany, north to Derby, and east to Kalgoorlie.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia (CCIWA) assisted with the development of the BiZFiT local business forums. The CCIWA are recognised as a major provider of high value, independent economic advice and research for the West Australian business community.
Each BiZFiT local business forum was aimed at educating small business owners about past, current and future economic trends for their specific region, and how to utilise the information to benefit their business.
The Centre for Entrepreneurship has expertise in designing innovative, practical training programs for West Australian business people. The Centre was established in 1995 to provide business development programs for owner-managers of small to medium enterprises and is the only facility of its kind in Australia. SBDC proudly partnered with The Centre to develop and present the two day BiZFiT Extend program, including 4 hours of one-on-one mentoring for Extend participants following the two days and the BiZFiT Extension-People workshop, as well as accepting 69 BiZFiT scholarship recipients into the highly acclaimed 12 month Curtin Growth Owner Program.
The network of Small Business Centres played a major role as a link for delivery of the BiZFiT Program throughout metropolitan and regional areas across Western Australia.
Matthew Winter is an acclaimed international lecturer and guest speaker. Matt presents to business owners and managers at Curtin University's Centre for Entrepreneurship, business groups, farmers, conferences, as well as to MBA and undergraduate students throughout Australia and Asia. Matt is also a partner in an award winning tourism business, Ningaloo Reef Dreaming, based in Exmouth, which takes tourists swimming with whale sharks and diving on the world-famous Ningaloo Reef.
Matt presented at BiZFiT local forums, BiZFiT Extend, and the one day BiZFiT Extension - Profit Plan workshop.
After extensive experience in business overseas, Paul Curtis started Edensilk in 1992, which has evolved into a comprehensive business devoloping consultancy assisting businesses to grow and prosper. Sought after as a business coach, marketing strategist and sales trainer, Paul is also a non executive director and shareholder of four small businesses including an engineering consultancy, a wholesaler, an electrical contractor and an IT company.
Paul presented the BiZFiT Extension - Productivity and Time Management workshop.