Job Incubator For Lake
Newcastle Herald
Tuesday February 29, 2000
LAKE Macquarie's Small Business Centre opens next week at Gateshead providing accommodation for 20 fledgling businesses' operations in a supportive environment.
Tenants will be provided with business coaching and support as part of a package which minimises start-up risk and maximises the chances of success.
Sponsored by the Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business, the centre has received additional support from BHP, Lake Macquarie City Council and the local community.
Centre manager Tony Morison said an extra boost had been a Federal Government contract to manage the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) to assist business start-ups.
'We won the contract as part of a consortium with the Hunter Business Centre in Newcastle and Lower Hunter Business Centre in Kurri Kurri,' Mr Morison said.
'NEIS will be offered Hunter-wide under the consortium name New Hunter Business.
'The NEIS program has been shown to have a better than 80% success rate in starting sustainable businesses.
'Anyone who is retrenched, early retired, unemployed or underemployed or anyone who simply has a great idea for a business should come and talk to us.'
Mr Morison said the centre was an incubator aimed at making business work.
'We have an affordable serviced office or light industrial workspace with management, marketing and financial advice on tap.
'At the moment we're looking for a small home-based business or a brand new one which offers secretarial and/or bookkeeping services.
'We're offering subsidised rent to the end of the year in return for reception and phone duties in our office.'
Hunter-based Liberal Senator John Tierney will officiate at the opening of the centre tomorrow.
© 2000 Newcastle Herald
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