In this month’s edition, we have a focus on digital marketing for business, with a number of workshops running in the coming weeks. Whether it is creating your own webpage or learning to produce effective digital content to communicate more effectively with your audience online, there is always a new skill to learn and add to your repertoire.

In our business news there is information on how social media impacts your intellectual property and how you can protect your creativity. If you keep missing the coffee connect mornings, make sure you book into the last one for the year, at Rockabye Candy in Altona on Wednesday 7 November. 

We will also be seeking Expressions of Interest from workshop facilitators to deliver workshops as part of the 2019 Business Calendar. Make sure you register your interest if you would like more information on this.

If you would like any further information, or have any questions about doing business in Hobsons Bay, please contact the team on 03 9932 1654 or email business@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au. 

The Victorian Government is partnering with the Australian Government Department of Jobs and Small Business to host the Melbourne West Jobs Fair.

The Melbourne West Jobs Fair will bring together job seekers, employers, employment service providers and recruitment agencies together and will give job seekers a chance to talk directly to employers about the skills they are looking for and their current job opportunities. For more information, click here.

Date: Tuesday 9 October
Time: 10am to 5pm
Location: Sunshine Convention Centre, 460 Ballarat Road, Sunshine
Cost: Free

Join us for these two great workshops to help enhance your online presence.

Create your own webpage (for small business owners) - Wednesday 10 to Thursday 11 October
If you own or operate a small business in Hobsons Bay and don’t have a website, this is your opportunity to create a landing page for your business. Presented by Hobsons Bay Libraries and over two sessions, you will learn how to create a landing page for your business that will include outlining your business service and contact details for prospective clients.

Time: 6pm to 8pm (for both days)
Location: Altona Meadows Library and Learning Centre, Central Square Shopping Centre, 2 Newham Way, Altona Meadows
Cost: Free
To register: For more information and to register, click here. Places are limited, so register early to avoid disappointment.

Creating Effective Digital Content – Thursday 11 October
Content is king in the digital world – make sure yours is working for your business and your brand, and speaks to the customers you want to attract.

Time: 9am to 11am
Location: Hobsons Bay Civic Centre, 115 Civic Parade, Altona
Cost: $20
To register: To register your attendance, click here.

Want to find out how Australia’s top online entrepreneurs got started? Discover the secrets of how to build your own online business. 

Best-selling author, Bernadette Schwerdt will share the insights she has gained from interviewing 100 of Australia’s top digital disrupters. 

When: Monday 22 October
Time: 6pm 
Location: Kooringal Golf Club, Wilga Ave, Altona
Cost: $20
To register: click here, by 12 October

If you are an asylum seeker, refugee or migrant with a business idea, this essential planning workshop will prepare you for the best chance of business success. Get to grips with everything you need to know about Australian business culture and starting a business in Victoria, so you can walk away ready-prepared with a clear vision of your next steps to turn your bright idea into a business reality.

Time: 9am to 12.30pm
Location: Hobsons Bay Civic Centre, 115 Civic Parade, Altona
Cost: Free
To register: click here

Delivered as part of the Coffee Connect business networking series, this informal event is a great opportunity to meet people from a range of different industries. This will be the last one for the year.

Time: 7.30am to 8.30am
Location: Rockabye Candy, 38 Pier Street, Altona 
Cost: Free
To register: To register your attendance, click here. 

Discover the steps to create your ideal business! 

Presented by Real Edge in Business this workshop will outline the "4 Futures of Business" for you to plot your current business course, and then unpack what your 'Ideal Business' would look like. 

This workshop is specifically for businesses that have been operating for at least 12 months.

Time: 6pm to 7.30pm
Location: OfficeOurs, 208 Hall Street, Spotswood
Cost: Free
To register: Click here.

Thinking of running a business workshop in 2019 and want to be included in the business calendar?

We will soon be seeking expressions of interest from workshop facilitators planning to deliver sessions in 2019. If you would like more information, please email business@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au to be put on the mailing list.

Tapping into Tourism, presented by Destination Melbourne, was held on Wednesday 12 September at the Hobsons Bay Civic Centre, Altona. Local operators learnt about benefits of the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW), an online hub of tourism business and destination information, providing businesses with an effective and simple way to promote to visitors and enhance their online presence.  

Delivered by Marketing Entourage on behalf of LaunchVic, this workshop was held on Friday 14 September at Newport Community Hub. The workshop provided startup businesses with essential marketing tools to build effective strategies to successfully go to market, stimulate growth and attract investment. People were excited to attend this introductory session and are now equipped with marketing skills to take them to the next level. Council was approached by Phil Ore from Marketing Entourage to host this session after seeing the success of the #StartWest launch and the level of interest from startups in Hobsons Bay.

This section takes a look at our local business heroes. 

Altona Village Traders Association (AVTA) represents retail and commercial businesses throughout Altona and promotes Altona as a great place to trade, shop and live.

President Kim Walsh says several factors contribute to the association’s success. “We promote Altona businesses to the local and wider community and facilitate connections between Altona traders. We have a focus on enhancing the amenity of Altona for business and community in any way we can.”

The AVTA facebook page keeps businesses and locals informed about what’s on, and provides a platform to spread the news.

JUDGES COMMENTS

“The strong and loyal membership base of this organisation is testimony to the association’s effectiveness as an advocate of the traders not just in Altona Village, but in other areas also. The AVTA represents and advocates for it's members and for improvements to the precinct that have wider community benefit, such as improving access to the beach by providing accessible wheelchairs and managing secure lockers, and events. They keep abreast of trends and opportunities and manage a weekly market as an additional revenue stream.”

Click here to stay up-to-date with law changes that might affect  your business.

Try the ATO's Small Business Assist portal with web chat for tailored information at your fingertips.

Click here to access the webchat portal.

Webchat is available from 3pm to 8pm (AEST) Monday to Friday and 10am to 2pm (AEST) Saturday (except public holidays).

On September 2018 the Victorian Parliament passed the Long Service Portability Act 2018. 

This legislation which will commence on 1 July 2019, will establish a scheme to provide portability of long service leave benefits for workers in the contract cleaning, security and community services sectors. This will enable eligible workers to accumulate paid long service leave entittlements for long service within a sector, irrespective of how many employers they have worked for. 

For further information about this scheme click here.

An element of a creative entrepreneur’s marketing plan usually involves circulating content on popular social media platforms. But did you know sharing your creations on a public forum like Facebook or Instagram before securing intellectual property (IP) protection may void your chances of obtaining IP rights? This leaves you at risk to copycats and competitors.

As you draw up your business and IP strategy, consider the type of IP protection you need. Click here for more information.

If your business imports or exports goods and services, then you will want to know the ins and outs of how Australian tax applies.

Click here for further information.

46 -48 Aylesbury Drive, Altona - For Sale
Contact James Gregson on 0421 516 480

27 Aitken Street, Williamstown - For Sale
Contact Nick Peden on 0402 011 266  

143 Nelson Place, Williamstown - For Lease
Contact Simon Southey on 0403 924 104

511 Melbourne Road, Newport - For Lease
Contact Nick Kukic on 0404 227 058  

Fish & Chips / Take Away Food shop, Altona Meadows - For Sale
Contact Salib Nazih on 0432 337 799

Through its Economic Development team, Council takes a proactive approach to attracting and facilitating investment across the municipality. This includes assisting with site identification and selection. If you are looking for a commercial or industrial site in Hobsons Bay or to submit a business or commercial premises for inclusion in e-Works, please email business@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au.

- Artisanal Sector Program, open 
- Automotive Transformation Scheme, open
- Advancing Renewables Program, open
- Business Development and Assistance program (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses and individuals), open
- Stockland Accelerator Program (for Startups), open

Australian Manufacturing: Gas Efficiency Guide is a comprehensive resource that sets out practical and proven measures that deliver energy and cost savings in gas-intensive manufacturing operations.

The guide sets out a range of options for manufacturers that wish to reduce their reliance on gas, including:

• maintenance improvements
• replacing old and inefficient equipment
• smart redesigns of industrial processes and
• shifting from gas to other energy sources.

The guide is a joint initiative of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, the Energy Efficiency Council and the Australian Industry Group.

To download a copy click here.

Council invites residents, community groups, sporting associations, businesses and organisations to make submissions recommending specific ideas for capital works or community programs/projects to be funded in the 2019-20 Budget.

Go to: participate.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au to find out more, submit your idea or get in contact with the Community Engagement Team!

Submissions close at midnight on Sunday 28 October.

Tell us what you think of the Hobsons Bay Activity Centres Strategy!

Hobsons Bay City Council has prepared a new Activity Centres Strategy to provide an over-arching framework to inform planning, economic development and decision-making about activity centres in Hobsons Bay, as well as attract and direct public and private investment. 

Click here to view the draft strategy and tell us what you think. 

All feedback must be received by 5pm on Friday 9 November 2018.

Council has launched an advocacy campaign in the lead up to the state government election on Saturday 24 November 2018. The lead up to the election provides an opportunity for Council and the community to engage with local members and the state government to raise key issues within Hobsons Bay. Council has 10 priority areas for change that you can add your voice to – collectively we can make change happen!  

For more information visit Participate Hobsons Bay and Council will use your support to further advocate to the state government and other stakeholders to support local change.