Welcome to the Hobsons Bay Business e-Works update. With Christmas around the corner, we are reminding the community to shop local this Christmas, encouraging them to support our local small business owners and operators, which keeps jobs in the community and allows the buyer to gift something truly special to their loved one. 

The 2021 Hobsons Bay Christmas Gift & Event Guide is now live and features many great gift ideas and ways to celebrate thanks to all the businesses who have participated in this program.    

The guide is supported by the 'Elves on Shelves' competition in which entrants go into the draw to win one of five $100 gift vouchers for any business featured in the guide. Keep your eyes out for the elves that will be popping up across Hobsons Bay!  

Congratulations to the five winners of the 2021 Hobsons Bay Business Excellence Awards. Despite a tumultuous two years, these businesses have beat the odds to achieve some incredible feats. A huge congratulations to our winners:

  • Pelvic Health Melbourne - Excellence in Customer Experience
  • Self Defence Hub - Creating Social Change
  • Eco Laundry Room - Excellence in Sustainability
  • Mama Movement - New Start Up Business
  • Seaworks - Pivoting during COVID-19
To learn more about our winners and all our finalists and watch the full awards visit Hobsons Bay Business.

Consultation opening tomorrow! 

Through the HBBHH Outdoors program Council has provided extended trading areas enabling many local businesses to continue to operate and meet social distancing requirements. Council is considering what the future of the program could look like beyond the extension date of May 2022.

Feedback from businesses and the broader community has informed ‘transition guidelines’ to guide businesses in how the spaces can be used in the  future.   The Future Program Transitional and Interim Design Guidelines will be available via Council’s Participate website and we are seeking feedback from the business community. The consultation period will run until 30 January 2022 and the team will engage with both participating and non-participating businesses, trader groups and the broader community.

Hobsons Bay UP Youth Services is inviting local businesses to contribute to a ‘grab bag’ of goodies for young people for the summer school holidays. The grab bags are available to young people aged 12 to 25 to connect them to local businesses across Hobsons Bay. Hobsons Bay UP is looking to complete these bags with gift vouchers, coupons, experiences, and more to bring young people into your business.

If you would like your business to be featured in these bags, contact Beth Treiguts at btrieguts@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au by Friday 10 December 2021.

Community Pitch submissions are open! Funding of up to $50,000 is available per idea.

Here’s your chance to submit an idea that solves a problem for your local area.

We’re also looking for ideas that bring people together, encourage sustainable living or promote a healthy and connected community.

Submissions close at midnight on Wednesday 1 December 2021.

For more information, and to submit your idea visit Participate. 

With the easing of restrictions taking place recently, businesses may need to take time to review their COVIDSafe plans to ensure they are compliant with current restrictions.  

It is mandatory for every Victorian business with on-site operations to have a COVIDSafe Plan. To ensure compliance, random spot checks are happening throughout Victoria.  

Visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au for COVIDSafe Plan templates and support and current COVIDSafe settings for business and industry.

Register for the VTIC COVID-19 Recovery Masterclass for practical, interactive, and individual assistance to plan the recovery of your business.  

Content includes: 
  • COVIDSafe operations
  • cashflow health check
  • industry intelligence
  • mental health and wellbeing

Tuesday 7 December from 11am to 3pm
Location TBC, Melbourne | Register here
If you’re spending more time juggling cash than running your business, making a profit but still struggling to pay the bills, then this essential small business workshop will help you find ways to never be caught short again.

Thursday 4 December from 6pm to 8pm
Business Victoria Online Webinar | Book here

The Partners in Wellbeing Helpline is a free, confidential service offering small business owners and their employees one-on-one access to trained wellbeing coaches, financial counsellors and business advisors. Call the Partners in Wellbeing Helpline on 1300 375 330 for assistance between 9am to 10pm on weekdays and 9am to 5pm on weekends. A live chat function is also available on the website. 

For a list of other resources available visit the Mental Health in Business webpage.