Singleton Council and Singleton Business Chamber join to support local businesses

BY CHARLOTTE LLOYD

Following the recent lockdown restrictions within Greater Sydney, Singleton Council and Singleton Business Chamber have decided to join forces to support businesses within the local area. 

Council and the business chamber says the impacts of the Sydney lockdown ripple into Singleton with travel restrictions affecting suppliers as well as customers from the city. 

The Business Supporting Business initiative has been reinstated for the fourth time since the initial lockdown last year and allows businesses to apply for $250 worth of Spend in Singleton gift vouchers that allows businesses to purchase essential supplies from other local businesses. 

Singleton Council and Business Chamber are confident that in its fourth round the Business Supporting Business program is an efficient way that has been tried and tested to keep businesses afloat. 

A one-on-one information session will be held on Wednesday 4th August and Wednesday 11th August in order for businesses to access information and support personal to them. 

These sessions are in an effort to seek clarification of what support business are after and an opportunity to ask any questions that businesses may have. 

Singleton Council Business Support Project Coordinator
Katrina Crawford and Singleton Business Chamber president Sue Gilroy.

Hunter Business Chamber Calls on Government to Offer More Support for Apprenticeships

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Hunter Business Chamber and Business NSW are calling on the Government to offer immediate support to employers struggling to provide apprenticeships and work opportunities for young people across the Hunter Region and New South Wales.

A recent report produced by Business NSW suggests the national apprenticeship intake for 2020 will fall to 151,000 from 97,000 last year, a decline of more than 30 per cent.

Hunter Business Chamber CEO Bob Hawes says 54,000 individuals are likely to miss out on crucial opportunities to upskill, reskill, or find a job, while thousands of businesses will also lose out on the chance for valuable employees.

"If this continues, not only are we working off a low base to restore apprenticeship and traineeship numbers, but we'll be looking at a significant skills gap in four to five years time," Mr Hawes said.

The Skilling Australia for a better future report recommends an industry-supported pre-apprenticeship program and subsidies for Group Training Organisations will be necessary to help the sector recover from such a decline.

"There needs to be consistency and significant improvement in the funding so that businesses don't baulk at taking on apprentices and trainees when they have that opportunity," Mr Hawes said.

"We know that's happening, and it shouldn't happen, given the tremendous advantages of having trainees and apprentices come through our school system in the trades in which they traditionally operate."

Despite the recent shock faced by the entire economy, Mr Hawes says the decline speaks to wider issues which existed before COVID-19 and have only been exacerbated by the pandemic.

"It's not just about the wishes of the guys and the girls that want to go into those sorts of opportunities," Mr Hawes said. "It's about businesses being able to provide them with opportunities and the education system being able to point them in that direction."

Local Businesses Team Up With Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation for Pamper Pack Fundraiser

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A number of local businesses have partnered with the Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation to raise funds for the charity by selling luxury pamper packs.

While traditional fundraising has put on hold by COVID-19 and social distancing measures, the charity's efforts in raising cash to support local families affected by breast cancer hasn't stopped.

HBCF General Manager Ellie Weeks says the demand for support services has only doubled.

"Breast cancer doesn't stop for a pandemic," said Ms Weeks. "So we've had to try and readjust and innovate our services to offer them safely throughout COVID-19."

All of the foundation's fundraising events were cancelled for the next twelve months, but local businesses came to the rescue - boutique stores including Scrubba Body, Eunoia Soul Rituals, Coco Love Chocolates and Tamburlaine Wine offered up supplies and products to lend a helping hand.

The pamper packs come in a variety of sizes and contain a range of Australian-made, locally-sourced, and eco-friendly gifts, such as chocolate, wine, candles, bath milk and body scrub.

Fortunately for children everywhere, the fundraiser has arrived just in time for Mother's Day.

But Novocastrians shouldn't worry if they don't have anyone specific in mind for a gift - the foundation have also offered the option of sponsoring a package for a local healthcare worker instead.

Ms Weeks says the efforts of the community in supporting the initiative will go a long way to help out both cancer patients and local businesses as well.

"At this time we could all use a bit of extra self-care and pampering, so why not give back to our local community at the same time?"

Gift packs can be purchased on the Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation website here.

Image credit: Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation