Woolgoolga – thriving hub for the 21st Century

A $10,000 grant from the Enterprise & Training Company Ltd (ETC) Community Support Fund has been welcomed by the Woolgoolga and Northern Beaches Chamber of Commerce and is being used to deliver a suite of programs to aid and support the local business community.

The local Chamber identified the need to help small enterprises adjust and fine tune their business model in response to the rapidly changing economic environment and the planned introduction of broadband to the area.

As a first step to achieving this, the chamber partnered with the Coffs Harbour City Council to set up a 6 Degrees Co-working Hub which provides a one-stop-shop to support, encourage and help small businesses adapt, grow and innovate.  The Hub also provides resources and tools for new startups and entrepreneurs to help them become fully established.

Chamber President, Cherie Topfer, explained how funding from ETC was helping to achieve the vision of an economically sustainable business community.

“Our suite of programs is geared to helping businesses move forward in the 21^st Century. There is a strong focus on becoming digitally ready and encouraging new thinking and innovation,” Ms Topfer said.

“The digital workshops component of our suite of programs has been very successful with each workshop attracting good attendances.

“It is very exciting to have premises in the town centre that are dedicated to business.  This has allowed us to offer casual or permanent desk space at affordable rates so if you are a freelancer or working from home this is the space to connect.”

“Or if you are a fledgling start-up needing inspiration or motivation we invite you to visit.  The word has obviously spread and we were thrilled when a number of local business people volunteered to mentor new start-ups.”

ETC Director Ian Preston said it was a pleasure to be able to support the Woolgoolga and Northern Beaches Chamber of Commerce.

“The ETC Community Support Fund is designed to help organisations reduce disadvantage, generate opportunity, increase support services and/or build capacity in the communities in which we operate,” Mr Preston said.

“ETC is proud to be a not-for-profit company and we are confident the money we are donating will help make a more positive future for our community.”

Find out more about ETC Recruitment Services, Training Services and Business Advice call 1800 007 400.