Business Workshops / Events / Training

Entrepreneurs’ Programme

The Entrepreneurs’ Programme (EP) provides businesses with flexible access to tailored advice from a national network of over 140 industry experts, connections and networking opportunities, and matched grant funding. Its aim is to connect small and medium sized businesses with the capabilities and networks they need to innovate, compete and grow in Australian and international markets, and to guide the recovery of small businesses from the impacts of disasters such as bushfires.

For more information see the following booklet:

The Government has released a second, far reaching $66.1 Billion stimulus package that boosts income support payments, introduces targeted changes to the superannuation rules, provides cash flow support of up to $100,000 for small business employers and relaxes corporate insolvency laws. The stimulus measures are not yet legislated but are summarised below based on the announcements made:

Business

• Tax-free payments up to $100,000 for small business and not-for-profit employers. An increase in the previously announced initial tax-free payments for employers to a maximum of $50,000. In addition to this, a second round of payments will be made up to a maximum of $50,000, accessible from July 2020.
• Solvency safety net – temporary 6 month increase to the threshold at which creditors can issue a statutory demand on a company from $2,000 to $20,000, and an increase in the time companies have to respond from 21 days to 6 months. Directors also are provided with temporary relief from personal liability for trading while insolvent for 6 months.
• Access to working capital – Introduction of a Coronavirus SME guarantee scheme protecting financial institutions by guaranteeing 50% of new unsecured loans to SMEs up to $250,000
• Sole traders and self-employed eligible for Jobseeker payment – the eligibility criteria to access income support relaxed for the self-employed and sole traders.
• Temporary relief from some Corporations Act requirements – such as the ability to defer Annual General Meetings.

Individuals

• Early release of superannuation – individuals in financial distress able to access up to $10,000 of their superannuation in 2019-20, and a further $10,000 in 2020-21. The withdrawals will be tax-free and will not affect Centrelink or Veterans’ Affairs payments.
• Temporary reduction in minimum superannuation draw down rates – superannuation minimum drawdown requirements for account based pensions and similar products reduced by 50% in 2019-20 and 2020-21.
• Deeming rates reduced – from 1 May, superannuation deeming rates reduced further to a lower rate of 0.25% and upper rate of 2.25%.
• Supplements increased, access extended and eased – for 6 months from 27 April 2020:
• A temporary coronavirus supplement of $550 will be paid to existing income support recipients (people will receive their normal payment plus $550 each fortnight for 6 months).
• A second one-off stimulus payment of $750 will be paid automatically from 13 June 2020 to certain income support recipients (in addition to the payment made from 31 March 2020).
• Eligibility for access to income support eased to include sole traders and the self-employed, and to those caring for someone infected or in isolation.
• Waiting periods and assets tests temporarily waived.
• Bankruptcy safety net – temporary 6 month increase to the threshold for the minimum amount of debt required for a creditor to initiate bankruptcy proceedings against a debtor from $5,000 to $20,000.
• Further information on these measures can be found here.
• Deferral of repayments on business loans. The Australian Banking Association has negotiated a 6-month deferral for repayments on all business loans and all of the major banks have handed down their own measures to support individuals that are experiencing financial difficulty in the current economic crisis. To find out more about what is on offer here, you will need to contact your bank directly.
• Advice regarding employment related issues. Much of this is regularly changing, and there are a number of sources to access all the latest information including how to handle the related employment issues. Some suggested sites:
  • business.gov.au
  • mybusiness.com.au
  • businessaustralia.com

The Federal Government's Business Hotline has been expanded to offer specialist advice to support small to medium businesses through the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. The Hotline is open 7 days a week from 7am to 11pm. Call 13 28 46 or visit here for further details.

REMPLAN has launched the Australian Business Economic Impact Survey (ABEIS) aimed at the business community and specifically seeking to gain an understanding of changes in employment and output (gross revenue). REMPLAN will analyse the findings of the Survey to produce insights which will be provided to key stakeholders including federal, state and local governments to assist them to develop targeted responses to address the impact of COVID-19 on local businesses, local employment and broader supply chains.

3 New Updates

Changes to pharmacy trading

Temporary new powers have been given to pharmacies to allow expanded services during COVID-19.

These include:

• 24-hour operating hours
• ability to dispense certain medications without a prescription

Visit here for more information

In addition, pharmacies can now register with Australia Post for access to free postage on prescription deliveries. Participating pharmacies can apply for a full rebate on costs associated with mailing prescriptions to vulnerable customers.

Extended hours for construction businesses

Changes to planning rules for the construction industry now allow sites to operate on weekends and public holidays, as long as workers can abide by social distancing requirements. This means building works can continue to progress and staffing can be spread across more days of the week.

Visit NSW planning for more information.

Changes for food trucks and dark kitchens

Planning rules for the set up and operation of food trucks and dark kitchens (also known as virtual, cloud or ghost kitchens, which cook food for purpose of delivery only) have been amended to make it easier for new and existing food businesses to operate. Food trucks can operate on any land at any time with the landowners’ consent. Existing commercial kitchens can offer takeaway and delivery only, without the need for dine-in options, providing they can adhere to social distancing requirements.

Visit NSW planning for more information.

All the information contained here is replicated in our Service NSW information hub for small business impacted by COVID19.

For Small Business owners, friends and family seeking information on small business support, visit here.

An opportunity for bush fire affected Hawkesbury Businesses.

The Program is called “Strengthening Business” which is an advisory service offering specifically for fire affected LGAs.

The program will see the allocation of a Business Advisor who will undertake a business evaluation service and tailor their business guidance and refer businesses to bush fire specific financial assistance where appropriate.

This program doesn’t compete with NSW Government’s Business Connect services or our Entrepreneur Facilitators services or Entrepreneurs’ Programme offerings. It complements these on-going services with extra business expertise for LGAs who were fire affected.

To find our more or help with your application call 13 28 46 or to view the Strengthening Business Information Booklet see the DOCUMENT tab on the top right of the screen.

Hort Innovation has compiled information and resources to help growers in the horticulture industry including:

• Confirmation that agriculture is an essential service
• Continuing to operate in these circumstances for horticulture businesses and workers
• Safety of horticultural produce

Details can be found here.

Update for Small Businesses in bushfire affected communities

NSW Small Business Bushfire Information webinar is now live on the Service NSW website.

In the webinar , you'll hear from a range of government agencies on the support available to bushfire-affected small businesses.

Details can be found at the following link: