Interested to know how war impacts our ICT world?

Learn how IT professionals and business leaders can plan for these risks and be better prepared for the highly likely situation that impacts businesses.

Join the Australian Computer Society (ACS) and futurist and digital strategist, Dr Elena Kelareva, as she discusses cyber war, information war, economic war and ways you might not have realised you have already been affected.

This event is proudly sponsored by Victoria State Government.

Startup Gippsland’s Scale Up Accelerator program – Applications are now open!

Do you have ambitions to grow your business in and beyond Gippsland?

Every startup requires expert knowledge and support to reach their potential, particularly if their sights are set on growing into regional, national and international markets.

The Scale Up Accelerator program is the pathway to help you grow and scale your business! If you are a founder/s of an established startup, working full time in your business and turning over a profit, and you’re ready to take things to the next level, then this program is for you.

The Scale Up Accelerator program is run by locals, for locals, along with facilitation from a team of highly experienced industry and scale up experts. Over 6 days, we will cover a wide range of scaling fundamentals, from financial frameworks and business models, to risk management and marketing, to distribution and exporting, and much more!

If you’re ready to take the next step and put your business on the map, apply now!

The Gippsland Business Awards are now open!

The Federation University Gippsland Business Awards are now open for nominations…

The Gippsland Business Awards are the pinnacle business awards in our region, and for over 23 years have been celebrating the achievements of Gippsland business providing a unique opportunity to showcase their successful endeavours.

The awards were postponed in 2020 for the first time since their inception and the committee are determined to make the 2021 awards not only a celebration of Gippsland’s business and industry, but an acknowledgement of the challenges faced.

This year a new award has been created to acknowledge the challenges faced by business across the region and will recognise the finalist whose business pivoted and responded best to the challenges presented by COVID-19.

2021 entry categories include:

Accommodation, Beauty & Personal Care, Business & Professional Services, Food & Wine Producers, Health & Well-being, Hospitality, Manufacturing/Export, Mechanical Trades & Construction, New Business, Retail, Tourism Activities & Attractions, Business Agility Award (new for 2021 in response to COVID-19).

Information regarding the award categories, eligibility, entry information and judging can be found under 2021 Awards on the GBA website by visiting www.gba.org.au.

Anyone can nominate another Gippsland business or themselves and we urge all Gippsland businesses to take the opportunity to recognise their achievements and participate in the 2021 awards. Visit the GBA website to nominate now.

Nominations close 21 May.

The Federation University Gippsland Business Awards are proudly supported by Gold Sponsor – Federation University; Silver Sponsors – AGL, Bass Coast Shire Council, Baw Baw Shire Council, East Gippsland Shire Council, Equip Superannuation Fund, Industry Capability Network, Latrobe City Council, Latrobe Health Service, Regional Development Victoria, South Gippsland Shire Council, TAFE Gippsland, Telstra, Wellington Shire Council; Bronze Sponsors – ADMEDIA Australia, Aussie Broadband, GBS Recruitment, Latrobe Health Assembly and WIN Television, In-kind Sponsors – Gippsland Event Management, Monacellars, Simplypress, The Original Printers Studio.

Join The Startup Gippsland Tech Startup Skills Program

Every startup relies on a digital presence to succeed, whether it be a simple website or a sophisticated software platform.

The Tech Startup Skills Program is for you if you’re a founder or team with a great idea, and you want to enhance your knowledge and incorporate digital and technology platforms to make your business a reality!

The program will cover a wide range of business fundamentals that will help you to develop your idea, and build confidence in your capabilities as a startup founder.

  • The program is open to 20 founders, starting on April 16th.
  • All program participants will take part in 6 weekend workshops across the 6 Gippsland shires.
  • There is no prior technical knowledge required – just a willingness to learn!
  • At the completion of the program, participants will have a working product ready to present at the Pitch Final on August 20th

For more information and to apply visit: www.startupgippsland.com.au

Shop local around Latrobe City

Christmas is just around the corner, shop local around Latrobe City and enjoy the festivities!

Why your brand isn’t your logo (and other rants)…

Expanding on the idea that “everything communicates” I recently had the pleasure of talking about why your brand isn’t your logo (and other rants) this week for Latrobe City Council as the second speaker in their Let’s Talk Business webinar series

I’ve since received some very positive feedback so wanted to share further to the Gippsland business community – hopefully this is helpful to some.

Thanks to Shannan Little and the Eco Dev team at Latrobe City Council for the invite to speak, and also to the 40 or so local business legends who dialled in to listen! It’s a great series with lots of wisdom being shared by some fantastic local speakers, so get behind it and

Anyone eager to talk more, feel free to reach out, or check us out at www.theviewfromhere.com.au

 

Latrobe City Council Small Business Voucher Program

Business Support Vouchers now available

Latrobe City Council is working with businesses to help ease the immense challenges businesses are facing during the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Council adopted a $1.7M Business and Community Support and Recovery Package in June this year in response to COVID-19 shutdowns.

Small businesses that have been impacted significantly by COVID-19 can apply for the Latrobe City Business Support Voucher Program.

The vouchers can be used by businesses to access services, advice, or expertise provided by a local service provider. Such services could be financial, legal, media and digital, marketing and communication, business coaching, human resources, and mental health and wellbeing.

The vouchers aim to support existing businesses that have been impacted by COVID-19 by helping business-people to:

  • Develop a better understanding and key networks of local professional service available to businesses in Latrobe City
  • Think strategically and for key personnel to work on the business, not just in the business.

To be eligible for the ‘Business Support’ voucher, applicants must have an Australian Business Number (ABN) and be based within the municipality of Latrobe City.

Businesses can apply online via SmartyGrants: Latrobe City Small Business Support Voucher program

If you would like to be an approved service provider please contact Christy Hoiles via 5128 6157  or Christy.Hoiles@latrobe.vic.gov.au for more information.

Binary Shift – Q and A with Elena Kelareva

Are you a regional business owner or leader looking for inspiration and ideas for how you can adapt your own business in order to survive challenging times and prepare for the future?

Binary Shift 2020 is a virtual event bringing together regional innovators, thought leaders, and business leaders. This year’s Binary Shift conference is centred around offering a set of practical, actionable approaches to confronting the challenges we’re living through. If you need to kick start your business into the future, you have to be at Binary Shift.

GippsTech’s own Dr. Elena Kelareva is at the forefront of Gippsland’s regional development and innovation. She firmly believes in connecting communities and businesses to world class information and technology, something which was previously only found in cities. 

We sat down with her to learn more about the Binary Shift Conference. 

What are some of the key things the conference serves to achieve?

One of the biggest challenges we seek to break through is centred around the myths of innovation and its meaning. Many business owners are thought to believe that innovation is some kind of magic pill, or that it should only be thought about when you have the time. However, innovation encompasses a host of real world, practical skills which can be learned by anyone. 

 

Learn more by reading the interview here: https://gipps.tech/blog/binary-shift-q-and-a-with-elena-kelareva

 

 

 

Innovation in a Crisis: With Jamie Sciberras from The Biscuit Shop

With their business heavily geared towards wholesaling to cafes and supermarkets, Jamie and Sarina from The Biscuit Shop have had to innovate to continue operations through the COVID restrictions. They circled back to an idea that had been with them from the beginning: creating DIY yo-yo kits for the consumer market.

 

As a result, they sold a staggering 650 DIY yo-yo kits in the space of 8 hours, and they’re still going strong. 

 

Jamie believes that their pivot succeeded because they looked at a potential solution, instead of the problem. By considering opportunities as well as negative impacts, they were able to develop a product and strategy that helped to replace their losses in wholesale orders. 

 

Read Jamie and Sarina’s full story here:

 

https://startupgippsland.com.au/innovation-in-a-crisis-jamie-sciberras-the-biscuit-shop/