Small businesses on the Coffs Coast are set to benefit from a share of a $30 million state-wide skills fund to give local small businesses better access to the education and training they need to start, run and grow.
Member for Coffs Harbour, Andrew Fraser, said the skills fund is at the heart of a new NSW Government small business strategy. “The NSW Small Business Strategy will help to ensure that NSW remains the easiest and best place in Australia to establish, run and grow a small business,” Mr Fraser said.
“Our small businesses drive the local economy and create valuable jobs and we need to do more to support the skills and capabilities of the people who run them.”
The new $30 million Skills for Business program will help small businesses access tailored and subsidised vocational education and training. A network of small business skills advisors will provide face-to-face and group support and these advisors will also work with local businesses to review business growth opportunities and link these to skills training.
The Strategy will build on face to face support and business advice already provided by the Business Connect Program which in 2017/18 will deliver $7.5 million investment and at least 70 per cent of these services in regional NSW.