New centre to boost small business in the Goldfields

The latest in a network of centres to support the development of small local business across regional Western Australia will today be officially opened in the Goldfields.

The Business Growth Centre (BGC) has opened its doors to offer a range of mentoring services and training programs, as well as the opportunity for small business owners to have their skills formally recognised.

Training and Workforce Development Minister Peter Collier said the facility would help boost the uptake of training for small businesses and provide job opportunities for the local community.

"Small business is crucial to WA's economy and it is vital that the sector has the capacity to be innovative," Mr Collier said.

"BGC has partnered with the Vocational Training and Education Centre Kalgoorlie and the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Chamber of Commerce and Industry to expand its range of services throughout the Goldfields.

"I want to ensure small businesses in regional areas have equal access to opportunities provided by the State Government to help enhance their operations and most importantly, create jobs for their local community."

BGC was established in 2008, hosted by West Coast Institute of Training in Perth's northern suburbs.

With additional State Government funding, its services have since been expanded into regional WA, partnering with local State training providers, private registered training organisations and enterprises to provide more effective services to the regional small business sector.

Since its inception, the centre has:

• signed up more than 740 people to its accredited training programs

• had 5,980 one-on-one contacts with small business owners

• achieved more than 1,240 referrals to other services, including small business centres, Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) and Chamber of Commerce and Industry

• promoted more than 3,000 training events on the website by other registered training organisations

• issued more than 55 accredited qualifications (Certificate IV Small Business Management, Diploma of Marketing and Diploma of Management)

• developed six new programs tailored to assist small business owners

• recruited more than 40 qualified contracted advisers/mentors.

Programs developed and launched last year focused on Aboriginal business mentoring; green business skills; tourism training; and networking.