Murray Now

Business advisory workshops in Deniliquin, Finley, Jerilderie and surrounding areas have generated an overwhelming response from locals, determined to harness their skills in new directions.

The Murray Hume Business Enterprise Centre has opened an office at Regional Development Australia Murray in Deniliquin. The two organisations are working hand in hand in developing business and investment opportunities for farmers and business owners in the region.

Graeme Sayer from Hume BEC says the newly opened office allows the organisation to deliver hands on business advice in the local area.

"We've had tremendous response to a range of workshops," Mr Sayer said.

"In the past few weeks we've had 28 attendances in Deniliquin, another 32 in Finley looking specifically at the impacts of the Fair Work Act legislation on small businesses."

"We've also recently conducted a 45 minute workshop in Jerilderie covering basic business advice, which generated follow ups from six businesses wanting more one-on-one direction."

The hands-on workshops and meetings with farmers and business owners are highlighting the resilience of the community.

"What we're seeing is people are really starting to become innovators," Mr Sayer said.

"For example, we have a farming couple who are feed-lotting lambs and taking them to farmers markets in Melbourne and selling them for roughly the same price as supermarket lamb.

"They now have some fairly significant clients who buy from them, and even one of the food critics from The Age has been talking to a Spanish restaurant in Melbourne and saying, 'you've got to get this lamb'. So we're really seeing that people in traditional farming roles are starting to think outside the square."

Deniliquin local and former accountant Chris Hayes heads up the Deniliquin office and offers a range of advice from basic accounting and marketing to assistance with managing new contracts.

Working in partnership with Regional Development Australia and local councils, the Murray Hume BEC's business advisory service is another example of a co-ordinated approach to assisting the economic well-being of Murray Region communities.

For further information contact the Murray Hume Business Enterprise Centre, 375 George St Deniliquin NSW 2710, phone (02) 6024 0400.