Business Briefs

Business Enterprise Centre appoints new CEO

The Central Coast Business Enterprise Centre (BEC) has appointed Wayne Gates as Chief Executive Officer to lead the organisation into the next phase of helping small businesses on the Central Coast to grow and prosper. The Central Coast BEC is unique in offering small businesses access to expert advice and services whether they are starting up or established.

This new appointment is due to the increasing level of services that the BEC has been able to access including business advisory services, mentoring programs and workshops supported by Federal, State and Local Governments.“It was essential in order to better service the businesses of the Coast that we selected someone with extensive business and broad industry experience,” said BEC Chairman, Charles Zammit.

Mr Gates comes to the BEC with an extensive history working in organisations at all levels from sales and marketing to executive management. His industry experience encompasses not for profit charities, manufacturing, wholesale, building, retail, import, export and online trading. His formal education includes a Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Macquarie University.

“ Over the last 18 months I have been providing guidance to small businesses with many of the challenges of moving through the phases of start, run and grow,” said Mr Gates.

The Central Coast BEC is part of a national association of Business Enterprise Centres dedicated to the furthering of Australian small businesses. At their disposal is a wealth of courses, mentors and experience to guide small business at every step. To find out more visit www.centralcoastsmallbiz.com.au or call 4355 4885.

New name for insolvency firm

The Newcastle office of major insolvency firm, Ferrier Hodgson has become independent of its national counterparts to offer a completely regional focused, specialist service. The new firm, to be known as Shaw Gidley, will retain its Central Coast and Newcastle offices and is also expanding to Port Macquarie.

The Central Coast office will continue to be headed up by Rowena Sigelski. Ms Sigelski has more than twelve years experience in the industry including working for one of the big four firms. Ms Sigelski said that as a purely regionally focussed firm, Shaw Gidley would provide a better service to Central Coast people and businesses. She said the team at Shaw Gidley had decades of experience working in the region across all industry sectors.

Overseas buyer sees opportunities with Caterers Warehouse purchase

Sharon and Jim Tieman have sold Caterers Warehouse after seven years in the business. Caterers Warehouse has been established for over twenty years with warehouses in Erina and Castle Hill, selling commercial quality kitchenware and commercial cooking equipment to the hospitality industry. They are the preferred supplier to a number of franchise and independent chain restaurants and are registered contracted suppliers to the Australian Defence Force.

Since buying Caterers Warehouse the Tiemans have introduced complete operating systems, effective and successful marketing programs and introduced internet sales receiving 100% growth over consecutive years, making this a market leading business.

The new owner is a subsidiary of Nisbets Catering, the largest catering supply company in Europe which also owns a manufacturing and supply operation in China, Volume Group, which has five factories throughout China and employ in excess of 1,500 staff. Australian expats and brothers, Adam and Dean Montgomery headed the acquisition with numerous trips to Australia over the past few months to ensure a smooth handover.

On top of the business sale, the purchasers have acquired a 6,000 sqm factory in Sydney which will be receiving stock for the Australian market. Both Castle Hill and Erina warehouses are also in the process of growth by expanding in to neighbouring premises. All staff have been retained with obvious plans to expand the business at a rapid rate, leading to more jobs being made available in the existing warehouses together with the opening of more warehouses up and down the east coast.

Scott McMullen of Argyle Estates Business Brokers who negotiated the sale said that a comprehensive advertising campaign had attracted a number of buyers – initially local, then interstate, then overseas.

New owner for Automedics

Automedics at West Gosford, which specialises in the repair and replacement of automatic gearboxes, has been sold. The business has been operating for over thirty years and is an NRMA preferred repairer.

Outgoing owners, Andrew and Sharon Bourke had owned the business for seven years, with Andrew working in the business since leaving school. They have now taken a lifestyle change and moved to the Hunter Valley. New owners Jamie Covington and Kayven Thomas moved out to Australia from the UK five months ago with their respective families.

Scott McMullen of Argyle Estates Business Brokers negotiated the sale.

Post Office and Newsagency businesses in demand

After selling the Toowoon Bay Post Office and Newsagency, Scott McMullen of Argyle Estates Business Brokers said that strong interest continues to be shown for these businesses due to their consistent trading. Julie and John Matty have sold their business which they bought in 2005 and are relocating to Queensland to pursue other interests. The new owners are John and Kathy Watson, who have completed four weeks training with Australia Post and NSW Lotteries.

Federal funding to train small business managers

Tuggerah training company, Statewide Business Training has been awarded funding to train 200 small business owners in management. The funding is part of the Federal Government’s $75 million Productivity Placement Program aimed at upskilling small business owners and helping them to gain a Diploma level qualification that will enable them to be more effective business managers.

Two Diplomas are being offered through Statewide Business Training – a Diploma of Management and Diploma of Retail Management, as well as a lower level Certificate 4 Frontline Management accreditation.

Courses will be run at Statewide’s Tuggerah training rooms with monthly sessions being held after work hours. The course will take twelve months to complete and will cost $1,200. This compares with non subsidised courses that cost from $7,000 up to $15,000.

Statewide Business Training is owned by Phil Hartley and specialises in offering management training to the club industry throughout NSW. For more information contact Greg Stephenson on 4351 7550.

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