The workshops are an excellent starting point for those considering opening, or buying their own business.  The workshops are about assessing your own skills and commitment, the support and resources you have, investigating your potential market and, in the last workshop, providing some financial analysis assessment.

Between the workshops we are in contact with the participants to discuss progress, talk over ideas, and generally all things guidance based on our extensive business experience.

Generally those who have shown the commitment to research their business idea and it all stacks up, can obtain specific business mentoring for business planning and even establishment.

IBA has implemented these workshops as it was found many people enter their own business without a true appreciation of the time commitment, their market and financial skills required. Learning the hard way can mean losing the business and this is pretty tough when it is your family home on the line.  This is all about ‘being prepared’.

For more information go to http://www.iba.gov.au/business-ownership/business-support/into-business-workshops/

The job required me to be on-site for 26 days over two months and the 4am starts to catch the plane were less than enjoyable but it was a great job to do…thanks!

Bush Foods are a unique selling point and a sustainable competitive advantage. www.bushfoodsensations.com.au
This program was managed by VH Pty Ltd. Peter van Herk undertook the business mentoring (book keeping and accounts, financial management, loans, communications, marketing, events, media, interpersonal skills, business start up and closure)  and the Kitchen and Cuisine mentoring was undertaken by Mr Laurent Gonfond. The project was funded by NSW Department of State and Regional Development, DEEWR, and Indigenous business Australia

This project saw a number of new cafes open and/or present bush food menus in Sydney, Port Stephens, Nambucca Heads, Lismore, Dorrigo, Taree and Bonalbo .  Much of the food was the use of the unique indigenous Australian foods, herbs and spices in fusion with recipes from around the world.

Which one was the most viable, what were they going to cost, which ones need extra planning? The questions were creating a stalemate. The organisation as a whole was looked at in terms of its current capability and then what the future capabilities would need to be as it developed any of the businesses.

The LALC has social responsibilities as well as the need for financial sustainability so the balance between social profit and financial profit was always a consideration. Also a consideration was the amount of finance required to establish some of the businesses. Some were highly profitable but needed high initial investment and the LALC did not have the capability to sustain itself through the initial low income start up stage. Some businesses required an immediate high level of expertise which had to be obtained from the outside either requiring paying high salaries or leasing the business out to a business operator. Some of the proposed ventures were simply un-viable on any level and some could be implemented as circumstances allowed without much investment or commitment.

Overall the result was to prioritise the projects along with their capability and suitability giving information on the next step required so that as the opportunity arose projects could be implemented smoothly.

Click to enlarge

Issue
To implement the FATE project.

Actions
VH Pty Ltd was commissioned by NSWDSRD to undertake the detailed application and liaison to the New Industries Development Project NIDP for partial funding and NSW DSRD undertook applications to West 2000 and itself. VH Pty Ltd liaised with the landholders, government departments, developed budgets and apportioning expenditure in line with government requirements. The project funding was approved by all three departments.

Outcomes
Upon funding approval Peter set up the structure for the group of landholders and applied for and appointed the position of Project Manager on a results based consultancy.

For woodturners in Europe

• Organisation, participation and communication
• Web site www.auswood.com.au
• Organisation of portable sawmill traIning
• Final funding applications
• Organisation
• Administration
• Harvesting licences and liaison with Departments
• Changing memberships and reorganisation of structure
• Incorporation of organisation

Peter van Herk was appointed the CEO after a marketing trip to Canada, Europe and India where sales were obtained and longer term supply arrangements developed.

There are a number of issues in regards to landholders developing the consistent supply of sawn product which the market requires.

In 2008 there was a big rush on for the Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALC) to undertake planning which would be used as a guide for measuring progress, and development over the coming 5 years.  Planning (or planning to plan) was needed for land assets, actual and potential business opportunities, social and cultural responsibilities.  This buisness undertook the plans for the Murrin Bridge LALC and the Worimi LALC.  These LALCs are significantly different in terms of size and assets however the cultural and philosophical issues were very similar.

The plans developed by VH Pty Ltd were probably more comprehensive than most but we took the view that it was better to give the basis for future policy and procedure than the LALC commit to something (business structures, income utilisation, tendering processes etc)  and be left with an information vacuum.

Follow up mentoring for six months is being undertaken to assist in the implementation of the planand we are working on strategic alliances, funding proposals,  product development, aged care, land purchase, community development.

I left  the NPWS to develop a part time hobby into a full time furniture design and making business, eventually employing up to twelve workers at peak workloads.  I designed and constructed quality furniture specialising in the use of the uniquely hard and heavy Australian hardwoods. The production was sold through existing furniture and craft-shop outlets both in Australia and overseas. Due to the wide-ranging expertise gained in the process, I was asked to become involved in consultancy work.

As owner and founder of Australian Design Hardwoods Pty Ltd , I undertook full time research and development on ” The Design Methodology and Jointing Techniques Specific to the Use of Australian Hardwoods in Furniture” in 1991. This was funded by the NSW Timber Industry,

The Brolga using Spotted Gum

Formal awards during this time

* A major New South Wales Small business award for “Enterprise” for innovation, achievement and excellence in NSW Small Business (Oct. 1992)
* The”Most innovative Product” for the “Brolga” chair design at Interior Designex, Australia’s premium interior design show (March 1993)
* The “Most Innovative Design” for the “Swan” chair design at the Australian Furniture Show (May 1993)

Selected:

* To be the sole timber furniture manufacturer to represent Australia with the First Australia-China Consortium in Shanghai, China, (Sept. 1993)
* To represent Australian furniture design and manufacture in the front foyer of the Australian Consulate in Berlin and apartment fit outs for the premium Australian embassy diplomatic staff residences, Bangkok, Seoul and Noumea.
* To undertake extensive specialty work for the five star hotels Park Lane, Observatory and ANA, Sydney
* To be speaker at seminars such as All Australian Timber Congress, a triennial nationwide timber industry

The 'Swan'

congress.
* To display hardwood furniture in Japan by the Japanese Export and Trade Organisation (JETRO)

In the fields of import and export

* Establishment of a marketing showroom and marketing representative in Japan to sell company products.
* Establishment of a timber processing consortium, called “Daplar Australia”, for marketing manufactured Australian timber products in Japan.
* Tour leader to introduce consortium members to Japanese culture and business. Appointed Export Manager for the consortium and organised itineraries and accommodation undertook all japanese negotiations.
* Organised export and Import finance. LC, ILC, TT transfer, EFIC, export documentation, container stuffing, shipping consolidation

The Egret

100m3 solar assisted timber drying kiln

• Developed and managed an integrated timber drying facility in Gloucester, NSW and assisted in the design and
• Extensive knowledge of Australian native timbers and the environmental aspects which impact on their availability to the industry.
• Developed solar assisted kiln technology with AES Pty Ltd (Mandurah WA)
• Member of the Australaisian Timber Drying Group
• Recognised technical adviser in the timber industry
• Provide training in Australian hardwoods timber drying

4 MW sawdust furnace

Some of the kilns