Small Business Connections events

FCVic co-hosted Small Business Connections sessions in Shepparton and Footscray during April and May. These sessions were co-hosted with local financial counselling agencies and provided a networking opportunity for organisations who work with and support local small businesses, their owners, families and employees.

Participating organisations were invited to share their perspectives and experiences about the problems faced locally for small businesses, and the services available to them. Organisations were also encouraged to share their resources. The overall aim was to start the conversation about how to provide local small businesses with more integrated supports and to close any gaps.

The sessions were enthusiastically received, with participants from local agencies, councils, chambers of commerce, traders’ groups, statewide and national services, including Partners in Wellbeing, and local politicians. The small groups (24 in Shepparton, 22 in Footscray) were ably facilitated by Geoff Browne and enabled frank and productive sharing of ideas.