The Marrickville Business Association has been running a business skills workshop program every month for the past eight years. It’s available to businesses, covering skills and knowledge gaps identified through Council’s direct engagement with the local business sector.
Background
As part of Inner West Council, the Economic Development Unit engages in what is known as ‘Research by Walkabout’. This involves team members to go out into the community to engage directly with business operators and owners to determine the state of the local economy and what Council can do to assist them.
Data collected has revealed that home-based businesses outnumber traditional commercial premises. It also showed that home-based businesses are adept in their specialist fields but less proficient in the skills needed to run a business. Owner operators were time poor due to the demands of their businesses and, while interested in addressing skill gaps, had difficulty finding appropriate opportunities to do so.
Based on this, Council developed the idea of holding regular short business workshops for local small businesses that covered specific topics.
Implementation
Council’s Economic Development Team (then Marrickville Council) established the Marrickville Business Association (MBA) in 2011. The business group and cyber association was set up to service businesses and areas not serviced by existing local Chambers. The MBA has grown to become the lead organisation running the events.
The Best of Marrickville local networking group provided access to their member database and many speakers come from local businesses with relevant specific skills and experience.
The framework for these events are:
- Frequency – monthly set at a regular day and time
- Duration – 45 to 90 minutes limiting time away from commitments
- Timing – after hours minimising work/life interference
- Style – short 15-20-minute topical talk followed by a interactive workshop
- Topics – identified by participants and presented in the style of ‘3 things to grow’ or ‘5 steps in effective’
- Participants – 15 – 20 attendees to maximise interaction.
Outcomes and results
The workshops have been running since 2012 and have consistently received positive feedback. Each year at the December meeting, the value of the topics covered through the year is assessed and suggestions of what should be discussed in the following year are considered. This ensures each workshop focusses on current and important issues for attendees.
An MBA LinkedIn group has also provided an additional resource to promote referrals and trading among the members.
Costs and funding
Council provides Economic Development staff as an administrative resource, however there is no budget for the workshop program. Since 2017, the workshops have been held at a local pub which sponsors the event. Previously the events were sponsored by a local financial institution The tasks council economic development staff provide includes practical business experience, content and digital communication management skills and speaker wrangling ability.
Key learnings
Foundational elements for success are as follows:
- A partner providing venue and refreshments;
- A business association to act as the front organisation and lend business credibility;
- Short talks with no formal presentation slides (flip charts or handouts can be useful);
- Encourage questions and discussion to promote practical problem-solving; and
- Have attendees sit facing one another to increase involvement.
There is demand from small business for knowledge and skills relevant to their circumstances – sometimes the topic title can trigger recognition of a gap not perceived previously, which encourages attendance.
Not everybody will come to every event which is a good thing – one of the main benefits is that people attend the events that matter to them and so value them more highly.
No budget is not an impediment to providing useful and valuable service to local businesses!
Other relevant information
During the Covid-19 situation the event moved to an online setting. The event was set up to mimic the physical layout where everybody is visible to each other and interactivity maintained. Online attendee numbers were consistent and comparable with the physical event. It is planned to return to the physical space once Covid-19 restrictions reduce sufficiently.
Council Details
Population size: 195,000
LGA size: 35 km2
State Electorate: Balmain & Summer Hill
Federal Electorate: Grayndler