Assigned with helping the Peel startup businesses growth a bright and prosperous future, the federal government’s newly appointed entrepreneurship facilitator is looking forward to a big task ahead.
Industry expert Stephen McVey has a wealth of knowledge in the field and has welcomed his new challenge to become the big brother of new businesses in the region.
Similar to the appointment of the Mandurah-Murray employment facilitator Maryanne Baker, Mr McVey has been asked to step in by the federal Department of Jobs and Small Business.
Mr McVey’s role will be to provide practical assistance to support and encourage individuals to start a business as a way to create their own job.
Mandurah was picked as one of 20 locations nation-wide to host an entrepreneurship facilitator from January 2019.
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Anyone wanting to start their own business in the region can access services from Mr McVey.
"A lot of entrepreneurs have great ideas and their ideas fail because they don’t have the background to actually managing the day to day operation,” Mr McVey said.
“This is about startups, bringing in new services and fresh direction for the business. If you want a job go to the employment agencies. We are not here to get people jobs. That’s a really clear line. It is a very different group of people.
“We’ll be looking at those who may be at risk of losing their jobs. You may just be plateaued and wanting to move on on a new journey. We’ll be there to help that.
“If we can start the groundwork now of building a mindset of an entrepreneur letting them understand the ramifications.
“We’re not here to compete or take work from other people, we’re actually here to blend in and add another layer to the support that is already there.”
Canning MP Andrew Hastie welcomed the appointment of Mr McVey and said investing in a Mandurah-Murray entrepreneurship facilitator was just “one of the many things the Morrison Government was doing to help address unemployment in our region”.
Entrepreneurship facilitators are part of a suite of measures announced in the 2018-19 Budget as part of the Coalition Government’s $189.7 million More Choices for a Longer Life package to support older Australians.
“It’s about backing the people who want to create their own job,” Mr Hastie said.
“There’s around 9500 small and family businesses in Canning. These are individuals and families who have struck out on their own to start something new - I commend them for their courage and initiative.
“The Morrison Government’s entrepreneurship facilitators are there to make sure people who take that plunge into business have access to quality advice, mentoring and resources.
“Helping people understand what’s required to start or grow a small business, develop a marketing strategy, understand cash flow and develop a budget are just some of the services that facilitators can offer.”
It’s about backing the people who want to create their own job.
- Canning MP Andrew Hastie
While he is looking forward to the task at hand, Mr McVey said it will be a team effort to deliver support to the Peel.
Mr McVey will run his support out of the Skill Strategies Entrepreneurship Services building on Kulin Way in Mandurah, which mean the company’s services will also be on hand to help.
Skill Strategies Entrepreneurship Services manager Kynan Bright plans to be the first point of call for people keen to access help from Mr McVey.
“We’re actually here to help peoples’ entrepreneurial dreams to find the right people to help them grow their dreams,” Mr Bright said.
“Even businesses that are already running and are looking to get that little bit bigger. There are a lot of people who are getting some income for self-employment but not enough to get out of the benefit trap.”
Mr Bright said he hoped he could play a part in bridging aspiring business owners to industry experts.
He said tapping into the current business support networks would be vital for the service.
We’re not here to compete or take work from other people, we’re actually here to blend in and add another layer to the support that is already there.
- Mandurah-Murray entrepreneurship facilitator Stephen McVey
Mr Bright and Mr McVey said that could include leaders for the Peel Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Peel Development Commission and Mandurah-Murray employment facilitator Maryanne Baker.
“First part of the job is getting out there and getting known but also getting to know who is there,” Mr McVey said.
The role has been designed to mainly focus on mature age Australians looking to start businesses, however, Mr McVey said he would also make services available to younger people who approached him for support.
The facilitators also have a focus on encouraging entrepreneurship among those at risk of unemployment due to structural changes in the economy.
“While mature-aged is our target area, we will take others. We’re not excluding others,” Mr McVey said.
Mr Hastie said older Australians have a lifetime of skills and were often well placed to become successful entrepreneurs.
“If you lose your job over the age of 50, it usually takes longer to get back into the labour market.”
To access support for your startup contact Mr Bright at Skill Strategies Entrepreneurship Services via email at kynan@skillstrategies.wa.edu.au.
For more information on their business visit www.skillstrategies.wa.edu.au or for more information on the new position visit the department’s website at www.jobs.gov.au/entrepreneurship-facilitators.
Follow Caitlyn Rintoul on Twitter via @caitlynrintoul.
