Business News
Scone Cup half day public holiday
To celebrate the Scone Cup, Friday 11 May 2018 is a half day public holiday from noon in the Upper Hunter Shire, with the exception of the Merriwa district.
Tender released for construction of Nulkaba Public School upgrade
Students at Nulkaba Public School will soon benefit from 14 new classrooms and improved facilities as part of a major upgrade being delivered by the NSW Liberal National Government.
RDA Hunter welcomes State Government support of STEMship
The NSW Government has committed an additional $50,000 to train young people to equip them with the skills they need to gain employment in the booming Defence industry in the Hunter.
NSW Outdoor Dining Trial
Cafés, restaurants and food-based businesses in Port Stephens will now find it easier to expand their business outdoors as Council joins the NSW Outdoor Dining Trial.
Newcastle Honeysuckle precinct is growing with new harbour-side apartments
The vacant land at 35 Honeysuckle Drive in Newcastle will receive new life with the unveiling of a new residential and retail development.
Hunter Valley Steamfest tickets on sale
After attracting a crowd of over 50,000 in April last year, steam enthusiasts are encouraged to secure their tickets early for this year’s event, to be held on 14 and 15 April.
2017 HBR December Issue
As well as containing all your Hunter business news and advice this issue featured Women in Business and the Mining and Energy Update.
From the editor
As 2017 comes to a close, the Hunter is well positioned for sustained growth over coming years.
Wambo named Australian champions
Peabody Energy’s Wambo Mine have taken out the highly contested 55th Australian Underground Mines Rescue competition in sensational form yesterday in Narrabri.
Biofuel facility for Muswellbrook
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced $11.9 million in funding for Australian biofuel company Ethanol Technologies Limited (Ethtec) to complete the development and demonstration of its groundbreaking advanced biofuel technology.
NSW coal mining jobs growing again
The strong turnaround in coal prices and increased demand for NSW coal from
our key export markets is delivering
more coal mining jobs for NSW.
Quarry Mining recruits disability worker
Glencore and Quarry Mining in
partnership have created a valuable
opportunity to provide a disability
worker with employment, new skills and
experience, working within a workshop team environment which
boasts an exceptional culture for safety and camaraderie.
Guiding organisations in realising the potential in workplace
Emma Rutter, a Property Advisor with APP Corporation is working with
businesses to help them articulate and achieve their vision when it comes
to optimising work spaces, by balancing the leadership vision, property
requirements, and users’ needs within their working environment.
Australia’s latest gender equality scorecard released
More employers are taking action to address pay gaps and gender imbalances that
persist across the economy, according to 2016-17 workplace data released by the
Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA).
REINSW award for Leah Jay Systems Support Manager
At the 2017 NSW Real Estate Institute Awards, the focus
was, as you might expect, predominantly on the client-facing
aspects of the industry: real estate agents and property
managers. But Lesley Rattenbury, Systems Support Manager
at Leah Jay, plays a vital role behind the scenes – and was also
recognised with an REINSW award of her own.
First Newcastle women awarded Honary Fellow by Engineers Australia
Honorary Fellow is Engineers Australia’s highest membership grade and is conferred on a
Fellow of Engineers Australia or a distinguished person whom the Board desires to honour for having rendered conspicuous service to the Australian people or in recognition of outstanding achievement.
Helping the next generation
Postgraduate business qualifications are a must for many aspiring business leaders and there is no better place to study these versatile qualifications than locally at the University of Newcastle.
The illusive quest for “Work-life balance
About 2 years ago, I came up with the radical idea that taking a day or 2 off a month would be a great thing – a great thing for not only myself, but also my organisation and my team.
2017 Women In Business Gillian Summers
Gillian Summers is Managing Director and Owner of Brain Industries Pty Ltd.
2017 Women In Business Sophie Chaffey
Sophie Chaffey is Managing Director of Alliance Labour Solutions, a company she founded to provide a robust recruitment/ training and labour solution.
2017 Women In Business Sandra Hinchey
Sandra Hinchey is a Registered Architect and a Director at Webber Architects.
It’s amazing where serendipity takes you
Around 67% of Australia’s GDP growth in 2016 came from the housing market, a situation that doesn’t appear to be slowing anytime soon.
Residential real estate agent reveals 2018 suburb predictions for Hunter
Hunter Valley real estate agent James Rodrick of the award-winning real estate group Starr Partners, has announced his top suburbs to watch in the upcoming year.
New Appointments
THE BUSINESS CENTRE Stephen Barr has joined the Business Centre Board of Directors. Director of Barr Property and Planning Pty Ltd, Stephen has contributed to the development industry since 1992, and works with clients to combine strategic thinking with practical planning advice. His involvement in affordable housing has guided his vision to encourage businesses to…
Are you drowning in the content of your business?
A colleague of mine, after reading a few of my recent articles, commented that from these no one would know that I am an accountant. After my stereotypical response of, “why would you want anyone to know you’re an accountant”,
I replied that first and foremost I am a leader in our business and the articles are meant to be contextual.
Five things I have learned since opening a Burger Urge franchise
After discovering Burger Urge on a family trip to Brisbane, I became curious about the brand and decided to open my own franchise.
Using your mobile overseas
If you are not careful when using your phone overseas the billcan become higher than the cost of your flight.
Let’s Talk With Steven Smith
1. In a few words tell us about your current role My current role is Managing Director of Advitech – an engineering and environmental consulting firm. I have overall responsibility for the services we provide in engineering design, project management, risk management, functional safety, sustainability and environmental management. I’m also a director of two other…
University Network to Drive NSW Defence
The NSW Government will invest $1.25 million in a new university-led network to bolster defence-related research and development activity across the state.
A fresh approach to family law for Newcastle
Farrar Gesini Dunn (FGD) has specialised in family law for more than 20 years and are now open for business in Newcastle.
Smart city funding for Newcastle
Newcastle City Council has welcomed a $5 million Australian Government grant to deploy digital technology to make it easier to move around the city and run it more efficiently.
Businesses back to boom-time confidence levels
Businesses’ confidence in the Hunter economy has strengthened further in the September quarter. Confidence for the next quarter and year for businesses is back to a level not seen since the start of the mining investment boom of 2009-10.
Council planner wins NSW PIA Excellence Award
Lake Macquarie City Council’s Manager Integrated Planning, Sharon Pope, has received a prestigious award at the 2017 Planning Institute Australia (PIA) Awards for Excellence.
PKF named as SMSF leaders
David Henriksen, PKF’s Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) specialist has won a prestigious award at the 2017 SMSF and Accounting Awards and been named as the SMSF Accountant of the Year for New South Wales.
Hunter-based project manager named as AFR Fast Starters
Catalyst Project Consulting has been named in the prestigious
2017 Australian Financial Review (AFR) Fast Starters list, as the
85th fastest growing start-up business in Australia.
Accounting Firm of the Year Award for Bottrell
At a function in Sydney on 2 November winners for the inaugural, state-based SMSF and Accounting awards were announced to a crowd of over 250 professionals.
Novaskill Trainee of the Year
In a looming labour market of extensive skills shortages, Alliance Labour Solutions continues to ensure they are combatting the shortage by focusing efforts on training their people in all areas.
The Newcastle Shop offers one-stop visitor services over summer
A new pop-up retail business run by Newcastle City Council is offering a central location for visitor services in Honeysuckle during the city’s peak tourism and event season.
ME Program provides students with commercial acumen
The Department of Defence funded ME Program is providing students from partner school, St Philips Christian College, with skills to innovate and commercialise their ideas by facilitating a workshop series with The Business Centre.