TAFE gets behind women in business

Renee Hanna at The Wildflower Meadow

Female entrepreneurs on the Central Coast are boosting their business skills thanks to TAFE NSW’s Women in Business fee-free online training program.

The program provides a suite of practical resources for women running small businesses, micro businesses or start-up operations.

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows half the businesses that started in 2019 were permanently closed by June 2023.

TAFE NSW Business Head Teacher Dianne See said more than 23,000 female business leaders have turned to the TAFE NSW Women in Business program to build the skills they needed to get their business off the ground.

“With more women starting their own business than ever before, it’s important to equip them with practical skills training to prepare their businesses for longevity,” she said.

“The Women in Business program ensures female entrepreneurs in every corner of NSW can access the training they need to succeed in starting and building their business for the long run.

“Depending on what point they’re at with their business, participants can choose from 40 topics or webinars to suit their needs.

“Topics range from developing business plans to marketing, managing cash flow, applying for grants, and leveraging social media, through to tax obligations and negotiation skills.”

Renee Hanna from Erina Heights owns The Wildflower Meadow, a native nursery with a particular focus on creating gardens that encourage native bees and birdlife using regenerative gardening processes.

She said the TAFE NSW Women in Business program addressed the common issues and challenges faced by small business owners and was helping her take her business to the next level. 

“I’m always looking to find more resources to grow,” she said.

“Helping people’s gardens to flourish with sustainably grown native plants is my expertise and running the business side of things is all new to me.

“This TAFE NSW program has given me the finance skills I need.”

The Women in Business program offers flexible online learning from anywhere, at any time.

To register for the fee-free program visit tafensw.edu.au/womeninbusiness or call 131 601.