Novocastrians will have the chance to transform their business dreams into reality thanks to a new City of Newcastle small business incubator program.
Delivered as part of the City of Newcastle’s NewSkills training program, the intensive 12-week Side Hustle Bootcamp will provide 15 entrepreneurs with the opportunity to gain and develop their ideas into a viable business.
Many well-known and loved local businesses started as side hustles, including Cocoa Nib, Savant Apothecary and Eat Your Water.
Cocoa Nib owner and entrepreneur Aymee Slaviero said her successful artisan chocolate brand started as a passion for all things chocolate.
“I’m a trained pastry chef and have worked for some of Australia’s most renowned restaurants, but as a cult-chocolate lover, I knew chocolate was my calling, and now I own and operate two artisan chocolate retail stores in Newcastle and the Hunter,” Slaviero said.
“Anyone with an idea big or small should register their interest in this program to gain the skills and confidence needed to take their idea to the next level.”
Small business training expert Giovanna Lever said the objective was for participants to finish the program with the skills, tools, and confidence needed to take their ideas to market successfully.
“Small business is the backbone of the economy, and thousands of Australian small businesses started as side hustles,” Lever said.
“Supporting these workshops will be a practical webinar, access to a curated national community of fellow side hustlers, tools to apply to your business idea and ongoing support throughout the program.”
Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said Newcastle’s economic future was built on Novocastrians’ talent, skills, and ingenuity.
“City of Newcastle sees the value of investing in micro-enterprise start-ups as a key part of our city’s economic development with over 40 per cent of employment in our economy generated from micro and small business enterprise,” Cr Clausen said.
“Investment in training through our NewSkills program will provide tangible benefits to the wider Newcastle community, by encouraging residents to turn their side hustle business ideas into fledgling start-ups, whilst encouraging economic diversification.”
Small business experts have designed the Side Hustle Bootcamp program.
The program includes six group workshop sessions online and face-to-face to bring the side hustle ideas to life.
Expressions of interest are now open; visit City of Newcastle’s website to apply.
Information source: Media release, City of Newcastle