Monday 5 December 2011
Turning your idea into a rewarding business
The 2011/12 season of Ideas2Market small business workshops is now well underway with entrepreneurs in Gympie, Toomwoomba, Townsville, Cairns, Rockhampton and the Gold Coast already taking part in the program.
An initiative of the Queensland Government’s Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, the Ideas2Market small business program is delivered by the AIC to provide innovators and small-to-medium-enterprises (SMEs) with information and skills to improve their competitive advantage. .
The Ideas2Market workshops are delivered by the AIC’s professional facilitators and have already assisted over 1,300 Queensland entrepreneurs along their path to commercialisation.
There are two types of workshops in the program. Introductory Workshops are designed for those who would like to start a business, novice inventors, or those with early-stage business ideas, while the Masterclass Workshops are designed for existing businesses that are looking to grow, improve and gain a competitive advantage.
More workshops are already planned for early 2012 in Gladstone, Brisbane, Cairns and Mackay with positive feedback received on the workshops already conducted:
"Helped me to realise what things I needed to do to get my business to market successfully." (Francis Harvey, Pooch to 5K)
"I would highly recommend this workshop for anyone at all who is thinking of starting their own business or who has already started their own business. Very relevant content, very engaging and interesting and informative." (Robyn Hallewell, Rohallart.com)
"Inspiring. Makes me more determined to go on and not be discouraged." (Chrissy Walker, Jim's Mowing Gympie South)
"Refreshing business workshop, lots of valuable info and speakers with great business experience." (Jani Burdett, Creative Personal Development)
With such positive feedback and results from the workshops so far, Events and Education Manager Genevieve Langbien is enthusiastic about the four additional workshops planned for 2012.
“We have four more workshops to be delivered before the end of May in Gladstone, Brisbane, Cairns and Mackay. We’re looking forward to working with more of Queensland’s ambitious and talented entrepreneurs – it’s always inspiring to meet such remarkable people.”
Genevieve says she frequently receives feedback from participants delighted with the networking opportunities provided by attending an Ideas2Market workshop. “Often starting a business is a lonely enterprise, so it helps to talk to likeminded people going through the same experience. Plenty of useful business partnerships have been made by people who have met at our workshops – it’s a beneficial side effect of attending!”
To find out when Ideas2Market workshops are scheduled near you, visit the AIC’s Ideas2Market webpage or call Genevieve on 07 3364 0621.
Limited seats are available for each workshop, so register early to secure your place. Both the Introductory and Masterclass workshops each run from 8.30am - 5pm, and cost $110 per person (incl. GST) which covers all catering on the day and hard copy course materials and reference notes.
