Female entrepreneurs in the lower North Shore are boosting their business skills thanks to the NSW Government’s latest $3.5 million investment in TAFE NSW’s Women in Business fee-free online training program. 

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

The latest investment in the program comes at a time when more than a third of the nation’s small business are headed by women, and 12.1 per cent of the nation’s 5.9 million female employees their own boss. 

TAFE NSW Business Head Teacher Dianne See said more than 16,000 female business leaders have tuned to the TAFE NSW Women in Business program to build the skills they need to get their business off the ground.  

“With more women starting their own business than ever before, there’s a rising demand for business-focused skills training. The Women in Business program ensures female entrepreneurs in every corner of NSW can access the training they need to succeed in starting or building their business,” Ms See said.    

“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, marketing, managing cash flow, applying for grants, and leveraging social media, through to tax obligations and negotiation skills.”

When COVID-19 hit, Waverton local Henrietta Hawkins decided to take on a more active role in the business her and her partner set up called Red Arc, which develops automated fundraising systems for nonprofit organisations, charities, and non-government organisations.

“We started Red Arc several years ago, however I wasn’t actively involved until about a year and a half ago when COVID-19 hit. I have a background in marketing, but when I became General Manager of the company, I realised I needed to upskill on some business basics,” Ms Hawkins said.

“So far I’ve gained valuable skills in trademarks, customer journeys, and also

finance – which is an area I’ve typically shied away from. Importantly, studying online through the Women in Business program gives me the flexibility to study when it suits me, and gain skills relevant to my role and my business.”

The fee-free Women in Business program offers flexible online learning from anywhere, at any time. Learn more at https://www.tafensw.edu.au/womeninbusiness.

Media contact: Emma Woodward, Communications Specialist, emma.woodward15@tafensw.edu.au, 0409 618 291