Singleton Council has partnered with the Singleton Business Chamber to launch the Australian Government’s Digital Solutions Program, aimed at strengthening the online presence and commercial visibility of local small businesses. Delivered by the Australian School of Employment, the initiative supports small business owners in adapting to changing regional customer movement patterns ahead of the completion of the Singleton Bypass.
The program commences with a practical workshop, titled Social Media that Gets Engagement – Create Content People Actually Respond To, on Thursday 30 October 2026 from 10:00am to 12:30pm at Club Singleton. Council is subsidising up to five hours of tailored one-on-one digital mentoring for the first 20 local commercial enterprises that register for the session.
Beyond the launch workshop, commercial operators across the Singleton local government area can access a free digital resource library comprising self-paced tutorials and webinars covering Google Business Profile optimisation, graphic design principles, brand development, project management tools, and artificial intelligence prompts. The initiative follows Council’s broader business support activities, including the recently launched Industry Growth Series targeting opportunities in defence, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, transport, agriculture, and healthcare.
Mayor of Singleton, Sue Moore stated that building digital capabilities helps brick-and-mortar businesses maintain customer engagement as regional transport routes evolve.
“This workshop focuses on helping small businesses build a stronger online presence, including practical ways to improve their social media, strengthen their Google Business Profile and increase the likelihood of being discovered when people are searching online, all of which will be incredibly important for our local businesses once the Bypass is open,” Sue said.
“The aim is for business owners to leave with practical content ideas, a clear approach to social media and simple actions that can improve their visibility, engagement and customer reach online. Plus, there’s a whole range of further resources available through the program, including one-on-one mentoring, free webinars and on-demand tutorials. In a transitioning economy where everyone is looking towards what will happen next, we’re supporting our existing businesses to be as future-ready as possible. This program follows on from the success of our Industry Growth Series which was launched last month with an exploration of opportunities in the defence sector and will continue next year with a focus on industries including renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, transport, agriculture and health. Recognising that small businesses are the backbone of our local economy, I encourage our local businesspeople to take advantage of these free programs and continue to play their part in helping our community to thrive.”
IMAGE | Singleton Council launches free digital skills initiative to prepare local businesses
