In June 2020, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Registries Modernisation and Other Measures) Bill 2019 was passed meaning all new and current directors of Australian companies must hold a unique Director Identification Number (Director ID or DIN). From 1 November 2021, anyone in a director position must apply for a DIN within the next year or…
Cyber security awareness is about your awareness of the cyber threats that your technology environment may be at risk of. Being aware of the risks and following best practice security techniques will help to minimise the threat to your technology, your data and privacy breaches, your client experience and ultimately, your business. Sadly, too often…
As a business owner, it’s easy to become so focused on building your business that you neglect to protect its survival should the unexpected occur. Imagine if you had to leave the business unexpectedly. Or if another vital member of your team leaves without notice. Where would that leave you and your business? What would…
A common oversight of small businesses is the failure to understand that planning approvals are required to run a business – whether the business is being run from your home office or a commercial premises. You can operate a business from home without Council approval only if it meets all the following criteria: It employs…
The shutdown of Sydney’s construction industry due to COVID restrictions has made headlines over the past couple of months and the Hunter Region’s building industry is feeling the impact too. With trades unable to move out of the Greater Sydney area, and heavy COVID restrictions enforced on building sites, the region is experiencing delays that…
Marketing outsourcing – it’s a solution many businesses consider at the best of times. Throw in the impact of a rough bushfire season (remember that?!), followed by a global pandemic (with wave after wave of effects), and the need to outsource dials up a whole lot of notches. If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us…
There are six things that Hunter business leaders and marketing and communication professionals need to know to tell their business story well. The six things are really one thing. Six questions to ask before you start telling or writing your business story. Who, what, when, where, how, and why. These questions are used by journalists and public…
Your brand photo is an opportunity to showcase yourself in a way that is going to capture, then connect with your target audience in an authentic and inviting way. Now the owner of a local fashion social enterprise The Grateful Boutique, I previously came from a career in finance, specialising in marketing. When I would…
The digital world has forced businesses across the Hunter region to rethink the way they operate and evolve their business models. There has never been so much pressure on business owners to be forward-thinking about embracing digital technology that will help them keep up with (or, ideally, ahead of) competitors and provide for the new…
Working with leaders and organisations across a cross-section of industries throughout the global pandemic, we have captured five behaviours which consistently rise to the top for exceptional leaders in lockdown. Let’s jump into it … Demonstrating empathy In times of uncertainty, employees may experience heightened levels of sensitivity; this needs heightened levels of empathy from…