This month TJS are proud to announce their partnership with the leading Indigenous industry body, Supply Nation.

Established in 2009, Supply Nation is the Australian leader in Indigenous supplier diversity, connecting both Corporate and Government members with Indigenous businesses across the country.

The move comes as we continue to address supplier diversity as a business priority in collaboration with our indigenous sister company, Yaanma Services.

Yaanma’s vision is to nurture and grow Indigenous Australian leaders in the Facility Services industry. As a cleaning and maintenance service provider, Yaanma share TJS’s vision of guiding Indigenous Australians’ to their full potential by providing pathways to sustainable employment.

Now part of the Supply Nation community, our organisation joins Yaanma in sharing best practice to achieve our common goal of sustainable supplier diversity.

Together Yaanma and TJS are committed to helping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders secure equal opportunity.

TJS Chief Executive Officer, Ben Bayot outlines why the impacts of supplier diversity are far reaching and can have significant positive impact on the social and economic development of our nation.

“We have the opportunity as a business to make a positive and long lasting social impact. Our commitment to supplier diversity is a testament to our commitment to the development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities; our goal is to go beyond immediate employment, instead creating lasting pathways for growth and development. We share this goal with all our staff across the business as well as with our Indigenous Sister Company, Yaanma Services”

Today, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders are on the path of leading supplier diversity and positive social change. Through membership of Supply Nation, TJS is one of the many organisations joining the movement towards a future of equal opportunity.

“We are delighted to welcome TJS Services into the Supply Nation program and look forward to working with them to develop their supplier diversity footprint and the measure of our collective success will be in the value of transactions between our members and suppliers.” 

- Supply Nation Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Laura Berry

TJS’s participation and partnership with Supply Nation will play an important role in identifying and addressing opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, through collaborative development of these opportunities in the Indigenous Business Sector, will see significant growth.

The choices we make as businesses and individuals can contribute to the social and economic development of our community, which is why it is so important to consider supplier diversity.

For more information on this topic or to see how you too can be a part of the move towards supplier diversity please contact info@tjsservices.com.au. 

The NSW Government, TAFE NSW and the Fair Work Ombudsman are delivering a free workshop to provide businesses with practical advice in better understanding workplace laws and performance management of employees.

Presentations from the Fair Work Ombudsman and TAFE NSW will equip you with a better understanding on how to manage workplace risks in your business and ensure you are recruiting and retaining people with the right skills to help your business grow and succeed.

Why attend?

This free workshop will help you to:

• develop and manage performance management processes
• understand some of your workplace obligations as an employer under the Fair Work Act
• meet with other businesses and expand your business network
• meet with NSW Government staff and learn about other services that may benefit your business

Register to attend - To attend the workshop, please email western.sydney@industry.nsw.gov.au for more information.

The NSW Government is working with federal and local government colleagues to develop a Western Sydney Aerospace and Defence Industries precinct adjacent to the airport. The precinct will leverage the investment in the airport and surrounding infrastructure and is expected to create approximately 5,000 jobs and over AUD$15 billion of industry gross value over the next 30 years.

One part of this future investment has already materialised. In May 2017 Northrop Grumman committed $50 million towards a new advanced defence electronics maintenance operation that will eventually be located in the new precinct.

Securing an anchor tenant of the calibre of Northrop Grumman this early in the planning process, means the precinct is well on its way to becoming an Asia-Pacific hub for the aerospace and defence industries.

Under the strategy for the precinct, the NSW Government plans to attract small, medium and large aerospace and defence businesses across a range of capabilities, both from within Australia and internationally.

Northrop Grumman is the first of a range of businesses expected to establish a presence in aviation education, pilot and simulation training, parts manufacturing, aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul.

Together, the Western Sydney Airport and the Aerospace and Defence Industries precinct will form the core of the surrounding ‘aerotropolis’ - transforming the western Sydney economy.

The heart of defence in Australia

The precinct will also consolidate NSW at the heart of the nation’s defence industry sector. It will help deliver key parts of the NSW Defence and Industry Strategy, ensuring the state is well placed to capitalise on the record Australian peacetime defence expenditure of AUD$195 billion, that has been forecast over the decade to 2026.

It will also be a hub for defence manufacturing for the Army, Air Force and Navy, along with cyber-security and big data, and for professional services such as consulting, engineering and design.

Timeline for development of the precinct

In September 2017 work will be completed on Phase 2 of the precinct concept feasibility study. The NSW Government’s Aerospace Industry Development Strategy and the concept master plan are expected to be completed by October.

Construction on the airport itself is expected to commence in 2018, and work is already underway to prepare the site.

Once the airport and its adjoining precinct are operational from the mid-2020s, there are long- term plans for further expansion, with construction of a second runway expected by around 2050. It is expected that by 2063 the airport will be capable of handling 82 million passengers a year.

For further information please contact the NSW Department of Industry: wsadip@industry.nsw.gov.au.

Shifting focus from services to outcomes

From peer to peer insurance and robo advice to virtual real estate agents, there’s no doubt customer models are evolving in almost every service sector.

But what is really driving this change? New technology certainly makes it possible, but successful new business models have one thing in common: they solve a previously unmet customer need.

That doesn’t necessarily mean changing the product or service. Uber, for example, still gets you from A to B. But how you experience that journey – from connecting directly with the driver to paying automatically through your app – is very different to a traditional taxi trip.

“Uber didn’t change what happens. It changed how it happens,” explains Tim Molloy, CEO of property software provider Console Group.

“I think that’s the model real estate needs to think about. There are many opportunities to make transactions more efficient.” So how do you identify that opportunity in your sector?

Where established players fear to tread

New models will thrive when they meet a need that established players have failed to address. That’s something Campbell King of accounting and advisory firm mi-fi knows from personal experience.

mi-fi’s services go beyond compliance to include support with building a digital business (such as ecommerce platforms and cloud integration) and educating clients about business.

“When we first started, we built our client base from within our network,” says King. “They were all young and entrepreneurial – taking over the family business or building their own start-ups.”

Millennials are increasingly turning away from traditional career paths to create opportunities to work for themselves – with one recent study finding 66% want to start their own business.1

“Younger business owners have high expectations about what’s possible, and as an adviser you need to show value because they often think technology can solve it all,” explains King.

Console Group is already an established player, with 43% of the real estate agent market using its software. But it also recognised a need to create an ecosystem of apps to support a more efficient property management platform.

Remove more friction from the experience

Molloy says today’s property manager sits at the centre of an antiquated system. “Rental notices are sent by post, it takes dozens of interactions for a tenant to get a repair sorted, it’s very dependent on paper and phone calls.”

With Console Group’s new platform, currently in beta testing, all that will change.

“The tenant could use an app to notify a problem with their oven door, for example. They send a photo of the problem and the serial number. The tradie is notified and can supply a quote through the app for approval by the property manager or landlord.”

Click here to read the full article.

Macquarie has been providing Business Banking solutions for over 30 years and provides SME clients with tools and strategies to grow and develop their business. You can get regular updates by subscribing to the monthly newsletter, Strictly Business by visiting macquarie.com.au/businessbanking. If you would like to find out more about how Macquarie can support you to take your business further, call Sam McCarthy at our Parramatta office on 0417 518 724.

This information has been prepared by Macquarie Bank Limited ABN 46 008 583 542 AFSL and Australian Credit Licence 237502 (“Macquarie”) for general information purposes only. This information does not constitute advice. Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice. No member of Macquarie accepts any liability whatsoever for any direct, indirect, consequential or other loss arising from any use of this information.

It’s time to put on your trainers, charge your fitbit and walk, run or bike for a good cause.

On Friday October 20, you won’t want to be the only business that misses out on Western Sydney’s fundraising event of the year – the Coleman Greig Challenge.

In addition to getting fit, having fun and rubbing shoulders with hundreds of local businesses and residents, the Challenge is an opportunity to give back, with funds raised going to children with special needs and newborn care at My Westmead, Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children, and St Gabriel’s School for Children with Special Needs.

This will be the 5th year that Western Sydney’s businesses and locals will run, ride or walk alongside each other – and ambassador Jana Pittman – through beautiful Parramatta Park. In past years, over 400 people have taken part before enjoying a complimentary breakfast and award presentation before heading to the office.

Local businesses are signing up now as sponsors and supporters for the 2.5km Walk in the Park, 5km run, 10km run and two grades of cycling. And with St George the Dragon in training for the 2.5km walk it will be a morning of family fun too.

Athlete, mum, doctor in training and event ambassador Jana Pittman is thrilled to be on board for this year’s challenge which she says is a great way for businesses to support organisations making a difference to the lives of children and their families in Western Sydney.

A snapshot of how the funds you raise will help children with special needs and newborns requiring critical care: Purchasing technology to assist with educational opportunities at Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children; acquiring Panda Resuscitaires, machines that enhance treatment and care of babies for My Westmead; and funding a new sensory garden, equipment and educational outdoor space designed to foster social skills and communication at St Gabriel’s School for Children with Special Needs.

Benefits to your brand: Not only will your support help with this critical fundraising, it will also benefit your business through enhanced brand awareness and alignment with the three charity partners across local, regional and national media, event day opportunities with radio and television, and logo inclusion on the official event website between July and November 2017. So don’t miss out on the chance to boost your business brand while helping your staff get fit for a great fundraising cause. Read the Sponsorship Proposal and pledge your support today. Contact Westmead Medical Research Foundation - Partnerships Manager - Susie Saba on 02 9845 8162 or susie.saba@wmrf.org.au.

Like to take on and beat last year’s cycling champions Raine & Horne or watch CEOs compete against other? Don’t let other businesses have all the fun and publicity. Sign up now to register as a team or individual.

Do you run an Indigenous business or want to start one?

• Find out how to unlock government procurement opportunities.

• Learn what finance options are available to support your business.

• Discover the services available in NSW to support the growth of your business.

You’ll hear inspiring stories from innovative Indigenous businesses and learn about their pathways to success.

The presenters will be available to answer your questions, and there’ll be an opportunity for networking at the event.

This free seminar on Tuesday 1st August is for any Indigenous person who wants to start or grow a business in NSW.

or click here for further information. Advance registration is required.

Key Timings:

5.00pm Arrive for registration

5.30pm Session commences

7.30pm Session concludes

Where:

Parliament of New South Wales -  6 Macquarie St, Sydney

Getting there:

The Parliament of NSW building is located near the Hyde Park end of Macquarie Street, close to Martin Place railway station and Elizabeth Street buses.

This event is presented by the NSW Department of Industry

Parramatta Mission invites you to invest in the social heart of Greater Western Sydney at the 2017 Raising Hope Gala.

Date: Friday 8th September

Time: 7:00 pm till midnight

Venue: Parkroyal Parramatta

30 Phillip Street Parramatta

Dress: Black Tie

RSVP: www.humanitix.com/event/raising-hope

Tickets: $200

As our city expands there are increasing social needs that together we must address.

Parramatta Mission seeks to serve the social heart through the provision of over 70 services to meet the desperate needs within our community. Many of these essential services are otherwise unfunded.

Join us at our 2017 Raising Hope Gala to help raise the funds needed to invest into the areas of homelessness, domestic violence, crisis support and accommodation services.

Further information, including partnership investment packages and group bookings, please contact us.

Email: raisinghope@parramattamission.org.au

Phone: (02) 9891 2277

Emotional Agility is one of the most valuable business skills you can possess.

With greater Emotional Agility, you can maximise your confidence, turn negative emotions into positive thoughts, and overpower stress!

This essential leadership skill is about knowing yourself and developing a greater level of control over your feelings and reactions. With a bit of practice, you are capable of improving this skill quite quickly.

I am drawing on the work of a couple of experts: Susan David and Christina Congleton. In their Harvard Business Review article called “Emotional Agility: How Leaders Manage Their Negative Thoughts and Feelings”, they describe 4 Steps for Building Emotional Agility. They say that people do not stumble because they have undesirable thoughts – because we all have them. That’s inevitable. They stumble because they get hooked by their thoughts like a fish caught on a line, and they buy into their thoughts, treating them like facts.

Here are the 4 Steps for Building your Emotional Agility:

1. Recognise your Patterns

It is very important to notice when you have been hooked by your thoughts and feelings. This can be a little bit hard to do initially, but there are certain tell-tale signs that you are hooked. One of them is that your thinking becomes a bit repetitive and rigid. Another sign is that you feel like you are telling the same story over and over – a bit like that movie, Groundhog Day. You have to be aware of the patterns that you are stuck in before you can make a change. Self-Awareness is critical.

2. Label your Thoughts and Emotions

Labelling allows you to see your thoughts and feelings for what they are. They are transient sources of data that may or may not prove to be helpful. We are all capable of taking this detached view of our experiences, AKA mindfulness. Bring your awareness to your present moment and ask, “What am I feeling?” and label it. Then you ask, “What am I thinking?” and label it. This not only improves behaviour and well-being, but it also promotes beneficial biological changes in the brain at the cellular level.

3. Accept Them

The opposite of controlling is accepting. You do not need to act on every thought or feeling, or resign yourself to negativity. Remember our thoughts and emotions are not facts – they are data. However, you can choose to respond to your experience with curiosity and openness. You can notice yourself feeling angry or upset, and you can accept that: “I’m feeling upset right now.” Then you can be curious about how that feeling came about and how you could think about the situation differently. Emotions are a signal that something important is at stake and that productive and skillful action is needed.

4. Act on your Values

When you unhook yourself from difficult thoughts and emotions, you expand your choices. You can activate your free will and decide to act in a way that aligns with your values. This is about making a choice about your response and reality-checking whether it will serve you or sabotage you in the long term, as well as the short term. Asking: “Are you being the person you want to be? The leader you want to be?” The mind’s thought-stream flows endlessly, and emotions change like the weather, but your values are consistent and can be called upon at any time and in any situation.

Could your business benefit from having Emotionally Agile managers? Click here to learn more about our transformational leadership program, the Great Managers Academy.

Project management and technical support services tender process to begin soon

The Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development is preparing to release a two-stage tender process to procure Project Management and Technical Support Services for the next phase of the Western Sydney Airport project. 

The procurement is planned to be released on Austender prior to 31 July 2017. Suitably qualified service providers will be able to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) via Austender. You will receive an email once the tender has been approved for release on Austender.

Shortlisted EOI respondents will then be invited to participate in a limited Request for Tender (RFT) process. The contract will be awarded prior to 30 September 2017.

Noise and air quality monitoring panel procurement

A number of suppliers from the Infrastructure Advisory Panel have recently been approached to tender on the provision of noise and air quality monitoring at Badgerys Creek.

The service provider who will be providing the monitoring will be announced in the coming weeks.

You can find out more about future tendering opportunities in the presentation about WSA Co development packages and tendering opportunities.

Further information about business opportunities is available at www.westernsydneyairport.gov.au/industry.

The manufacturing industry has undergone enormous change over the past decade and one topic keeps coming up: Skills Shortage.

You’re invited to attend a special presentation to discuss how your business can build a competitive workforce and close the skills gap now, and for the future.

You’ll have the opportunity to have your say on education and hear about the variety of training currently available that will help fuel your company’s growth.

Register now to find out how you can build your talent pipeline and the smart training options that will produce business results.

During the session, the following important points will be covered:

• Creating career pathways - resources and development opportunities available to students
  
• The right competencies - education and technical training to attract the right talent
  
• Hiring outside the industry - the growing demand for skill sets from other fields
  

Please RSVP early to secure your complimentary place.

This event is proudly supported by William Buck, St.George Business Banking, Coleman Greig and TAFE NSW.

Click here for further details or to register. 

If you have any questions, please contact:

Natasha Hughes 

P: (02) 8263 4000

E: natasha.hughes@williambuck.com.

Date & Time: 

Tuesday 8 August 2017; 7.30am to 9:00 am AEST

Location:

Mount Druitt TAFE

creATE Restaurant

Mount Street & North Parade

Mount Druitt, NSW 2770