Business support and training

The Regional Economic Development Grants (RED Grants) program is a $45.8 million over eight years (2018-19 to 2025-26) State Government initiative that invests in local projects to stimulate economic growth and development in regional Western Australia.

The RED Grants for the Peel region are delivered by the Peel Development Commission with support from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). 

Career, Training and Employment Services

Peel Job and Skill Centre
A State Government service offering free one-stop-shop for career, training and employment assistance at South Metropolitan Tafe Peel (Mandurah). Suitable for:

• Students and job seekers - School students and leavers, career changer, and job seekers looking to enter the workforce can access Peel Jobs and Skill Centre to update or upgrade skills and improve their job prospects
• Business and employers - The Peel Job and Skills Centre will also engage with community and industry to help build local workforce solutions.
  

Small Business Advice

Business Advisory
Is a FREE service funded by the Western Australian State Government for small businesses the South West and Peel regions.
Expert advice to small businesses  - including home-based businesses, start-ups and existing businesses including:

• Business Planning
• Using the web to grow your business
• Tax and financial advice
• Employing staff and HR issues
• IT and communication's
• Marketing your products and services

Entrepreneurship Facilitator Program
Entrepreneurship Facilitator Program is a Federal Government funded program that focuses on helping people to start and run a small business.

Entrepreneurship Facilitators promote and encourage self-employment and entrepreneurship. They help people to start and develop their business. They also help existing micro-business owners to keep their small business open.

Entrepreneurship Facilitators Program services are delivered through group support initiatives, workshops and networking events, light touch individual support and referral to other small business support programs and opportunities such as the Self Employment Assistance and Business Local programs.

Eligibility: You may be eligible to participate in the Entrepreneurship Facilitator Program if you are interested in starting a business, or learning about self-employment, have started a business within the last 2 years and/or are operating a micro-business (up to 4 employees) at risk of not succeeding.

In Mandurah the Entrepreneurship Facilitator Program is facilitated by the BOSS Centre

Peel Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)
The CCI provides a range of services to members including employee relation's and occupational health and safety support, training and skills development, resource projects information and economic research. 

Tourism

Visit Mandurah
Visit Mandurah is an independent local tourism organisation covering the Peel Region of Western Australia.  Assisting tourism operators identifying and developing opportunities within the tourism marketplace, including marketing the region. 

Co-working Space

WOTSO  
Offers the amenities to support your business needs at any stage. We offer daily drop-ins, coworking, flexible office space, meeting rooms and more.

Business administration support – online resources

Business owners can access a range of free, confidential business support services that are funded by State and Federal Government.

• Grants and Assistance
• Business Information – Broad range from Planning, Taxation, employing, business online etc
• ABN registration, business structures and registrations including a business name
• Business activity statements (BAS)
• Expertise and Support - confidential advice is helping businesses transform and reach their full potential
• Registrations - find out what registrations and licences apply to your business
• Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) - assists Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to develop pathways to owning or growing viable businesses, offering services, products and partnerships that  assist throughout the business life cycle.

Other Government Agencies with online tools and resources

• Department of Commerce - Business
• Business Support
• Small Business - ASIC Australia
• Small Business Development Corp
• New Industries WA

The City of Mandurah has signalled its ongoing support and commitment to local small businesses by becoming part of the Small Business Friendly program.

This initiative, developed by the Small Business Development Corporation, formally recognises local governments that are demonstrating, or working towards, ‘better practice’ in engaging with their small business community.

Business Beat is a set of resources which have been developed to help businesses improve safety, prevent crime and reduce the negative impact crime may have on their business.

The Kit includes a safety and security audit checklist, information sheets on cash-handling, shoplifting and hold-up precautions, and crime prevention through environmental design.

The City partners with Peel Chamber of Commerce and Industry and WA Police to hold an annual Local Business Breakfast. This event provides local business owners an opportunity to raise any business-specific issues with the WA Police and to learn about the different resources available to help increase business safety.

Do you want to start your own business and you don’t know where to begin? 

This 8-week program is for you if you want to learn how to start your business the smart way, build a solid foundation and get step-by-step guidance to help you start and develop your business.

Topics covered in this program include:

• Validating your business idea 
• Identifying your customers, target market and competition
• Validating and testing Products/Services
• Developing a Business model 
• Finance and pricing
• Developing your Branding 
• Communicating with customers through digital/social media, lead generation and content development (photography, storytelling, ….) 
• Planning and Developing your Marketing 
• Identifying your business process
• Business Planning
• Time management
• Wellbeing and mindset 

During and after the course you will have access to one-on-one business advisory sessions, which will help you further to succeed in your business. 

Where:  Mandurah Business Development Centre, 10 Lively Place Mandurah
When:  Wednesdays 9.30am - 1pm 
Dates:    8 February 2023 – 29 March 2023 
Fee: FREE

This course is for Mandurah residents only.

The StartUp Smart program was developed with collaboration between the City of Mandurah, IPS Management Consultants and BOSS Centre, Entrepreneurship Facilitator - Mandurah

Applications are now closed.

The City is delivering a range of support to help local businesses adapt to changed retail trading hours in Mandurah. This include one-on-one advisory and group workshops covering a range of useful topics like business strategy, marketing, cashflow, digital solutions, merchandising and more.
Local businesses are encouraged to register their interest to participate in the City of Mandurah’s free business support program, designed to assist businesses to adapt to the changes to retail trading hours in Mandurah.

In October 2022 the City of Mandurah has permanently extended local retail trading hours, in a move that would bring trading hours closer in line with the neighbouring Perth metropolitan area.

Stores have now the option to stay open until 9pm from Monday to Friday.

The City of Mandurah is working closely with local businesses and the Peel Chamber of Commerce and Industry to deliver a range of support services to assist small business with the transition to extended trading hours and support local businesses to help boost our local economy.

We’re calling on local businesses who may be impacted by changes to retail trading hours to register their interest now to participate in free business support programs.