Female entrepreneurs in the Central West 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 now headed by women, with 12.1 per cent of the nation’s 5.9 million female employees now their own boss.

TAFE NSW Business Head Teacher Dianne See said more than 16,000 female business leaders have turned to the 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.”

Trudi Murray from Peak Hill opened her beauty salon, Wyse Wiccan Beauty Shoppe, earlier this year and said the TAFE NSW Women in Business program addressed the common issues and challenges faced by small business owners.  

“Beauty therapy is my expertise. I have never owned a business before, but this TAFE NSW program has given me the business and finance skills I need. The program helped me get established and make sure I had the right procedures in place,” Ms Murray said.

“I’m always looking to find more resources to help grow my business. The Women in Business program is giving me the skills to build a thriving business and market my services correctly in the right places.”

Ms Murray said the program has also connected her with like-minded small business owners in rural areas.

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

To register for the fee-free program visit tafensw.edu.au/womeninbusiness or call 131 601. 

Media contact: Emily Barton, TAFE NSW Communications Specialist, emily.barton11@tafensw.edu.au