HUNTER NEWSLETTER Servicing Newcastle, Hunter, Central Coast & Northern Region NSW Newsletter No. 34 – July 2015 Overview of Hunter Regional Newsletter No. 34: What’s happening in the Region? Business Information Small Biz Mentoring Program $5,000 rebate for each new employee on payroll tax extended for 4 years Small Business $20,000 Instant Asset Write Offs Business News Shortlist of contractors for tender of new train order Visit by Minister for Skills, Industry and Regional Development Business Coaching Presentation Senate to probe Non-Conforming Building Products Talking up Manufacturing 2015 Premiers NSW Export Awards applications open Workplace Relations Annual and Personal Leave - recent changes Ai Group Salary and Benefits Survey 2015 Innovation Hedweld launches an Agricultural Product Range Engaging a student or researcher made easy Hunter TAFE Students to make history at Robotics Competition Skilling Your Workforce Upskilling your workforce – the Industry Skills Fund Regional Events Lend Lease Presentation on the North Connex Motorway project Australian Technologies Competition – Regional Heats How to write Tenders that stand out and win Network Dates Affiliated Organisations James Thomson Judy Martin; Leanne Cruden; Bianca Smith David Tiller Annabel Anderson Toby Billington Shani Doyle WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE REGION? The period since March has been very busy indeed at Ai Group Hunter and fortunately it all points in a positive direction. You will see there is a lot of help available to businesses. Adrian Price The Hunter Heats of the Australian Technologies Competition have produced four finalists and you are invited to hear their “pitches” in Newcastle over lunch on 20th August. Three are established manufacturing/engineering companies; one is a new company and one is Ai Group member Melvelle Equipment. Selected companies will go through to the national finals in Sydney in October. I hope this will become an annual regional competition. In recent weeks I have been making contact with the future “underbelly” of manufacturing through various organisations who work with start-up technologists to commercialise their inventions. I am confident that with the help of the University of Newcastle, we should soon have a map of innovation mechanisms for the Hunter region. This will be a valuable resource for both new and established companies in finding each other. You will have periodically received notice of the Ai Group Management Webinars that are now being offered free as part of your membership every few weeks. They are really excellent, thought-provoking, condensed presentations on a variety of topics such as trade and leadership. A Central Coast company has found them particularly useful by involving their whole management team and then doing an in-company debrief afterwards. Our planned Pittsburgh Trade Mission in October now looks very positive and final arrangements will be made in coming weeks. We will have delegates from a good cross-section of manufacturers, university staff, TAFE and city councils. The aim is to come back with collaborations in addition to engineering research, in commerce and at the cities level. I hope this will cement a strong and enduring relationship of collaboration between our two international centres of engineering excellence. Finally there have been a few staff announcements. Shani Doyle has been appointed as Skills Adviser for the Industry Skills Fund program working in the Hunter / Central Coast region; Michael Williams as Skills Adviser working the midNorth Coast region; Leanne Cruden has been promoted to Principal Workplace Relations Adviser in recognition of her leadership of our Hunter WR Team; and Annabel Anderson, Adviser – Workplace Relations has moved from our Sydney office to join our staff here in Newcastle. ******************************************************************************* BUSINESS INFORMATION Business Advice & Mentoring Programs Small Biz Solutions offers a range of business advisory and knowledge building workshops designed especially for small business owners throughout the Hunter Region. Small Biz Solutions is designed to empower, strengthen and build the business knowledge and confidence of Small Business owners in the Hunter and otherRegion. The Small Biz Solutions program will provide relevant, low cost advisory services that will be practical, flexible and focused. As a small business owner you can access: one-on-one tailored business advisory services face-to-face meetings virtual/online meetings small group training for up to 10 people at a time access to mentoring networks for businesses in the your region View a full range of workshop topics and dates or for more information on Small Biz Solutions The Australian Small Business Advisory Services providers closest to you are: Central Coast Business Enterprise Centre, tel 02 4355 4885, email reception@ccbec.org.au The Business Centre (Newcastle), tel 02 4925 7700 or email martin@thebusinesscentre.com.au New England-North West BEC, tel 02 6771 2556, email mybusiness@bec.com.au Enterprise Training Company, Mid-North Coast. Tel 1800 007 400 email business.info@etcltd.com.au Northern Rivers BEC, tel 02 6622 1933, email lismore@norbec.com.au $5,000 rebate for each new employee on payroll tax extended for 4 years Legislation to extend Jobs Action Plan funding until 2019 passed through NSW Parliament during May. The Jobs Action Plan was a key plank of the NSW Liberals & Nationals election commitment to create 150,000 jobs in the next four years. Under the plan businesses that create a new position receive a $5,000 payroll tax rebate on that position. The rebate is roughly equivalent to the annual payroll tax bill for one employee and will be paid in two parts, at 12 months and 24 months, after the employee is hired. Since its implementation four years ago, businesses have strongly supported the Jobs Action Plan by making over 90,000 payroll tax rebate applications. The extension of the Jobs Action Plan will provide incentives and support for businesses looking to expand and create more employment opportunities for people across NSW. Minister for Industry Anthony Roberts said: “the Jobs Action Pan is a key element of the Government’s strategy to grow local businesses and to encourage interstate and international businesses to relocate to NSW”. **************************************************************************************************************** SMALL BUSINESS INSTANT ASSET WRITE OFFS What has changed as a result of the 2015 Budget? Under the changes to simplified depreciation rules for small business, you can: - Immediately write off eligible depreciating assets costing less than $20,000 each, as long as you buy them and install them ready for use from 7.30pm on 12th May until 30th June 2017. - Immediately write off a small business asset pool (including existing pools) if the balance is less than $20,000 at the end of a financial year, until 30 June 2017 - Choose to use simplified depreciation rules even if you opted out in the last five years. This took effect at 7.30pm on 12th May 2015 and will end on 30 June 2017 Find out more about the changes to accelerated depreciation for small businesses How is it different to before? Before the changes, under simplified depreciation rules - You could only immediately write off eligible depreciating assets that cost less than $1,000 each You could only immediately write off a small business asset pool if the balance was less than $1,000 at the end of a financial year If you opted out of the simplified depreciation rules, you had to wait 5 years before you could use them again Do I get my money back straight away? “Instant” or straight away” means that you can claim the cost of depreciating assets in the financial year that you first used or installed them ready for use. By claiming the deductions you reduce your taxable income, and your tax payable. You don’t get cash back from the tax office straight away. What can I write off? You can only write off eligible depreciating assets that cost less than $20,000 and that you use for business purposes. Depreciating assets include items such as computers, electrical tools, furniture, curtains, carpets and cars. Land and trading stock are not depreciating assets. Note that certain types of depreciating assets can’t be written off under simplified depreciation rules, including horticulture plants, capital works, and software. Read the full list of exclusions to the simplified depreciation rules Business News Shortlist announced for new intercity train fleet “The Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance today announced that four consortia have been shortlisted to tender for the supply and maintenance of a new state-of-the-art intercity train fleet for NSW. A mix of local and international organisations will now be invited to tender.” “The contract includes the supply and maintenance of approximately 520 brand new carriages configured specifically for the rail network here in NSW and offering longer-distance train customers improved comfort and reliability.” “The contract also includes maintenance of the new fleet and fit out and operation of a maintenance facility. The organisations shortlisted to tender are: Alstom Transport Australia Pty Ltd Downer-CNRCRC Consortium, comprising Downer EDI Rail Pty Limited and CNR Changchun Railway Vehicles Co Ltd Stadler Bussnang AG UGL/MEA/CSR Consortium comprising UGL Rail Services Pty Ltd, Mitsubishi Electric Australia Pty Ltd and CSR Corporation Ltd. (At an industry briefing in Sydney last year, Government officials stated there would be no mandated local content) “The contract is expected to be awarded in 2016. The new fleet will come into service progressively, with the first trains delivered by 2019 and the rest of the fleet being delivered through to 2024.” ********************************************************************************************************************************** Visit by new State Minister for Skills, Regional Development & Small Business The new State Skills Minister John Barilaro met with members and representative of local government agencies at Ai Group on 18th June. Jeff Phillips, CEO Varley Group, gave a good outline of the strengths, capabilities and current difficulties of manufacturers in the Region. A copy of his speech notes can be read here The Minister is himself a manufacturer of doors and understands the plight of manufacturers and small businesses. The need for greater local content in Government procurement was stressed. He was very interested in what the group had to say and spent a lot of time listening. Members had good opportunities to raise issues. Mr Barilaro was invited to meet with us again and he said he would be very pleased to do so. I have been advised that he is to make a policy announcement on 21st July in Newcastle about attracting students and attracting investment to Newcastle. Ai Group will be attending. Business Coaching Free Ai Group Member Event for companies who need to support greater flexibility in their workplaces: How to get Return on Investment from Coaching… "In a recent study, training alone improved leadership skills by 22%. When combined with Executive Coaching, improvement jumps to 77%. ROI is rated at around 6 time the purchase cost” – Fortune magazine. You are invited to presentations on Business Coaching Venue: Ai Group’s Newcastle office Suite 1, “Nautilos” 265 Wharf Road, Newcastle Date: Time: 18 August 2015 Commencing 4:00pm sharp Light refreshments will be provided after the presentation. You will hear from experienced coaches about how they can help you take your organisation forward. You can participate in a Q&A session. What have you got to gain by coming along? Register your interest now by emailing Judy.Martin@aigroup.com.au For further inquiries phone 4925 8300 ****************************************************************************** Senate to probe non-conforming building products The Senate will hold an inquiry into non-conforming building products called by independent senators Nick Xenophon, John Madigan and Jackie Lambie. The inquiry, due to report by 12 October, seeks to investigate the reasons for the proliferation of materials in the building chain that do not meet local standards or may conform, but which are used inappropriately. An Ai Group survey in 2013 reported that as many as 92 per cent of construction industry suppliers had identified nonconforming products in their sector. The Free Trade Agreement signed with China in mid-June could worsen the problem, industry players last week said. South Australian independent senator Mr Xenophon said the problem was principally one of imports. "It's a question of the imports and of the standards not being complied with," he told The Australian Financial Review on Wednesday. "This Australian industry doesn't have a problem complying with the standards." Sectors such as glass, structural steel and manufactured wood have long waged battles against counterfeit imports that are falsely labelled as meeting Australian standards. Local companies say they are fighting against rival products not checked for compliance or for claims they make about qualities like durability.” th (The above is an extract from an article in the Australian Financial Review of 24 June 2015) Footnote: Ai Group published the landmark study “The quest for a level playing field The non-conforming building product dilemma” – see here and since has held an industry wide forum to develop a road map to address the problem. We have formed the Construction Product Alliance to take carriage of the issue. Inquiries may be made to James Thomson at the Regional office on 02 4925 8313 or Email james.thomson@aigroup.com.au Talking up Manufacturing The following is from an article entitled “Change is on the March for Manufacturing” written by Adrian Price & published in the Newcastle Herald on 19th June 2015. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness". These words from Charles Dickens in some ways reflect the “revolution” that manufacturing is facing in the Hunter at the present time. Business circumstances can be both threat and opportunity – it depends how you see it and what you do with it. Disruptive change stalks businesses everywhere in different forms. It creates confusion and despair. In Hunter manufacturing, the largest disruptive change has come from the cut backs in mining investment and the need to find new products and markets - but how and where? When these dark days had just formed in 2013, Ai Group took a study tour to German manufacturing to discover what made the Germans among the most successful manufacturers in the world. The most significant discovery was their deep engagement with universities in research and development, such that 29% of the R&D spend in the EU happens in Germany. In response, Ai Group formed an Innovation Cluster among a handful of innovative manufacturers. This has now grown to a mailing list of 70 – including researchers. The conversations are happening. In July 2014, Ai Group with the Hunter Business Chamber and HunterNet held a Summit on the Future for Manufacturing and four clear directions from participants came through: 1. 2. 3. 4. greater innovation seeking global markets collaboration attracting finance and investment to build new industries. Since then, there has been fantastic engagement from the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment at the University of Newcastle. It has held two public showcases of student research projects. Associate Professor John Lucas has also been appointed to the post of Assistant Dean – Industry Engagement, a first. Entry points for student work placements have now been mapped. In October 2015, Ai Group is organising a trade mission to develop international collaborations with industry In Pittsburgh USA. Pittsburgh has a history similar to Newcastle but now has industry employment of 96,000. We will be doing this in parallel with the engineering research connections of our University with the University of Pittsburgh. Our biggest regional asset in “going global” is our engineering and technical skills at all levels –post graduate, undergraduate, certificate, high school, primary school and now pre-school. Few regions in a STEM-starved world can boast such an ecosystem that sets us up for both the present and the foreseeable future. Ai Group will be seeking the assistance of the NSW Government to recognise the Hunter as a “Global Centre of Engineering Excellence” and to provide us with the funds for an international marketing campaign. We need to attract overseas technology company investment to grow our new industries and employ our clever people. We have strong foundations and a strong will to create a new future. To paraphrase another great writer, Mark Twain, “reports of the death of manufacturing are greatly exaggerated”. ******************************************************************************************* 2015 Premier's NSW Export Applications Open Awards The Premier’s NSW Export Awards are open to all NSW exporters regardless of size. National award categories include agribusiness, creative industries, business services, manufacturing, online sales, small business and information and communication technology. The NSW specific categories include the new award of NSW Women in International Business recognising the growing number of women in leadership roles in business that export. Previous Export Award winners include Rode Microphones, the Wiggles and SunRice. NSW Trade & Investment is the major sponsor of the awards. The winners of the NSW Export Awards will be announced in Sydney on October 28. The 2015 Premier’s NSW Export Awards are managed by the Export Council of Australia. Entries close on August 14. For more information go to www.export.org.au. The NSW Government supports exporters through a range of initiatives including the Export Capability Building program and by providing a network of export advisers across the state. WORKPLACE RELATIONS Annual and Personal Leave – recent changes In a major contested by Ai Group on behalf of members, Ai Group has been successful in securing members enhanced rights to direct employees to take excessive annual leave, to allow cashing-out of annual leave for award covered employees by agreement with their employer, and other flexibilities. The decision provides important new rights for employers and employees. Ai Group will distribute a member advice when the specific variations for each award have been settled by the Fair Work Commission. For more detail go to: Annual Leave Decision However, some recent tribunal and court decisions have made matters more complicated in certain areas: In a decision of the Fair Work Commission involving the employees of RACV who work shifts longer than 7.6 hours in a day, a 10 hour shift worker on personal carers leave would only have 7.6 hours deducted from their personal leave balance rather than 10 hours. Ai Group has raised its concern on behalf of Members with the Federal Government and other options to have the uncertainty caused by this matter addressed; In another decision involving Anglican Care, the Federal Court has ruled that annual leave does accrue during periods of Workers Compensation, unless a State workers compensation law specifically states it does not. This matter has been addressed in amendments to the Fair Work Act, which are currently before the Senate. The details of these two matters can be viewed at Leave Accruals If you wish to discuss any of these matters, please call our Workplace Advice Centre on 1300 78 38 44 or email to workplaceadvice@aigroup.com.au *********************************************************************************** Ai Group Salary and Benefits Survey 2015 Australia's most competitively priced salary benchmarking product, Ai Group's Salary & Benefits Survey Report 2015, is available for purchase. Our comprehensive survey reports and analyses salary and remuneration data and trends across a broad range of industry sectors and non-award and award positions, and includes information on over 14,300 employees. This year a report is compiled from Hunter Region member companies who contributed. The Report will assist you to benchmark salaries against the market rate, review employee benefits and reward programs and design competitive remuneration packages to help you attract and retain staff. The survey report will give you: Salary and benefits data on 223 jobs, including non-award and award positions, across 10 job families; Remuneration information broken up into metro and regional areas for each State and Territory including specific data for the Hunter region; Comprehensive salary information data sheets which include base salary and total remuneration rates incorporating the value of additional benefits and variable rewards, with mean, median and quartile ranges shown; Detailed job descriptions to assist in correctly matching job titles and identify appropriate market rates; Summary of remuneration trends including a detailed analysis of benefits offered by organisations; and Staff turnover benchmarking report. Further information regarding the Survey can be found on our website. INNOVATION Engaging a student or researcher made easy The University of Newcastle’s Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment is number 2 in Australia for research in engineering. Their world-class researchers in the engineering and built environment fields have access to cuttingedge facilities, international networks and the latest technology. There are many ways you can work with the Faculty. Possibilities range from large-scale, long-term collaborations with multiple partners, to fast turn-around consultancies, to low-budget student-driven projects. Options Time-frame Funding sources Industrial experience placement Our students work for you as paid or unpaid employees, gaining valuable experience and contributing to your business Final year project One or more of our fourth year students work on solving a specific problem for your organisation 2-12 weeks Depending on the level of responsibility involved, students work for free or can be employed directly 6-12 months Students work for free or can be employed directly by the industry partner Consultancy Exclusive services from senior researchers to achieve results for your business within a short time-frame 3 weeks to 2 mths, depending on your business needs Funding from an individual industry partner Contract research Senior researchers work on longer-term projects under an individual agreement to meet the specific needs of your business 6 months to 3 years Funding from an individual industry partner Linkage grants Senior researchers work with industry partners to solve major problems of national importance Up to 3 years, or potentially ongoing Funding from an industry partner and UoN is matched by funding from the Australian Research Centre. Contribution from the partner can be cash or ‘in kind’. Research Cadetship Your research and development staff member completes a research degree at UoN 2-4 years Student employed by industry receives $5,500 p.a. allowance from UoN Case Study: For his final year project, Mechanical Engineering graduate Kai Ellmoos worked with Sanitarium on a project titled “Controlling the Distribution of Wheat Flakes across Conveyor Belts. The aim was to make more consistent Weetbix. A more uniform product means reduced product wastage and production downtime. His investigations resulted in a 40% improvement in standard deviation. You can express your interest in working with the Faculty by contacting our Research and Research Training Officer: Chanel Hopkinson Email: chanel.hopkinson@newcastle.edu.au Phone: 02 4921 2051 ************************************************************************************* Hedweld launches an Agricultural Product Range Milbrotec is the new agricultural innovative products range of the Hedweld Group of Companies at Mt Thorley. Hedweld has recently received a Federal Government grant, through the Manufacturing Transition Programme, towards the construction and fit-out of a new assembly plant adjacent to their current site at Mt Thorley. The facility will be highly automated to increase competitiveness, increase exports and create new skills. Importantly it gives Hedweld greater diversity in products and markets. The Milbrotec fencing system replaces timber fencing posts and stays with metal products which allow a farmer to erect a fence and gates in half the time. The new products are much more durable, not subject to rot or termites, and are easily tensioned. There is also a unique floating fence post for raising the fence lines across a creek in times of flooding to minimise flood damage - a major problem and cost to graziers. Milbrotec also offers a range of tractor and crawler attachments for special purposes. The company’s products can be viewed at www.milbrotec.com.au Hunter TAFE Students to make history at Robotics Competition Hunter TAFE students Conrad Neilands and Oliver Bamford working on their entry into the NIARC student robotic competition. Pic: Ryan Osland Taken from Newcastle Herald article 3.06.2015 Five Hunter TAFE students will make history as the institute’s first team to compete in the national Instruments Autonomous Robotics Competition. The five member team will be the only non-unversity team from 26 entries across Australia and New Zealand. The team, supervised by Hunter TAFE electronics head teacher David Leask and made up of Conrad Neilands, James Dyson, Ben Brown, Jonathan McDonald and industrial design student, Oliver Bamford, have spent the past seven months working on their competition robot. They have had to complete monthly milestones in the lead-up to Septembers competition. “The challenge is set on a scale model of a shipping container loading terminal”, David said, “this will require the team to create a robot from the ground up, capable of navigating its way around obstacles and over bumpy terrain”. Newcastle Stevedores, Hummingbird Electronics, TEFOL Rutherford, Solar Sailor and Novecom are among the organisations that have assisted the team. “This is a great challenge for the students” David said. “The skills the students are developing are in high demand in industries such as industrial automation, smart manufacturing, environmental monitoring, drones & automated vehicles.” ************************************************************************************* RoboCup Junior Hunter Regional 2015 You are invited to attend RoboCup Junior Hunter Regional 2015, which is an annual robotics competition for school students hosted by the University of Newcastle. This competition is a world-wide initiative and the hunter regional event showcases the emerging young talents within our local schools . Date: Thurs. 6th August 2015 Time: 9am – 2pm Where: The Forum – University of Newcastle Contact: ryan.jeffery@newcastle.edu.au www.robocupjunior.org.au/hunter ************************************************************************** SKILLING YOUR WORKFORCE Upskilling your Workforce – the Industry Skills Fund The Industry Skills Fund (the Fund) assists industry to invest in training and support services and to develop innovative training solutions. The fund will help build a highly skilled workforce that can take advantage of new business growth opportunities and adapt to rapid technological change. What is the Industry Skills Fund? The Industry Skills Fund (the Fund) is a key element in the Australian Government’s Industry Innovation and Competitiveness Agenda and will provide over 250,000 training places and support services for industry. The Fund prioritises SMEs, including micro businesses, and is delivered through the Single Business Service, which streamlines access to essential information for all Australian businesses. What kind of assistance can I access under the fund? Help is available in the following categories: 1. Skills Advice Help identifying skills opportunities and maximising training outcomes. 2. Training Grant Co-investment for businesses to improve the skills of their workforce for an identified growth opportunity. Will I be required to make a financial contribution? Businesses that are awarded funding under the Fund must financially co-contribute to the proposed project. The amount you are required to contribute will depend on the size of your business. What kinds of businesses will the fund assist? The Industry Skills Fund is targeting SMEs, including micro businesses, which are preparing to take up growth opportunities outside of their normal day-to-day business operations. Recent feedback in the Hunter Region shows that companies have been using the Fund to undertake training in: Leadership and management Equipment and software training Sales and marketing (in particular social media) The fund will also focus on businesses in identified priority industries. If your business isn’t in a priority industry, you may still be eligible to apply. How can I access assistance? The first step in seeking assistance through the Industry Skills Fund is to: 1. call business.gov.au 13 28 46, or 2. complete a simple online enquiry form How will my application be assessed? Applications for funding will be assessed against the Industry Skills Fund merit criteria. All applications and funding proposals must address the merit criteria. The strongest applications will be granted funding. View the merit criteria for more information. Ai Group has two Skills Advisers in the Region who provide advice about access to the Fund: - Hunter and Central Coast - Shani Doyle mobile 0419 462 500 - Northern NSW – Michael Williams mobile 0428 225 517 ********************************************************************** REGIONAL EVENTS Lend Lease Presentation on North Connex Motorway Project HunterNet, Central Coast Manufacturing Connect and Engineers Australia Central Coast Group are pleased to be able to host Robert Ioffrida and Travis Butler from Lend Lease who will give a presentation on the project covering what is NorthConnex and who is delivering it and will provide some insight into the projects design features and timings. Ai Group is a supporter of Central Coast Manufacturing Connect. The proposed nine kilometre tunnel motorway includes interchanges to the north and south to accommodate connections at either end of the project. When complete, it will link Sydney's north to the Orbital network and form part of the National Highway route. Importantly for the Hunter and Central Coast it provides an important infrastructure for freight traffic and the wider connectivity within NSW to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow along Pennant Hills Road. This presentation will highlight the opportunities for local organisations to understand what opportunities exist to be a supplier or collaborate with others to be a supplier, to this project. Date: Location: RSVP by: Cost: Tuesday, 28th July Time: 5.00 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. The Sharpe Centre For Social Impact Apollo Resort, 871 The Entrance Road, Wamberal 24th July 2015 $40.00 Australian Technologies Competition – Regional Heats Hunter Heats of the Australian Technology Competition: Ai Group’s application has been accepted for the Hunter Region as a finalist in the “Most Innovative Regions” section of the Australian Technologies Competition. This means we will go into the judging of the Regional Winner to be announced at that Grand Finals Gala Event in Sydney on the evening of 20th October. Four Regional Company Finalists have been selected and they will now be considered for the National Semi Finals and for the overall Hunter Region Winner. Finalists are: a) Melvelle Equipment Corporation, Maryland (and Ai Group Member) – portable machine for safe removal of corroded rail track flexible clips; b) Corkys Sustainable Energy, Mayfield – safe abatement of methane from coal mine ventilation air; c) FluidIntel, Rutherford – fuel and lubricant management system facilitating fuel reductions of 2-5% in the mining sector; Lumo Solutions, Belmont – a “glow in the dark” visual awareness product for pedestrian traffic. d) The final stage of the Regional Competition will involve pitches from the four Regional Finalists at a lunch time industry and business gathering on Thursday 20th August from 12pm-1.00pm in Newcastle. They will have the opportunity to pitch their products to business peers and to the Regional Judges. This will be a great opportunity for Finalists to be better known in the community. If you would like to attend please ring 4925 8300 or email judy.martin@aigroup.com.au Judging of National Finalists will be announced at a Gala Event in Sydney on 20th October. Ai Group Hunter hopes that the Hunter Heats of the Australian Technologies will become an annual event. The Hunter Competition has been sponsored/supported by Hedweld Engineering, Forgacs Engineering, Dantia (City of Lake Macquarie), University of Newcastle, NSW Trade and Investment and Ai Group. ********************************************************************************** MINING EXPOS Africa Mining video conference Receive an update on Africa’s opportunities in the mining sector. rd Newcastle & Sydney Thurs. 23 July 5.00pm – 6.30pm No cost For more information and to register, click here Kazakhstan Mining Mission Target opportunities for Australian METS in hard-rock mining in Kazakhstan. For more information and to apply, click here Event details: 21-25 September 2015 Location: Kazakhstan Application Deadline: 1 August 2015 ExpoMin Mexico 2015 - one of the most important mining forums in Latin America. An exhibition of mining machinery, equipment and services showcasing the latest mining technologies. For more information and to apply, click here Date 7-19 October 2015 Location: Acapulco Mexico Apply by 31 July 2015 How to write Tenders that stand out and win Regional Australian businesses face additional pressures to win work including skills shortages, sustaining communities and increasing competition from larger non-local companies. “How to Write Tenders that Stand out & Win” is a practical and interactive half day workshop to learn the four golden rules to tendering successes. th When: Thurs. 27 August 2015 1pm – 5pm Where: Department of Industry Level 3, 251 Wharf Rd, Newcastle th RSVP by 5.00pm Wed. 25 August 2015 REGISTER here: Regional Workshop - How to Write Tenders LOCAL NETWORK MEETING DATES SUPPORTING YOU AND YOUR PROFESSIONALS: Hunter Networks & Events Ai Group Newcastle office has six member interest groups which meet either monthly or quarterly and are open to members to attend generally free of charge. Topics of interest identified by the membership are discussed. If you have an interest in joining the mail list for any of the Networks / Clusters, as listed on our local webpage: Australian Industry Group > Hunter let us know by sending an email to Judy.martin@aigroup.com.au July 29th Oct Hunter Manufacturing Innovation Cluster 5.00pm – venue University of Newcastle Hunter Industry Leaders Council Hunter Safety Leadership Network Hunter Skills Development Network Hunter Lean Manufacturing Network Hunter Employee Relations Network Hunter Manufacturing Innovation Cluster 5.15pm Newcastle office 8.30am-10.30am – Newcastle office 10.00am – 12noon – Newcastle office 8.30am – 10.30am – Varley Group site 8.00am-10.00am – Newcastle office 5.00pm – venue Newcastle Innovation Hunter Industry Leaders Council Hunter Manufacturing Innovation Cluster 5.15pm Newcastle office 5.00pm – venue tba Hunter Industry Leaders Council Hunter Manufacturing Innovation Cluster 5.15pm Newcastle office 5.00pm – venue tba August 4th August 11th August 19th August 21st August 26th August 27th August September 1st Sept 24th Sept October 6th Oct 29th Oct *************************************************************************************************** Ai Group Hunter’s Affiliated Organisations o o o o o o o o Hunter Research Foundation For future dates on HVRF Economic Breakfasts go to: http://hvrf.com.au/events Central Coast Manufacturing Connect HunterNet Hunter Manufacturing Awards NSW Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services MESCA - Mining and Energy Services Council of Australia Industry Capability Network Limited Industry Mid North Coast Ai Group office: Suite 1, 265 Wharf Road, Newcastle 2300 T: 02 4925 8300 F 02 4929 3429 W Ai Group Hunter Workplace Advice Hotline 1300 78 3844