BEC OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES

The Business Enterprise Centre (BEC) offers FREE Assistance and support to new and existing businesses through the following services: Free practical business assistance Referral to specialist advisers Assistance through the maze of government departments and regulations Business workshops Business information Problem solving The objectives of the BEC are to assist ‘start up’ and ‘emerging businesses’ with direct ‘hands-on’ business experience and expertise. The success of individual business in achieving growth and sustainability will contribute directly to economic growth, employment and lifestyle opportunities for Western Australians. Recent studies show despite only being used by just 10% of small business, the BEC network makes a significant contribution to the success of small business in Western Australia and to economic development of the State. BEC clients are seen to grow at twice the rate of other small businesses and over half of those clients who were already established in business before contact with the BEC state that their local BEC contributed directly to their successful expansion or long term viability. The direct benefit to the WA business community is estimated at between $21m and $42m annually which are 6 and 12 times greater than the total cost of supporting the BEC network throughout the state.

BUSINESS OUTCOMES ACHIEVED

The BEC works with a wide range of clients from start-up businesses that are home based, to established businesses that turn over more than $2,000,000 per annum and employ more than 25 staff. At all levels our endeavour is the same. That is to assist in ensuring a business has the capacity to be sustainable in the longer term, profitable for the owners and maintaining employment for the employees. We have been very successful in business turn around situations guiding businesses from trading losses to profitability, improving profit margins and adding value to good performing businesses. In a number of situations if the BEC had been involved from the beginning, disappointing outcomes could have been avoided. It is very difficult and often expensive to undo some ill-considered decisions made at start-up or acquisition of an existing business.