Filipinos considering a new business or want to rebuild their business in this pandemic should check out the advisory services from the NSW government under the Digital Business Solutions (DBS) program.
Under the package, aspiring small business owners can avail of a half-an-hour initial consultation, three hours of digital advice and four hours of webinars to have a better digital presence. While offices are closed during the lockdown, the training and consultation services are also available through the Western Sydney Business Centre in Penrith, among other locations.
The package is free to access and there is only a small fee required for continuing services after that.
Award-winning entrepreneur Judith Viado, co-founder of Nutricraft Cookware, is one of the accredited advisers for the government program.
“If you have any questions at all about your own business, you’d be able to ask me about them during the free consultation,” she said.
Prior to COVID-19, Viado had built her heath and cookware operations, and was manufacturing high-grade cookware in the US to distribute globally. She also offered cooking demos at food festivals and healthy cooking lessons for clients.
But after the restrictions were announced early last year, Viado quickly pivoted her business model to move online, while working full-time in an IT role.
The Digital Business Solutions can offer assistance for small business related activities such as setting up an online platform, using social media and Google to generate business and cybersecurity.
“This is government-funded because the government wants to support small businesses. It might even open up more opportunities for them, like grants that they can be eligible for,” she said.
“I started in the same journey and now I’m providing the consultation. I also ended up getting a grant myself. Walang mawawala sa ating mga Pilipino if we want to take advantage of this free program, as well as other training courses available,” she said.
To sign up to the service, you can book directly with Judith on [email protected] or call her on 0452 204 900.
General information can be found on www.dbs.org.au.
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