Free workshops boosting confidence of local business owners

Nimai Orwin believes Council’s Better Business Skills workshops are an invaluable opportunity for local business owners to expand their knowledge.

The independent building inspector has attended multiple workshops since launching BuildTech Inspections six months ago.

The next one in his calendar is No Code AI Tools for Businesses on 13 November which will share how artificial intelligence can make your business more efficient, without needing a tech background.

Nimai encouraged fellow local business owners to participate in the free Better Business Skills workshops.

“I know the construction industry back-to-front but it was other areas that I needed some support with and that’s where the workshops have helped me,” he said.

“They’re short, sharp sessions that give you a great starting point. I’ve gained a wealth of knowledge and have a better understanding on topics such as legal requirements, social media marketing and Google optimisation.

“It’s also a good opportunity to network and meet some other local business owners in a similar position to me, and to bounce ideas off each other.”

Council launched the Better Business Skills program in response to the Business Insights Survey 2024, with many respondents sharing they wanted to improve their skills through training opportunities.

Sessions so far have included Ask a Lawyer, Building Your Google Presence, Effective Social Media, and Canva and Content Creation.

“Council staff have been amazing to deal with and the trainers and facilitators who run the workshops are highly skilled and professional,” said Nimai, who is excited to have his business up-and-running after being in the pipeline for five years.

“I’ve been in the construction industry for close to 27 years and had the idea to start my own business, to support people buying or selling property or building a new home.

“I want to help people to understand what they’re buying and to experience quality builds.”

Learn more about the various Business Support initiatives that Council offers.