Bega Valley Business

02/09/2026

💡 BUSINESS TIP THURSDAY
A few opportunities worth knowing about this week

Running a small business is busy enough without having to hunt through government websites to find out what support is available. Here are three useful updates for Bega Valley businesses this week.

🔐 Practical tip: switch on multi-factor authentication. The Australian Signals Directorate is encouraging businesses to use MFA on email, banking and social media accounts. In 2024–25, 42% of reported cyber incidents across industry, government and critical infrastructure involved compromised accounts or credentials.
Find out how to set up MFA⁠ - https://www.cyber.gov.au/about-us/view-all-content/news/multi-factor-authentication-switch-it-on

💼 Need some help with your business? The Service NSW Business Bureau provides free, ongoing one-on-one support, including help finding grants, navigating licences and permits, accessing government programs and exploring opportunities to sell to government or expand your business.
Access Service NSW Business Support⁠ - https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/business/business-support

💰 New funding opportunity: The NSW Net Zero Planning Grant – Round 2 opened on 1 September 2026. Eligible NSW businesses can apply for up to $25,000, covering up to 50% of eligible costs, to develop a practical net-zero plan, identify cost-saving opportunities and improve business resilience. Applications close 30 November 2026, or earlier if funding is exhausted.
Check eligibility for the Net Zero Planning Grant⁠ - https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/net-zero-planning-grant-round-2

And one more worth a look: from 1 September, eligible NSW businesses can access new upfront discounts of around 20–40% on commercial battery installations through accredited suppliers. That could be particularly relevant to regional businesses facing high power costs.
Learn about the new business battery discounts⁠ - https://www.energy.nsw.gov.au/news/new-battery-discounts-give-businesses-cheaper-power

At Bega Valley Business, we’ll keep doing the searching and sharing opportunities that could make a difference to businesses across our region.

01/09/2026

BEGA VALLEY BUSINESS PUBLIC MEETING – COBARGO

📅 Monday 21 September 2026
📍 Cobargo Hotel, Cobargo
⏰ 5:30pm for a 6:00pm start

Join us in Cobargo for our next Bega Valley Business Public Meeting, exploring Living and Working in the Bega Valley.

We’ll hear from:

🔹 Shelene Bailey – Bega Data Collective
Introducing Living Well in the Bega Valley, a new community-led wellbeing framework.

🔹 Gemma Edwards – Bega Circular Valley
Sharing the Regional Circularity Baselining Project and what it can tell us about circularity across the Bega Valley.

🔹 Robert Sprinks – Canberra Regional Joint Organisation
Discussing support available to help food businesses reduce food waste through training and local champions.

We’ll also hear updates from our local Chambers, our media partner The Fold, and Bega Valley Business, including the latest on the Bega Valley Business Expo coming up on 22 October.

🤝 Networking will follow the meeting from approximately 7:30pm.

Everyone is welcome – members, local businesses and community organisations.

👉 RSVP via our Facebook Event Page.

30/08/2026

27/08/2026

📣 NEW MEDIA PARTNERSHIP - Helping Bega Valley Businesses Shine

We’re excited to welcome The Fold - Sapphire Coast as a new Media Partner of Bega Valley Business!

The Fold is a local digital lifestyle publication celebrating the people, places and businesses that make our region such a special place to live, work and visit. Through local storytelling, they connect businesses with the community and showcase what’s on offer across the Sapphire Coast.

As part of the partnership, Bega Valley Business members can access:

⭐ 12-month Featured Business Listing for just $100 (normally $150)

⭐ 10% off The Fold’s Local Area Marketing campaign packages

It’s a great opportunity to strengthen your online presence, share your story and connect with locals and visitors through trusted regional content.

👉 Learn more about The Fold and the opportunities available to Bega Valley Business members in their introductory media kit:
https://canva.link/hekps5gjen9h7um

Check out this Presentation (4:3) designed by The Fold Media.

20/08/2026

Business Tip Thursday: Give your business a 5-minute cyber check

This week’s tip is simple: check the basics before they become an expensive problem.

Take the free Cyber Health Check⁠

The Australian Cyber Security Centre recommends three practical starting points for small businesses: turn on multi-factor authentication, keep software updated and regularly back up important information.

Even better, there’s a free Cyber Health Check designed specifically for individuals, small businesses and not-for-profits. It takes less than five minutes, is anonymous, and gives you an indication of where your cyber security could be improved.

https://www.cyber.gov.au/cyberhealthcheck

Need some business support too?
The Service NSW Business Bureau offers free, one-on-one support to NSW businesses, including help navigating government programs, licences and permits, government procurement and opportunities to grow.

And don’t forget to check what’s available to your business. Service NSW’s grants and funding page brings together NSW and Australian Government grants, rebates, vouchers and other financial assistance, including funding finder tools.

https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/business/business-support

A few minutes spent checking what support is available, or tightening up your digital security, could save your business time and money later.

Bega Valley Business. Supporting local businesses with practical information, resources and opportunities.

This free tool helps you to do a basic cyber security assessment.It is for individuals, small businesses and not-for-profits who want to improve their cyber security but aren’t sure what to do.It will take less than 5 minutes to complete and your assessment is anonymous.

16/08/2026

Business owners. There is free help available from Service NSW Business Bureau. Click on the link to book a call or access support.

service.nsw.gov.au/business​

12/08/2026

📱 Don’t know where to start with social media? Here’s a great guide for local businesses.

The team at Sapphire Coast has put together a practical new Social Media Toolkit, covering everything from Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to Reels, hashtags and the growing importance of AI search.

A few useful takeaways:

👉 Think beyond hashtags. Search engines and social platforms are increasingly looking at the actual words in your captions, videos, profile and location tags.

👉 Say where you are and what you do. Include your town, region, product or experience and useful information customers may actually be searching for.

👉 Video doesn’t need to be perfect. Simple, authentic phone footage can work well — particularly behind-the-scenes moments, quick tips and real people.

👉 Use social media to inspire, inform, prove and convert. Not every post needs to sell something. Show your business, answer questions, share customer experiences and then make the next step easy.

👉 Use AI as a tool, not your voice. It can help with captions, ideas and planning, but always add your own local knowledge and check that the information is accurate.

If social media has been sitting in the “too hard” basket, this is a very useful place to start.

🔗 Read the Sapphire Coast Social Media Toolkit here:
https://irp.cdn-website.com/96550d93/files/uploaded/Social+Media+Toolkit+2026.pdf-e2acffe2.pdf

06/08/2026

💡 Business Tip Thursday

Running a business means wearing a lot of hats, so each fortnight we’ll share practical tips, tools and resources that can help you stay informed and ahead of the game.

This week’s tips:

FOGO is coming
If your business prepares or sells food, now is a good time to understand the NSW Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) reforms and when they may apply to your business. Planning ahead now could make the transition much easier.
👉 NSW EPA – FOGO for Business
https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/Your-environment/Recycling-and-reuse/business-government-recycling/Food-organics-and-garden-organics/fogo-mandates-and-rollout

Need business advice?
Did you know eligible NSW businesses can access free, independent business support through the NSW Business Bureau? Whether you’re planning for growth, navigating challenges or looking at grants, there’s help available.
👉 Service NSW Business Support
https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/business/business-support

Looking for funding?
New grants and funding opportunities open throughout the year. The NSW Grants Finder is a great place to check what’s currently available for your business.
👉 Service NSW Grants Finder
https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding

At Bega Valley Business, we’re committed to connecting our business community with practical information, useful resources and opportunities to help your business thrive.

Is there a business topic you’d like us to cover in a future Business Tip Thursday? Let us know in the comments!

The Service NSW Business Bureau is here to help businesses with guidance and support to make their business journey easier.

14/07/2026

Reminder for Bega Valley hospitality businesses!

From 1 July 2026, NSW’s new country of origin seafood labelling laws are now in effect, meaning restaurants, cafés, pubs, clubs, takeaways, food trucks and other hospitality venues must clearly identify whether the seafood they serve is:

🇦🇺 A – Australian
🌏 I – Imported
🔄 M – Mixed (Australian and imported seafood)

These simple changes help customers make informed choices, support Australia’s seafood industry and build trust with your business.

If your business serves seafood, now is the time to ensure your menus and signage are compliant.