Surf Coast Business Collective

31/08/2026

Small Business Day in Winchelsea! 🚐 Wednesday 9 September, the Business Collective team is rolling into town to connect with
local business owners.

Three free ways to get support on the day:
📍 Social Media & Content
Marketing Workshop - Shire Hall, 9.30 am–12.30 pm.

📍 Small Business Bus – Shire Hall carpark, 10 am–4 pm. Book a free 45-minute session with a Business mentor.

📍Business collective team – Drop in to talk with Council’s Business Support officers about how Council can help you – Shire Hall, 8.30 am – 9.30 am.

Whether you're after a fresh set of eyes on your content strategy or one-on-one advice on where to take your business next, this is a great chance to get practical support, right in Winchelsea.

Spots are limited — head to our Business page → Better Business Skills to register.

24/08/2026

🔙 Flashback: SHED Talk – Sustainable Practices in Craft and Art

Last June, our Arts Development team brought together four local and visiting makers for a SHED Talk on sustainability in craft and art — a great reminder that Council's support for business isn't just economic, it's environmental too.

The panel featured makers turning waste into value:
🧵 Tamara Russell – textile art from hand stitching and mending
💎 Regina Middleton – jewellery made from marine debris
♻️ Bin Dixon-Ward – homewares crafted from reclaimed beach plastics
👗 Emily Rastas (Emipeli Design) – upcycled, wearable fashion

It's a trend we're seeing more of across the Surf Coast creative sector: repair, reuse and rethink as genuine business practice, not just a buzzword.

If you're an artist just starting out — or ready to turn your creative side hustle into a full-time gig — make sure you're following for workshops and updates, and check out our Better Business Skills sessions too. Everything's on our business-dedicated page.

🔗 Link in bio or www.surfcoast.vic.gov.au/Community/Businesses

23/08/2026

Worth Knowing 📌
Five small things, five minutes each — swipe through and see how many you can tick off this month.
A couple of these are easy to miss, so here's exactly where to find them:

🔗 Grant Finder - This tool helps you find funding!
It's on our Surf Coast Shire website. Head to the Grants page at https://www.surfcoast.vic.gov.au/Community/Grants

☕ Business Concierge - starting a business for the first time, or need permits from more than one Council department? Business Concierge is your one point of contact from start to finish - they'll help you identify what permits you need, connect you with the right people, and point you to relevant grants along the way. Link in our bio to submit your business proposal, or call 5261 0600.

🔗 Better Business Skills - Free Business workshops. Head to https://www.surfcoast.vic.gov.au/Community/Businesses/Better-Business-Skills-Workshops-Events

Save this post so you've got it handy when you're ready. Which one are you starting with? Let us know below 👇

20/08/2026

🌊 Surf Coast Shire — a great place to live, and an even better place to build a business.

We're home to almost 40,000 people (and growing at nearly 3.5% a year — one of the fastest growth rates of any regional municipality in Victoria). With 12,500+ local jobs and over 2.6 million visitors exploring our coastline each year, there's real opportunity here for businesses ready to grow alongside us.

From Torquay to Winchelsea, this is a community that backs its local businesses.

🔗 Looking to start or grow yours? Search Better Business Skills on our website — link in bio.

20/08/2026

🎯 Ready to grow, but not sure what's next?

Join us for The Turning Point: Finding Your Path to Growth — a free half-day workshop for established Surf Coast businesses ready to unlock their next stage of growth.

You'll walk away with:
✅ A clearer vision for your next phase of growth
✅ Practical insights into what's really driving (or blocking) your progress
✅ Actionable ideas you can apply straight away

📅 Thursday 3 September | 9:00am – 12:30pm
📍 Surf Coast Shire Council, 1 Merrijig Drive, Torquay
☕ Light refreshments + networking to follow

Presented by Adrian Jobson as part of the Better Business Skills program.

Free, but registrations are essential — spots are limited.

👉 Register now: https://events.humanitix.com/the-turning-point

Looking for more workshops like this? Search Better Business Skills on our website — link in bio!

17/08/2026

Growth Tip: If you can't name the one thing holding your business back, that's usually the first thing to fix.

Most owners can list ten ideas for growth — but struggle to pin down what's actually in the way.

We've got a free workshop coming for Surf Coast businesses ready to find that clarity.

Save the date Thu, 3 Sep, 9am - 12:30pm. More details to come.

31/07/2026

Next Wednesday, there are Geelong Small Business Festival Events right here in Torquay 👇🏼check the link below for details. Great way to pick up some tips and get into some networking 🙂

10/07/2026

📣 The July edition of the Surf Coast Business Collective newsletter is now live

This month we're focusing on helping businesses stay strong through winter, with practical support, local opportunities and upcoming events.

Inside you'll find: ✅ Cash flow and business growth workshops
✅ Winter trading insights
✅ Networking opportunities
✅ Grants and business support programs
✅ Arts Trail opportunities for local businesses

Take a few minutes to explore what's available and see what could benefit your business.

🔗 Read the newsletter: https://createsend.com/t/d-65290626B37E18122540EF23F30FEDED

16/06/2026

Tomorrow morning! Limited spots remaining - register your spot now

Is AI overhyped or is it a genuine step change to the way we do business and live our lives? 🤖

AI is everywhere — but for most small and medium businesses, the real question isn’t “What is AI?” It’s what’s actually useful, safe, and worth doing next.

Join Matt Cowdell from Arthur St Digital for a practical session designed specifically for SMEs, cutting through the hype to explore real-world AI opportunities, risks, and next steps.
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📆 Wednesday 17th June 2026
⏰ 7:30am - 9am
📍 Surf Coast Shire Council
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🎫 Secure your place now >> https://thq.fyi/se/cJRcIys
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Commerce Torquay is proudly supported by Surf Coast Times

27/05/2026

Looking forward to hosting this workshop next Tuesday at the The Sands Torquay Resort with some amazing marketing experts ready to help you connect and convert with confidence. Places are filling fast, don't miss out 📢

Practical workshop designed to help small business owners get clear on their marketing and communicate with confidence.