PASSION for social enterprise and entrepreneurial spirit is helping create jobs in the region.
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Karen Corr is helping lead the way with her small business, Make A Change Australia (MACA). It aims at helping people deliver on initiatives for social inclusion through business creation and sustainability with a focus on community, staff, customers and environment
Ms Corr’s work, along with other regional leaders in small business, is highlighted in this year’s Bendigo Small Business Festival.
Ms Corr is one of 10 small business operators chosen as the Faces of Small Business.
“Karen’s local business is an excellent example that represented good practice and corporate social responsibility,” said Peter Jeffery, business development manager at City of Greater Bendigo. Having her work acknowledged was an honour, Ms Corr said.
“It's great that Bendigo is represented in the festival - small businesses are a vital link to our communities,” she said. “And it is wonderful that MACA’s work in bringing small businesses and social enterprise together is making a difference in communities.
"Social enterprise can fill a gap that private enterprise cannot do because of potential perceived risk in running the business. We solve problems that are different in creative and innovative ways."
MACA works with businesses and local governments which want to engage more with their community. It encourages business development that will lead to on-job learning and, ultimately, ongoing employment.
Youth worker Shannon Ryan said MACA taught her how to run a business and offer disadvantaged youth training in hospitality. She completed a course on social enterprise and business then formed a partnership with Future Employment Opportunities to provide the formal training aspect to students.
Since February she has managed Sidetrack Canteen in which students spend one day a week learning practical customer skills, service and food presentation.
“The students are enrolled in a course where they do literacy and numeracy at class, spend two days in the kitchen at TAFE and then a day here,” Ms Ryan said. “It’s about giving them practical training while strengethning their connections in the community.”
Mr Jeffrey said the festival was vital to Bendigo’s economy as more than 7500 small businesses were registered within the region. It also highlighted business success stories, such as MACA.
“Of those 85 per cent have less than five staff, and half are sole traders,” he said.
“But it is interesting that the definition of small business varies in regions. For the state, it’s less than 20 staff, federally it is less than 200 and for regional Victoria it is less than five staff. So it is vital that we provide a forum for operators to learn vital skills and lessons from other operators.”
Ms Corr will miss the festival. She is travelling through northern Australia learning from other entrepreneurs to support changemakers.