Mini week a maxi success

By South East Networks manager Sandra George and South East Melbourne Manufacturers’ Alliance executive officer Paul Dowling.
THE brainchild of the Business Development Centre (BDC), Showcasing Greater Dandenong, was held from 4 to 8 September and was the council’s inaugural Mini Business Week.
It particularly highlighted the diverse range of business support services both the BDC and others provide to the retail, commercial and industrial sectors, and more than 20 activities were held during the week.
Diversity was the highlight of the week, with activities from Little India Cultural Walking Tour to a well-known icon of Australian business, David Haymes from Haymes Paint, presenting at a dinner.
Other activities ranged from the Innovation Insights tours around manufacturing plants to residents touring and discovering ‘hidden secrets’ and the phenomenal growth of Greater Dandenong.
Women in business were also catered for with Young Manufacturer of the Year Prue Morgan and Jennifer Graham, CEO of Crabapple Cupcake Bakery, winning over their audience at a breakfast.
Closing this fantastic week was Lunch with the Winners, which put four local masters of manufacturing ‘on the couch’ to pass on their passion and incredible journeys to the audience.
What did this week achieve? It provided an opportunity to all sectors of our community to get to know what is happening in the region, to understand that it is a great place to do business and that Greater Dandenong is a ‘happening city’.
The Business Development Unit, South East Networks and SEMMA would like to express appreciation to the Dandenong Retail Traders’ Association, Link Employment and Training, BizPower, Innovation Insights, Noble Park Chamber of Commerce, Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce, Sri Lankan Flavours Cooking School, South East Development, Federal and Victorian Governments, the VFIHPC and Macpherson and Kelley Lawyers for their valued support.