Business opportunities and projects

Do you own, operate or want to start a business in Nillumbik but need some support in making decisions and add value to your business?

Well, we’re here to tell you that you don’t need to have it all together, or go at it alone – you’re not meant to and that’s why we are excited to launch our very first Nillumbik Women in Business Mentoring Program

When it comes to business, we understand that it can be exciting and scary and to help you start making moves we have created a mentoring program for women to gain the courage and knowledge to take their business to the next level.

About the Women in Business Mentoring Program

This is a business mentoring experience designed to support local women in business, gain confidence and business know how.

Through the program we will connect you with business mentors over a 6 week period where you will:

1. Learn techniques to stop feeling stuck or overwhelmed at the idea of beginning a new business, or growing your existing business.
2. Understand the ‘why’ behind the importance of having a business and marketing plan and we will help you get this completed.
3. Attend 3 virtual/phone mentoring sessions with a mentor who has been matched specifically for you!
4. Understand why financials, data and good bookkeeping is key to any thriving businesses success.
5. Shameless marketing and self-promotion.
6. Step outside of your comfort zone and turn that business dream into a reality!

As places are limited there are some expectations for participants are:

• Be available to participate in the 6 week program.(Sessions will be held weekly online and in person )
• Be mindful and respectful to other participants lived experiences and opinions.
• Adhere to the program’s Confidentiality and Disclosure Agreement, as well as treating information with sensitivity.

The purpose of this program is to empower you in all of your business decision making, help you form connections with other like-minded individuals and business owners, and celebrate your wins.

If this sounds like the program for you sign up here!

Expressions of Interest close 18th April. 

CRITERIA-MATRIX.docx(DOCX, 14KB)

Women-in-Business-Mentoring-Program-Privacy-Statement.docx(DOCX, 949KB)

The Nillumbik Pet Expo is the perfect opportunity for businesses and organisations to promote, display and sell products or services that demonstrate responsible pet ownership and activities relating to pets. We hope that exhibitors will showcase innovative and diverse products and services and will share our vision for the Pet Expo.

A limited number of stalls are available so avoid disappointment and submit your expression of interest application today.

Exhibitor selection and site allocation is at the discretion of Nillumbik Shire Council.

Site costs for this year’s expo will be as below:

• Non-profit organisation – Free
• Business/Food vendor - $30

To lodge your expression of interest, or for more information click here

Register - Vendor Panel

Interested Parties that intend to participate in the North East Link Project must register their organisations on the VendorPanel e-tender platform.

Information and Instructions on how to register for the new Service Providers on Vendor Panel can be found here 

The Victorian Small Business Commission have established some great new resources in regard to a suite of translated digital resources via their Languages web page.

The resources can explain how we can help small businesses who are in dispute with another business or government service, and what they need to know before they sign a retail lease.

For more information click here or contact communications@vsbc.vic.gov.au 

Link to organisations that offer grants and grant writing resource materials.  Includes grants open to businesses affected by COVID-19

Click Here

Advertise local jobs free of charge

Melbourne's North Joblink is a free service that is available to both businesses and residents in Melbourne's North. It seeks to connect businesses in Melbourne's North with the region's talent to make living, working and employing in Melbourne's North a reality. 
Jobseekers can register for the portal to be advised when local positions are advertised.

https://www.mnjoblink.com.au/

Council has recently re-engaged with one of Victoria’s official regional tourism boards, Yarra Ranges Tourism. Under the Victorian Tourism structure, Nillumbik is within the Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges region.

Our tourism team and Yarra Ranges Tourism work collaboratively to ensure the growth of our visitor economy.

The areas identified as tourism priorities in 2020/21 for Nillumbik include:

• Visitor services and information delivery inside and outside the region, including digital and print
• Integration and extension of the artisan hills brand messages in the wider Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges marketing program
• Development of specific trails promoting local visitor experiences and associated businesses
• Dedicated marketing campaigns and access to other opportunities offered by Visit Victoria
• Events and activities which promote our Shire as a place to visit
• Support of the development of market research activities and inclusion in any regional research
• Access to industry networking and development programs.

Council’s partnership with Yarra Ranges Tourism ensures our destinations, villages, attractions, events and public visitor experiences are effectively promoted.

The partnership also provides opportunities for specific Nillumbik businesses to be featured in the Yarra Ranges Tourism marketing programs including Yarra Valley Touring Map (PDF, 37MB).

Visit the Yarra Ranges Tourism website for more partnership opportunities and information.

If you would like to discuss other ways your business can get involved, contact business@nillumbik.vic.gov.au or call 03 9433 3128. 

Free listing - Promote your Tourism Business on visitvictoria.com and australia.com 

Have you claimed your FREE ADTW listing on the powerful Visit Victoria website?

Save yourself $295 and gain broader digital coverage.

Not sure if you already have a live ATDW listing? Search visitvictoria.com and if your tourism business isn't there, Click Here to claim your free coupon code. 

Partnership Opportunity with Off Peak Weddings 

It's a new era for weddings, especially with 2020 disrupting many couple’s plans, and the Off Peak Wedding provides a fresh and time appropriate approach for couples seeking different ways to get married. From the micro wedding or elopement to grand events of 150 people (and one day even more!), from the ever-growing LGBTQI weddings market to vow renewal and later in life/second time weddings, celebrations can be held any time of the day, any time of the year.   Nillumbik has the infrastructure, the fabulous food and wine and marvellous views, and the proximity to Melbourne that means ‘destination wedding’ without the travel. 
 
Expand your business and join top wedding venues, planners, photographers, transport services, caterers, accommodation providers and more, and become a partner with Off Peak Weddings

You will benefit from promotion in:

• Flagship seasonal digital magazine “Off Peak Weddings – getting hitched your way” with more than 5000 readers per annum
• Dedicated social media channels – Facebook and Instagram
• Dedicated website with online directory of services, and direct enquiry service to vendors at www.offpeakweddings.com.au
• Influencer program with regarded wedding commentators
• Integration with more than 60 (and growing) Off Peak Wedding vendors and suppliers in the region  

Plus opportunities to feature in magazine articles and blogs shared across the entire Yarra Ranges Tourism digital network.  We’re currently looking for feature stories that can highlight the beauty and range of weddings possible in the Nillumbik region – a dedicated story with photo opportunities can be arranged with sufficient partner interest.
 
More information here or email partnerships@yarrarangestourism.com.au

Download our Destination Management Plan.(PDF, 2MB)

Tourist signage plays an important role in providing direction to visitors to find attractions, services and facilities.

If you are interested in exploring the option of having tourism signage, we encourage you to read the VicRoads Tourism Signing Guidelines(PDF, 4MB) which explain the types of signs that are permitted and the criteria for each.

If you believe you meet the criteria, you will need to complete an Tourist Attraction Signing Application Form(PDF, 114KB) and return it to the Council’s Infrastructure team.

If you wish to discuss your eligibility or would like help completing the form, contact us on 03 9433 3783 or the Infrastructure team on 03 9433 3324.

For more information about other types of signage options available, click on the links below.

The Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW) is Australia’s national platform for digital tourism information.

It is jointly owned and managed by all Australian state/territory government tourism bodies.

With more than 40,000 listings, it is electronically accessible by tourism business', wholesalers, retailers and distributors for use in their websites and booking systems.

If you would like to create a free listing on the ATDW and have it appear on the following websites, visit ATDW:

•Visit Victoria

•Visit Yarra Valley

•The Visit Yarra Valley What's On weekly newsletter (sent directly to 45,000 people)

Businesses can also create a product listing for a small annual fee. For more information, see the FAQs(PDF, 254KB) and factsheet (PDF, 247KB).