In collaboration with local chambers and councils, she has been delivering a host of support workshops and one-on-one consultations subsidised by NSW Government’s Business Connect program.  

These workshops serve to upskill local business owners in their area and reduce the need to travel to regional centres, like Newcastle, to access experienced advisors and training.

And, she will be hosting three workshops in Singleton starting on October 25 with ‘Start Your Own Business’.

It will be held at Club Singleton from 10am to 12pm.

Then on November 15 at Singleton Diggers, Ms Milgate will present ‘Facebook Basics’ from 10.30am to 12pm.

Finally, on November 29 she will cover ‘Xero - Beyond the Basics’ back at Club Singleton from 10.30am.

Raised in the Upper Hunter, Ms Milgate has a firm footing in the region, having previously run her own hotel business in Wingen.

For six years she was the general manager of the Hunter Valley News and The Muswellbrook Chronicle which gave her a unique insight into the challenges businesses face in the region.

While completing her MBA through Newcastle University, most locals will recall her time as the business development officer at the SBC.

During her two year tenure, she not only moved the organisation forward but it also gave her the opportunity to meet key partners in the business community and develop an extensive network.

Ms Milgate says she has worked with small and medium businesses in the Hunter for most of her career and  understands how challenging and at the same time, incredibly rewarding it can be to run a small business. 

“A lot of the technology available to assist small business today didn’t exist when I had my business and I like to try to save other small business owners from the same headaches I experienced in my business by showing them how to save time and money by implementing programs like Xero, or boost sales through social media content or email marketing,” she says.

“According to recent findings from Hunter Research Foundation, forty percent of businesses in the Upper Hunter have no digital presence, and I am passionate about empowering small business owners by showing them easy and affordable ways to create a digital presence which will help build the profile of their business and linking them with other local providers who can also help them.”

“There are some very creative and innovative people in our region with some amazing ideas, I love working with The Business Centre clients, to see these business ideas become realities.”

If you’re thinking about starting a business, need support or just want to chat to an experienced business advisor, why not arrange an appointment with the experienced Upper Hunter business advisor, Ms Milgate.

For more information contact The Business Centre on (02) 4925 7700 or email info@businesscentre.com.au