The Member for Western Victoria, Jaala Pulford, said the Small Business Bus will visit Horsham, Hamilton, St Arnaud, Edenhope, Nhill, Kaniva, Coleraine and Casterton giving practical advice and support to local businesses.

“The Andrews Labor Government last year doubled its mobile support for small business, with a second Small Business Bus delivering valuable advice to towns and suburbs across Victoria,” Ms Pulford said.

The bus service provides advice from small business mentoring specialists skilled in marketing, finance, human resources and sales. These experts have extensive experience in operating a small business and in senior business management roles, offering free advice to local businesses.

In 2015 almost 1,500 small businesses accessed free on-board mentoring, while a further 5,800 received assistance from an information officer. This represents a 52 per cent increase on the previous year in the uptake of mentoring sessions and a rise of 93 per cent in the number of businesses engaging with the service.

 “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and these support services  play an important part in Labor’s commitment to providing Victorians with greater access to government help and driving ideas and growth within the community,” Ms Pulford said.

The Small Business Bus will be at the following locations;

·         Outside Whitehart Hotel, 55 Firebrace Street, Horsham from 10am to 4pm on Monday 6 June 2016.

·         Outside St Arnaud Town Hall, 32 Napier Street, St Arnaud from 10am to 4pm on Wednesday 8 June 2016.

·         Outside West Wimmera Shire Offices, 49 Elizabeth Street, Edenhope from 10am to 4pm on Tuesday 14 June 2016

·         Outside West Wimmera Shire Hall, 15 Baker Street, Kaniva from 10am to 4pm on Wednesday 15 June 2016.

·         In the central car park, opposite Home Hardware, 40 Victoria Street, Nhill from 10am to 4pm on Thursday 16 June 2016.

·         The Small Business Bus will be located outside the National Australia Bank, 131 Gray Street, Hamilton from 10am to 4pm on Monday 20 June 2016.

·         Opposite the IGA, 89 Whyte Street, Coleraine from 10am to 4pm on Tuesday 21 June 2016.

·         Outside Casterton Town Hall, 67 - 71 Henty Street, Casterton from 10am to 4pm on Wednesday 22 June 2016.

There are more than 532,000 small businesses in Victoria, representing over 97 per cent of the state’s businesses, and more than 28 per cent of those are based in regional areas.

Free mentoring sessions on board the bus are limited and bookings are essential. For more information or to book a session, visit business.vic.gov.au/sbb or call Small Business Victoria on 13 22 15.

Media inquiries : Craig Wilson 0428-525-909.