Bizness Men program turns ideas into reality

A new business support program in Brisbane is supporting entrepreneurial men to turn their ideas into reality.

Bizness Men, a free and practical program for men who need training, mentoring and support to start a successful micro-business, has been working with 11 emerging entrepreneurs. The participants recently finished a series of 9 intensive workshops to get their business concept off the ground, receiving coaching and mentoring from experienced business owners on how to start and sustain a small, creative or social enterprise.

Workshops included ideas development, industry research, marketing, competitive analysis and financial literacy. Other sessions focused on leadership, time management and self development.

Jarred Wright who completed the program and is starting a laser cutting design business said, “Bizness Men has given me the confidence that my business can work. I knew there would be hurdles and the program has helped me break it down, giving it a clear structure and a time line for development.”

The program also offers 6 months post program support.

Project manager Levi Tamou stated, “having developed their business plans we are now at implementation stage and we are already seeing a lot of success.”

Bizness Men participant Michael Luke started Lukey Guitars a custom guitar design and manufacture business, and The Guitar Guy a mobile guitar school.

Michael, who is in the process of opening his own retail store in Red Hill, noted that “Bizness Men gave me the self belief and support to have a crack, it has inspired me to take my business to another level”.

The pilot program finishes in December and is supported by Brisbane City Council and the Wise Foundation.