Anne Webster (Mallee, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I recently had the pleasure of attending the launch of the Business Reimagined Series in Horsham, with the Deputy Prime Minister, Michael McCormack. The event was held at the Cattle Shed, one of Horsham's hidden gems. As the name suggests, it's an old cattle shed, which has been refurbished and is now perfect for large events looking for some rustic charm. We heard some great speakers, including Marc Sleeman, CEO of Grampians Tourism; Stuart Benjamin, chair of the Grampians branch of Regional Development Australia; and Andrea Cross of the Horsham Agricultural Society. There were also great stalls held in the old stables, by Amy Brooksby and her business, Cupcakerella; as well as Chris and Sam Spence from Norton Estate Wines; Peter Beasley from Elizabeth Anne by Hand; and Bart Turgoose from Skyography.

It was a great opportunity for business owners to connect and share innovative approaches to doing business and discuss challenges that they are facing as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Undoubtedly for many businesses in Horsham the key challenge is workforce. Many business owners are struggling to find the right people for the job. The good news is that many are accessing the boosting apprenticeships wage subsidy and the JobTrainer program provided by our government, measures that address workforce challenges for businesses in Horsham and throughout Mallee.

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