Glenn Hutchinson - champion and advocate for Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs - because there's nothing 'small' about small business
Collectively, Small Business is the creator of wealth, jobs and sense of community and this standing must be recognised, encouraged and rewarded.
WHO AM I?
My background is varied ranging from Bank Manager - in the days that the local bank managers had really strong relationships with their customers - through to a general management career in waste management, labour hire and contracting.
Throughout my whole working career, my customers have been almost entirely small business owners and that is where my passion for helping, guiding and supporting the small business owner springs from.
I feel well placed to understand the needs of small business and am always looking for opportunities to advocate on their behalf.
SMALL BUSINESS ISSUES
For the past 7 years I have been at the ‘cutting edge’ or perhaps I should say more accurately ‘the bleeding edge’ of small business as a Small Business Owner. I quickly came to realise that the issues that have plagued the growth of small business are not going away, in fact they are getting worse.
Employment
People in this state and beyond are concerned and confused with our regressive employment laws, making it hugely difficult to employ people in their businesses without taking enormous personal and financial risks.
One important thing for business owners need to understand is that the moment you employ just one person, your business status changes.
Your business that you have grown, nurtured and suddenly becomes 'somebody else's workplace' and that takes your business to a whole new place.
It is necessary to fully understand the collective impact of federal and state jurisdictions have on small business employers. Unfortunately, most small business owners - once they become employers - 'don't know what they don't know' and this lack of knowledge can have a devastating impact on their business if they get it wrong.
Red Tape
There is no doubt that small business owners are increasingly seeing their success and growth opportunities being impeded by the regulatory environment they face. It does seem that the odds are stacked against them and the personal and financial risks they take in running their business are becoming just too onerous for some.
It doesn’t have to be this hard, the issues just need to have some good old fashioned common sense applied, but the problem is ‘common sense isn’t all that common’ certainly not in the corridors of parliament it seems”.
For many years now, I have witnessed and been involved in the struggles small businesses face when dealing with bureaucrats whether they be representatives of the Fair Work Ombudsman, the ATO, government agencies or local government.
It is necessary to fully understand the collective impact of federal, state and local regulations (red tape) have on small businesses in order to clear the path for free enterprise to operate.
Engine Room
Small businesses are at the heart of Australia’s economy. In fact they are often referred to as 'the engine room of the economy'.
They are the main element driving economic growth and energy while creating employment opportunities through their growth and innovation. But they are often the first in the economy to feel the effects of slow growth or bad policy-making by out-of-touch governments.
WHERE DO I COME IN?
Whatever difference I can make to the struggling small business owner in providing clarity around the issues they are facing, I am happy to do so.
Whatever influence I am able to impart on this necessary work, I am equally ready to be a part of.
If you find yourself grappling with an issue effecting your small business and you would like some help with or just someone to discuss it with, give me a call or email me.
I offer advocacy to the small business owner - those with skin in the game! Don't expect an invoice, I like to be able to 'give-back' to the small business community and this is how I do it.
VISION:
To encourage and support free enterprise throughout Australia by identifying and negating the adverse and disproportionate impact government red tape and regulation is having on small business
ISSUES:
Government red tape, unnecessary regulatory burdens on small business, unworkable industrial relations environment, high level of net migration and the impact on opportunities for Australian workers and a general lack of support for the entrepreneurs existing and future
VALUES:
Free enterprise, small government, reward for effort and risk, full employment and a strong sense of community
