The Bundaberg Enterprise Centre
The Bundaberg Enterprise Centre (BEC) is a not-for-profit, charity registered organisation managed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Established in 1990, the BEC provides a number of services:
- Provides guidance and assistance to small businesses;
- Coordinates a mentoring program for small businesses;
- Runs training sessions to assist small businesses;
- Incubator for small businesses; and
- Hires out training facilities to other organisations.
Although not funded by any level of government, the BEC applies for funding to help deliver an improved level of service. Currently the BEC is delivering two projects to assist small businesses:
Mission Statement
Promote the creation and sustainable development of new employment opportunities by assisting and nurturing new business proposals. We will work collaboratively with other small organisations contributing to their business success and our communities’ economic growth.
Board of Directors
The BEC Board of Directors come from a range of successful businesses and oversee the
organsation's policies and strategy and support the Manager and staff to achieve organisational
goals.
The current Board of Directors are:
- Diane McEwan (Chairperson);
- Mike Dillon (Deputy Chair/Treasurer)
- Korin Jensen (Secretary)
- Rod Medew
- Phil Smith
History
Bundaberg Enterprise Centre (BEC) was established in 1990 in an old warehouse on the
banks of the Burnett River. The initial feasibility study (1989) was completed by the
Bundaberg Tourism Board (now Bundaberg North Burnett Tourism Board), and both the
Federal and State Governments contributed to the first and second stages of development.
After fourteen years in a renovated warehouse, Bundaberg BEC moved in July 2004 to newly
refurbished premises on the corner of Quay and Tantitha Streets in the Bundaberg CBD.
A grant from the Federal Government via the AusIndustry Incubator Program, allowed the
BEC to modernise yet another old building into a highly professional and busy office environment.
Since its inception, BEC has assisted over five thousand ventures employing some 7,500
people to become established and viable. This equates to 20 businesses a month and 31
jobs every month (on average) that are helped to start or mentored to success. These
ventures are situated right across the Wide Bay region, and it is estimated that they
contribute approximately $15 million to the regional economy each year.
BEC has strong community support with a volunteer Management Committee, and a register
of voluntary Mentors all of whom provide expert assistance to BEC clients when they
need that extra specialist help.
BEC currently houses 24 small business tenants that in turn employ over 60 people and
generate some $10 million into the local economy every year.
The Small Business Mentor Service run under the auspices of the BEC, mentors over
100 businesses a year from the Bundaberg region right down to the Sunshine Coast.
This service which is operated by volunteers, and saves the Queensland economy approximately
$8 million a year (conservative estimate).
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