A record crowd of local entrepreneurs gathered this morning (Friday) at Caboolture’s Revolution Espresso Lounge for Mark Ryan’s latest small business network coffee catch-up.

Held every second month, Mark Ryan’s Small Business Network events are designed to keep our local businesses up to date with the range of assistance and opportunities provided by the State Government, as well as presenting a great networking forum.

“I was over the moon to see such a packed house at Revolution for this coffee catch-up,” Mark Ryan said.

“And while we have our regular attendees, we also have a good crop of first-timers at each event.”

After going around the room to give each guest an opportunity to introduce themselves and their business, Mark took a moment to bring everyone up to speed on a couple of wonderful new State Government initiatives.

“People were very enthusiastic about the State Government’s new announcement of free apprenticeships and traineeships for under 21s,” he said.

“This program really is a game-changer, with businesses in line to save up to $3000 across 139 different apprentice and trainee courses.

“When you combine that with the opportunity to take up a back to work grant for employing a young person who’s been out of work for 12 months or more, that’s a very enticing package.

Mark Ryan’s next small business network coffee catch-up will take place on Wednesday 2 October at the Centenary Lakes Function Centre, with special guest Minister for Employment and Small Business Shannon Fentiman.

Photo above : L-R Blair Davies (Taxi Council), Noel Tracey (USC), Mark Ryan, Kylie Burford & Jill Knight (Spiders Boxing Gym)