IF you're in business in the Hawkesbury then don't miss the inaugural Hawkesbury Business Week (HBW), combining a trade show, networking events and more, kicking off on Monday, June 24.
Run by local mob Prismatic Events, with support from Hawkesbury Council, Hawkesbury Chamber of Commerce and Windsor Business Group, HBW will offer a week-long calendar of events to bring the local business community together.
Bowen Mountain's Stacy Jenkinson, general manager of Prismatic Events, said she didn't feel like there were enough opportunities for businesses to connect in our area.
"Over 50 per cent of businesses in the Hawkesbury are sole traders so they're on their own. I'm about to employ my first full time staff member [after 10 years] so I was part of that statistic. You lack the ability to have that discussion and it can get quite lonely," she said.
"I thought it was time to run an intensive week of events to really foster business and connection in our area."
She said a lot of businesses-owners were hiring businesses from Penrith, the Hills, Parramatta and Sydney for B2B work, when "we really should be starting with our own first".
"[HBW is] about fostering that connection that we're missing sometimes, and also looking in our own backyard," she said.
Ms Jenkinson planned to make HBW an annual event.
The theme for the week is Innovation and Inspiration, kicking-off with a networking breakfast at Richmond Golf Club on Monday.
Free cafe-based networking events will take place during the week at Kurrajong Feeding Frenze, Colo Riverside Cafe, Windsor Lime & Coconut, Pitt Town Vintage Pantry, The Bilpin Fruit Bowl and North Richmond Bakehouse.
The main event will be the Hawkesbury Conference at the Richmond School of Arts, featuring inspirational talks by a range of local business-leaders including Ben Britton of Wild Cat Conservation Centre at Wilberforce and Karen Lebsanft of Kurrajong Kitchen.
The School of Arts will also host two tradeshows showcasing Hawkesbury products and services - one for B2B and the other for consumers.
"We're really aiming the event at all levels of business, as well as anyone in the Hawkesbury thinking about starting a business - this is a great opportunity to come out and meet some locals and start your networking," said Ms Jenkinson.
"Even businesses that have been in the Hawkesbury for 30, 40 or 50 years or more, we have something to offer them, too."
Details and bookings at hawkesburybusinessweek.com.au and Hawkesbury Business Week on Facebook.