Ebrahim Namdar, Ausco Automation Engineering Services
WITHIN four years of moving from his home country, Ebrahim Namdar went from working in a factory to owning his own business.
The 47-year-old moved from Iran with his family to North Parramatta in 2004.
After working in a factory for two years, he took part in the Federal Government’s New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS), which has been set up to assist disadvantaged people to start their own business.
‘‘I was passionate about industrial machines and wanted to start my own service and maintenance business,’’ Mr Namdar said.
A business mentor was assigned to him when Mr Namdar started the course, to help him start his own business. ‘‘(The NEIS scheme) helped me to develop a business plan and gave me some income support for
the first year of operation ’’, read more
Business Advisory Services Success Story
John Coles, John Coles' Fly Fishing School
After many years in the advertising industry, John Coles thought that it was time to turn his passion for fly fishing into a business. He approached the Northern Sydney Business Advisory Service, who suggested that he undertake one of their Business Management Courses. The course proved to be an invaluable tool prior to him setting up the John Coles' Fly Fishing School, read more
Innovation Success Story
Brent Sanders, Back Off
A personal security professional, Brent Sanders did everything by the book to progress his invention a portable security device for women aptly named ‘Back Off’.
This included, at an early stage, completing the self-assessment questionnaire on the Ausinvent website to gauge the device’s likelihood of success. Brent then contacted the Sydney Innovation Advisory Service run by the Business Enterprise Centre Northside where facilitator Neil Davidson arranged for an expert technical assessment, which resulted in a number of specific recommendations, and referred him to a patent attorney for free advice. Read more
Dr David Wang, Speculum
Dr David Wang, a Registrar in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Royal North Shore Hospital, was keen to move forward with a new generation medical instrument he had developed.
Dr Wang approached the Sydney Innovation Advisory Service for support. He discussed options to commercialise his invention and was offered a subsidised Innovation Market Review of his invention.
The instrument a 4 Blades speculum Dr Wang developed is used in examination and treatment procedures, and offers many benefits, particularly for obese patients.Read more
Elizabeth Mulheron, Wrap Right Sleep Tight
The mother of three young sons, Elizabeth Mulheron knows how important it is to wrap a baby securely for a longer and better sleep. So when she found her own skills inadequate, she had the idea for Wrap Right Sleep Tight — a heart-shaped cotton wrap that makes getting baby ready for sleep a simple task.
“I tested the wrap on my youngest son and friends’ babies and went through a number of different versions before finalising the design,” says Elizabeth. “What I eventually came up with was a product that anyone can use, no matter how inexpert they are at wrapping.
“The next step was to make sure that I had the groundwork right in terms of patent and legal issues. The Business Advisory Service at Parramatta put me in touch with the Sydney Innovation Advisory Centre and I had a number of useful meetings with them. I’ve since had my international patent application approved.
“At present the Centre is helping me to examine manufacturing options as I would ideally like to get the price down.”
Elizabeth is selling Wrap Right Sleep Tight through her website www.wraprightsleeptight.com and promoting the product to private hospitals. It’s available in four sizes in a number of different fabric patterns.
Lisa Hayden, Flowers All Hours
Being made redundant turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Lisa Hayden. With support and advice from the Chatswood Innovation Advisory Centre, which is hosted by the Business Enterprise Centre (BEC) Northside, Lisa has turmed an innovative business idea into an award-winning business proposition, read more
