Broome businesses get a boost
The Shell-supported Kimberley Business Network is helping businesses grow and reach their potential. Discover how this bespoke program is supporting business owners, like Emma, navigate opportunities and challenges, and connect them with other local entrepreneurs.
A network helping Broome businesses to prosper
The Broome Chamber of Commerce and Industry was looking for ways to encourage local entrepreneurship and job growth. With Shell’s support, the Kimberley Business Network program came to fruition, employing business adviser Scott Ballem to coach and mentor new and growing local and Indigenous businesses in the region. “Whatever the Broome business community needs to help grow the economy of Broome, we act as the champion for them,” Scott said.
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Title: Broome businesses get a boost | The power of local community
Duration: 2 minutes and 53 seconds
Description:
The Shell-supported Kimberley Business Network is helping businesses grow and reach their potential. Discover how this bespoke program is supporting business owners, like Emma, navigate opportunities and challenges, and connect them with other local entrepreneurs.
Kimberley Business Network Transcript
(MUSIC PLAYS)
DESCRIPTION:
Waves lap at the shoreline of a remote beach, the horizon a mix of oranges and yellows and purples.
TEXT: Rubibi (Broome) Western Australia
A lone figure stands on a rocky shoreline as the sun rises.
Elsewhere, people gather at a low fence to watch the sunrise as two children run slowly past.
EMMA HAYNES:
Broome is a place that has natural beauty.
DESCRIPTION:
A woman turns to a man and laughs on the shore as the golden sun heads skyward above the glistening ocean beyond.
Elsewhere, a couple sit on the sand next to a parked four-wheel drive on a rock strewn beach.
SCOTT BALLEM:
It's the kind of place where people thrive on working together, being part of a community.
DESCRIPTION:
A camel train ambles along the flat sand of a beach as the glowing sun bathes the riders in light.
SCOTT BALEM:
Some of the innovative ways people have come up with business opportunities in the Kimberley is just amazing.
DESCRIPTION:
Inside an office room, a man, Scott, sits at a desk. He has short grey hair and wears a white business shirt that has ‘Broome Chamber’ monogrammed on the left breast.
TEXT: Scott Balem – Business Advisor, Kimberley Business Network
SCOTT BALEM:
Shell understands how they can contribute to helping business grow in the community.
DESCRIPTION:
Scott walks along a path alongside a white corrugated iron clad dwelling.
SCOTT BALEM:
The Kimberley Business Network has four key areas that we focus on.
DESCRIPTION:
Inside, a man stands at a laptop computer near some photovoltaic batteries and other electrical installations.
Later, he stands alongside a white ute that has the logo ‘DPS’ on the driver’s door. The man has a shaved head and wears a black polo shirt.
SCOTT BALEM:
To help businesses grow, to connect, to invest and inform. We act as the voice of the Broome community.
DESCRIPTION:
A young indigenous man stands and smiles near a stable of horses. He wears a black baseball cap and an orange-red collared shirt.
Elsewhere, a woman stands near some leafy trees. She has long black hair and wears a blue dress and pink dangly earrings.
Elsewhere again, a young woman stands on some green grass near two large trees. She has brown hair and wears a tan Akubra hat and pale blue shirt and jeans.
SCOTT BALEM:
Whatever the Broome community, the business community needs or is looking forward to help grow the economy of Broome, we act as the champion for them in that regard.
DESCRIPTION:
The young woman talks to a man with a moustache near a ute.
Outside, Scott opens a black folder and looks around thoughtfully.
SCOTT BALEM:
It's a service that is completely focused on the development of small businesses.
DESCRIPTION:
A woman, Emma, sits on the verandah of a white corrugated iron clad dwelling. She has long light-brown hair with blonde highlights and wears a red and pink floral patterned dress.
TEXT: Emma Haynes – Founder, Emma the Celebrant
EMMA HAYNES:
I started my marriage celebrant business close to six years ago now. I'm more about being light-hearted and fun and what makes me, me and what makes my business unique. I know my strengths and weaknesses and it's really important to outsource on things that's gonna make my life a whole lot easier.
DESCRIPTION:
Scott sits at a table in an office-like room making notes on a pad. HE gets up to greet Emma as she walks inside.
SCOTT BALLEM:
Hey Emma, how are you?
EMMA HAYNES:
Hey.
SCOTT BALLEM:
Good to see you. How's things?
EMMA HAYNES:
How you going?
SCOTT BALLEM:
Grab a seat.
EMMA HAYNES:
Yeah good.
DESCRIPTION:
Emma sits down opposite Scott at the table.
SCOTT BALLEM:
When somebody starts to run a business, they do it 'cause they're passionate about something and then all of a sudden there's industrial relation laws and HR laws and taxation and insurances and all these things that they wouldn't normally have had to deal with. And the goal is to try and be able to say, let's help you find a way to deal with all that so you can pursue what you got into this for. And it's at no cost to them. Shell have been really critical, they've provided the funding and support helping that person achieve what they want to achieve. OK. So, does your marketing plan work for you or?
DESCRIPTION:
Scott and Emma carry on their conversation at the table.
EMMA HAYNES:
100 percent.
DESCRIPTION:
Outside, Scott zips up his black folder near a large tree.
EMMA HAYNES:
You can kind of just get stuck in your own little road, so to speak. Scott is a person that you can voice your ideas and opinions to. It's really helped my business to grow.
DESCRIPTION:
Inside a dimly-lit office, Scott sits at a computer and sips from a white mug. His co-workers sit in a row beside him at other workstations.
SCOTT BALLEM:
We run a lot of events here at the chamber that are geared towards networking.
DESCRIPTION:
Emma stands in the sunshine and smiles.
EMMA HAYNES:
There's always some sort of workshop, coffee session in regards to financial management, record keeping and marketing in particular. It really does help. I'm happy with where I'm at, but now it's promoting other small businesses.
DESCRIPTION:
The camel train from earlier makes its way along a remote beach in the glow of the rising sun.
Scott walks down a street past retail shops and other businesses.
SCOTT BALLEM:
Not only are they looking at how they can grow their business, they're saying how can we utilise local resources too. Broome offers a broad range of opportunities and every time somebody in town is successful, there's a spinoff for everyone else. The community grows every time somebody here is successful.
(MUSIC PLAYS)
DESCRIPTION:
A couple swims in the small waves as the sun rises. The yellow and red Shell logo. White text below reads ‘The power of local community’.
(END OF RECORDING)
Taking a vow to navigate challenges together
When local marriage celebrant Emma Haynes wanted to grow her business, the Kimberley Business Network was there to support her. “There’s always some sort of workshop or coffee session in financial management, record keeping or marketing. It’s really helped my business to grow,” Emma said.
Scott knows that turning a passion like Emma’s into a business can come with enormous obstacles that the network is there to help navigate. “There’s industrial relation laws, HR laws, taxation and insurances – all these things they might not have any experience with. The goal is to try to say, let’s help you find a way to deal with all that so you can pursue what you got into this for. And it’s at no cost to them.”
359 businesses have benefitted from the program
Since the program started in January 2023, it has provided support to 359 businesses through coaching and workshops. So far, 19 new full-time equivalent jobs have been created through the participants business growth.
Regional economic development is a key area of investment for Shell. Our programs aim to grow local businesses, connect local businesses to new markets and welcome families.
