Side hustlers encouraged to turn their ideas into viable businesses

A new small business incubator program is offering 15 Novocastrians the chance to take their business ideas to the next level. 

Delivered as part of City of Newcastle's NewSkills training program, the intensive 12-week Side Hustle Bootcamp will provide the burgeoning entrepreneurs with the opportunity to gain and develop their ideas into a viable business. 

Many well-known and loved local businesses started out as side hustles including Cocoa Nib, Savant Apothecary and Eat Your Water, going on to become much-loved brands locally and nationally. 

Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said investing in people sits at the heart of City of Newcastle's Economic Development Strategy and is key to economic growth. 

"Newcastle's economic future will be built on the talent, skills and ingenuity of our people," Cr Clausen said. 

"City of Newcastle sees the value of investing in micro-enterprise start-ups as a key part our city's economic development with over 40 per cent of employment in our economy generated from micro and small business enterprise. 

"Investment in training through our NewSkills program will provide tangible benefits to the wider Newcastle community, by encouraging residents to turn their side hustle business ideas into fledgling start-ups, whilst encouraging economic diversification.” 

The Side Hustle Bootcamp program delivered by City of Newcastle has been designed by small business experts. The program includes six group workshop sessions online and face to face to bring the side hustle ideas to life. 

Small business training expert Giovanna Lever said the objective is for participants to finish the program with the skills, tools and confidence needed to successfully take their ideas to market. 

"Small business is the backbone of the economy and thousands of Australian small businesses started as side hustles,” Ms Lever said. 

“Supporting these workshops will be a practical webinar, access to a curated national community of fellow side hustlers, tools to apply to your business idea and ongoing support throughout the program.” 

Cocoa Nib owner and entrepreneur Aymee Slaviero said her successful artisan chocolate brand started out as simply a passion for all things chocolate. 

“I’m a trained pastry chef and have worked for some of Australia’s most renowned restaurants, but as a cult-chocolate lover I knew chocolate was my calling, and now I own and operate two artisan chocolate retail stores in Newcastle and the Hunter,” Ms Slaviero said.  

"Anyone with an idea big or small should register their interest in this program to gain the skills and confidence needed to take their idea to the next level."  

Expressions of interest are now open, visit City of Newcastle's website to apply. 

City of Newcastle delivered a similar program under NewSkills in 2021. The highly successful Product Development Mentoring Program provided Newcastle businesses with training and mentoring to develop new tourism products, to help sustain and grow the city's visitor economy.