Success stories
Joe Canciglia – What’s The Point Communications
The Federal Government’s New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) helps participants develop a formal business plan to get started and provides 12 months of mentoring by a business professional, all while still receiving Centrelink benefits.
Business Foundations CEO Phil Kemp says the benefits of taking part in the NEIS program are outstanding.
“It is great to see people who have often found themselves in difficult circumstances take up the support and training on offer and become their own boss.”
For Currambine resident Joe Canciglia the NEIS program represented an opportunity to set up his own enterprise after a lifetime of working for big telecommunications companies.
“About three years ago my wife passed away. I’ve got two small children, and I stopped working for a couple of years to focus on them,” said Mr Canciglia.
“Towards the end of that time I started taking up odd jobs here and there for friends – TV and computer points, that sort of thing, and some of them got on my back to go back to work.”
Mr Canciglia picked up a Business Foundations NEIS brochure at his local Centrelink office, and booked into an information session. He joined the NEIS program in March.
“I was always going to have my own business, but NEIS opened my eyes to a lot of issues I didn’t even know were there like marketing, building a business plan… it’s something that really gives you a head start so you hit the ground running,” he said.
Mr Canciglia has now started his own business, What’s The Point Communications. While he started working in the domestic market, demand for his services has seen him begin to expand into commercial work as well.
The training course covers elements including planning, legal requirements, marketing and finances, and is conducted by people with training and small business experience.
“It has really helped me, in that the training and support has meant that whatever I’ve planned for my business has turned out the way I wanted it to,” said Mr Canciglia.
“I’d definitely recommend it for people who may have a niche area or business idea they want to get up.”
» Read more about our NEIS services.
