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MPB Bulletin: July 2026, Small Business Festival starts in two weeks

29 July 2026

This August, discover a month of workshops, talks and networking to give you great new skills and make useful connections. But don’t leave it until the last minute as places are filling up.

From business fundamentals to marketing, finance, and risk and resilience, you are sure to find something to help you grow your business.

Check out the sessions below or jump straight to the full program to book your spot.

See the full program of events

Business fundamentals

B.I.T.E Conference
5 AUG: The B.I.T.E Conference brings world-class speakers and bold ideas to the Mornington Peninsula, with conversations that challenge your thinking and connections that drive real business growth. BOOK NOW

PBN Speed Dating Networking
12 AUG: Make meaningful local connections fast through structured speed networking, meet a range of businesses, and open the door to collaboration and referrals. BOOK NOW

AI for Tourism 101
13 AUG: Move beyond trial and error with AI, identify opportunities to improve your digital visibility, and create practical marketing systems you can implement straight away. BOOK NOW

AI for Small Business: Where to Start and How to Save Time
19 AUG: Build a clear understanding of AI, learn how it can support your business, and gain practical ideas to start using it safely and effectively. BOOK NOW

Marketing

Stand Out in an AI World: Clarify your Story to Better Connect with your Customers
6 AUG: Clarify your message, learn how to turn your experience into powerful stories, and confidently communicate your value across your marketing and customer conversations.  BOOK NOW 2-for-1 tickets available for this session

Strategic Marketing for Business Growth
11 AUG: Reset your marketing approach, focus on what matters most, and build a clear, practical plan aligned to your business goals and growth. BOOK NOW 2-for-1 tickets available for this session

2026 Facebook and Instagram Content Playbook
12 AUG: Take the guesswork out of social media with a clear content plan, proven posting approach, and practical tools to create consistent, high-impact Facebook and Instagram content. BOOK NOW

Get More Marketing for Less
14 AUG: Cut through the noise, focus your marketing efforts, and build a clear, practical plan to get better results from what you’re already doing. BOOK NOW 2-for-1 tickets available for this session

Social Media Reels
18 AUG: Learn how Reels work across major platforms, create engaging short-form video content, and build a repeatable strategy to increase reach, engagement and enquiries. BOOK NOW

Social Media Stories
26 AUG: Create Stories that build connection and trust, learn practical techniques to boost engagement, and develop a content strategy across Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. BOOK NOW

Finance

Lunch and Learn Webinar: Solar and Batteries for Businesses
10 AUG: Explore available rebates, understand the potential savings of solar and battery systems, and learn practical steps to assess options for your business. BOOK NOW

Understanding Business Finance: What Banks Look for and How to Prepare
17 AUG: Understand how lenders assess your business, learn what banks look for in finance applications, and take practical steps to become bank-ready with confidence. BOOK NOW

Business Reset and Profit Focus
17 AUG: Step back from the day-to-day, identify profit opportunities, and create a clear, practical plan to improve performance and guide your next 90 days. BOOK NOW

Lunch and Learn Webinar: Electrifying Local Businesses
24 AUG: Understand how electric alternatives compare to gas, explore available rebates and subsidies, and learn practical ways to reduce energy costs and improve efficiency. BOOK NOW

Understanding Your Profit and Loss, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow to Make Better Business Decisions
25 AUG: Build confidence understanding your financial reports, identify key financial indicators, and use your numbers to make informed business decisions. BOOK NOW

Get Finance-Ready: How to Position your Business so Banks Say Yes
31 AUG: Gain insight into how lending decisions are made, understand the financial metrics that matter most, and learn how to present your business for finance with confidence. BOOK NOW

Risk and reslience

Rising Insurance Costs: How to Protect Your Small Business
24 AUG: Get clear on the insurance your business needs, understand your risks, and take control with practical strategies to manage rising premiums and review your cover with confidence. BOOK NOW

HR Compliance Made Simple: What Every Business Owner Needs to Know
28 AUG: Get clear on HR compliance, manage staff with confidence, and reduce risk with practical guidance on wages, contracts, and handling performance and termination. BOOK NOW

 

Read the full newsletter here

Small Business Festival

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