Young Arden & Stone entrepreneur Hayley Stuart takes out Launch Pad pitch at Kempsey

NAMBUCCA Valley’s Hayley Stuart won the best business pitch in Round 2 of the regional Launch Pad Youth Entrepreneur program.

With help from her sister Lily Crease, Stuart set up Arden & Stone, an events and hospitality business based at Eungai Creek Buffalo Farm.

She took part in the 10-week Launch Pad Youth Entrepreneur program, run by Julie Humphris of Business Life Guide. The program included free workshops outlining budgeting, workplace health and safety, marketing, and using social media.

Stuart said learning those business fundamentals helped boost her confidence.

“We’ve started doing Friday evening meals at the Eungai Creek Buffalo Farm now and expanded the farm’s offering with a new bar and cocktails/mocktails menu,” she said.

“We also hope to run regular live music and events to attract visitors and locals to Eungai Creek.

“The program helped us to learn what our unique offering and brand is – and how to capitalise on it.”

Stuart also received a $250 voucher for her effort.

Nambucca Mayor Gary Lee attended the Launch Pad’s business pitch event at the Country Universities Centre’s Macleay Valley office in Kempsey last week.

“Our valley has so many impressive young people,” he said.

“When our community worked together on the Nambucca Valley Community Strategic Plan 2035, the priority emerged for Council to do what it could to support young people to thrive.

“It is challenging for a young person wanting to start a business today, so our Council has supported the Launch Pad Youth Entrepreneur program over two rounds, as well as delivering other youth-focussed activities.”

Humphris said the young entrepreneurs were now confident and well-skilled, and ready to launch or grow their businesses, helping to strengthen local economies over time.

Round 2 of the program was delivered in partnership with many project sponsors including Nambucca Valley Council, Kempsey Shire Council, Port Macquarie Hastings Council, Macleay Valley Business Chamber, Country Universities Centre Macleay Valley, Kempsey West Rotary, Regional Finance Solutions, Learning the Macleay, and Local Jobs MNC.