The breakfast focused on the role of the office of the NSW Small Business Commissioner, and the importance their presence is to businesses in our region.

Ms Hobbs informed the meeting that NSW is made up of over 700,000 small businesses which represent approximately 98 per cent of all NSW businesses.

This was a welcoming statistic, particularly with the high number of small businesses that we have in our region contributing to our economy.

Ms Hobbs spoke to guests about the Easy to do Business program introduced by the Office of NSW Small Business Commissioner which aims to cut red tape so small businesses have more time to focus on their companies rather than bureaucracy.

This was commended by Councillor Steve Ring who said he had raised the issue of red tape at Council’s first economic development committee meeting and the need to minimise it.

“I am very pleased to hear of the programs the Commissioner has in place and their willingness to share with and work with Lithgow Council,” Mr Ring said.

The well-received morning was another step in the right direction for the chamber which opened the breakfast to both members and non-members.

The gathering included local business owners, representatives from the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Lithgow Council’s Director of Economic Development and Environment Andrew Muir and Councillors Ring and Darryl Goodwin.

“We are also very proud to say that our membership increased by over 10 per cent with businesses joining up at the breakfast,” Chamber President Angela O’Connor said.

The Chamber thanked Robyn Hobbs and Kylie Bryden-Smith from the Office of the NSW Small Business Commissioner for attending,

The Switchback Restaurant (Zig Zag Motel) for a fantastic breakfast and venue, and all attendees to this morning’s event.