This Week in the Market – 22 September 2020
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| In this week’s Market News: – Last chance to take advantage of scholarship – Pick up your free point of sale material – Helping farmers get workers this season – register your needs Market News Latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) information While there is much in Victoria to be hopeful about, with the number of new coronavirus cases trending downward each day, we must still be vigilant in following COVID rules. Ensure you are wearing your mask correctly, it should be fitted over your nose and mouth at all times. Wearing a face covering is the law. MRO’s continue issuing warnings and suspensions for those people not complying with correct mask-wearing.  Detailed information regarding the impacts of COVID on Market operations can be found on our website at www.melbournemarket.com.au/melbourne-market-coronavirus-covid-19-response/. Last chance to sign up for Certificate III in Greengrocery  If you’ve been thinking about enrolling yourself, or your staff, into the Certificate III in Greengrocery, make sure to apply today, as this week is your last chance to take advantage of the MMA scholarship program. Currently, the MMA is offering scholarships for those wishing to undertake the course, with five full-tuition scholarships (to the value of $1450 each) and ten partial-tuition scholarships (to the value of $725 each) up for grabs. Applications for the scholarship program close this week on 25 September, so make sure you apply today! If you still have questions about the course, or want to find out more, you can download a course flyer, or feel free to drop us a line at greengrocery@melbournemarket.com.au where we will be happy to answer any questions you have via phone or email. Click here to apply for a scholarship now. Why upskill with a qualification?  Did you know the average Australian will hold ten jobs before the age of 40? We live in a society that increasingly values the professional and personal development of our careers. Upskilling, by enrolling in training courses, can provide many benefits as an employee, it can: Open doors to new work opportunities Increase the depth of skills and expertise Add to your salary bargaining power Help startup your own business Increase your digital literacy skills Benefit to employers If you’re an employer, now is the time to train up your team on us. Take advantage of the MMA’s scholarship program and make sure you have a workforce that is a cut above the rest. Click here for full course info CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW Flower Market trolleys  For greengrocers, and other retailers who purchase fresh flowers, trolleys are now available for use, free of charge, in the Flower Market. However, we ask that you return the trolley to the bay where you collected it from in the Flower Market, after use. Previously these trolleys were owned by Green Machine and available for hire, the MMA has purchased the trolleys to be able to offer for complimentary use. Each trolley has a unique identification number, and failure to return the trolleys after use may incur a fee for collection.  Collect your free point-of-sale pack today! Free ‘Spring Fresh’ campaign material is now available for A better choice! retailers. Your merchandise pack includes: – Posters (A3 and A4) – Basket liners – Back of house posters (to inform your staff) – Recipe cards (3 delicious recipes) – Wobblers You can collect your point-of-sale pack from three convenient locations in the market: – Art & Style (shop 78A, Buyers Walk) – Customer Service Centre – Gate 1 security office ‘Spring Fresh’ promotes a shopping occasion that places the community at heart and ‘shop local’ at the forefront. The campaign is centralised around showing people’s support of shopping local and aims to drive brand recognition of ‘A better choice!’ whilst increasing foot traffic into independent retail stores. The campaign started this week, so look out for the ‘Spring Fresh’ message on radio and social media.  A Better Choice feedback Do you have feedback or questions about the A Better Choice program? We’d love to hear from you, send an email to abetterchoice@melbournemarket.com.au. Helping farmers get workers this season – register your needs  The Victorian Government has announced targeted funding to attract seasonal workers to regional Victoria and ensure farmers have the hands-on-deck they need to get produce to plate. Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes announced on Thursday a $17 million package to help address seasonal workforce shortages brought on by the coronavirus pandemic and reiterated the call for farmers to register their workforce needs on the Working for Victoria platform to be matched with eager jobseekers. The package includes more than $6 million to boost the supply of COVIDSafe accommodation for seasonal workers, including working with councils and local accommodation providers like motels and caravan parks to explore accommodation options for regional seasonal workers. To help connect workers to jobs as quickly as possible, the Government will also employ new Seasonal Workforce Coordinators who, along with new Engagement Officers, will link local industry groups, employers, labour hire agencies, local government and other stakeholders. Farmers and agribusinesses will be further supported with $10 million from the Agriculture Workforce Plan to extend the Business Adaptation Grants – helping workplaces meet health and safety requirements and adapt to distancing changes imposed by the pandemic, with grants of up to $300,000. If you want to find out more, Melbourne’s North Food Group and Resilient Services are hosting a free online webinar to provide an overview of the Agriculture Workforce Plan. Click here to register for the webinar. Alternatively, to register your needs for the Agriculture Workforce Plan, go to agriculture.vic.gov.au/agworkforceplan. Customer Reference when paying by direct debitTo ensure any payment you make by direct debit is reflected on your account promptly, please make sure you use your business name or customer number as the bank reference. Some payments are being made with the reference written as ‘stand fees’, ‘deposit’, or similar. When this occurs, it increases the time it takes for your account to be up to date, as the finance team do not know who to attribute the payment to. The Victorian Government, with the Commonwealth Government, is directly responding to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic by fully funding Infection Control skill sets to customer-facing employees. Training specifically demonstrates best-practice in your industry for: – Transport and Logistics – Retail – Food Handling This is a great opportunity to support your staff with relevant, practical training while showing your customers that your staff are doing everything they can to maintain a safe environment in your place of business. Click here to find out more. Industry News Challenging year sees vegetable exports dip 6.6 per cent  Australia’s export of fresh vegetables saw a drop of 6.6 per cent for the first half of 2020, with the industry achieving export value of $130 million and 126,000 tonnes during a challenging period for exporters. Read more on the AUSVEG website. Melbourne Market Job Board  Do you have a vacancy to fill in your business? Email submissions@melbournemarket.com.au for the position to be placed on our new online job board. Jobs will be posted in the weekly newsletter and on the Melbourne Market website. Ask the MMA If you’ve got a question for the MMA email it to: submissions@melbournemarket.com.au. Follow us  |
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