36. Nepean Industry Edge Training

Founders: Carol Campbell

Revenue: $536,000

Started: 2009

Employees: 3

Industry: Education and training

Website: https://www.niet.com.au

Carol Campbell is the founder of Napean Industry Edge Training, offering tailored training programs to clients across a range of industries including hospitality, banking and finance, manufacturing, retail, aged care and children’s services.

Based in Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, NIET helps organisations to complete courses in business, community services, first aid and hospitality.

With a background in the training and development field, and a particular interest in customer relationship management, Campbell felt inspired to start her own business in the industry.

Campbell has had formal training in coaching and mentoring processes, and has considerable experience in both one-on-one and team coaching.

“I was a trainer on the Peninsula and saw an opportunity to provide more flexible training to learners and businesses but mainly to create training experiences, taking the fear out of learning or going back to learn, and giving participants confidence, belief and support to move forward,” Campbell says.

Campbell’s training ensures transfer of learning back into the workpace, providing maximum ROI for the training investment.

What started as a home-based business in 2009 is now a successful company with 12 full-time and part-time staff, taking in revenue of $536,000 in the previous financial year.

NIET business networks include specialist consultants to cover all aspects of a client’s training requirements.

“We are engaging local learners of all levels to up-skill and qualify for jobs in the local area, and we are doing this in a way that is authentic and service-orientated,” Campbell says.

Campbell says the most challenging aspect of starting her business was trying to operate out of her study – where the temperature hovered around 40 degrees – in addition to waiting around for results.

“But it was too late to turn back – what I have learnt is resilience and a ‘never say die’ attitude,” she says.

She says watching the business grow and receiving positive feedback reminds her why she started a business in the first place.

“Now we have people knocking on our door to work for us, and our learners are our greatest advocates. My belief is to ‘encourage, inspire, motivate’ and we are creating a culture of that,” she says.