Central Coast Industry Connect (CCIC) has welcomed the decision by Australia’s largest business lender and most competitive business bank, National Australia Bank (NAB), to be the group’s major sponsor. CCIC is a not-for-profit, member-based organisation that helps Central Coast businesses from all sectors, with a particularly strong manufacturing, food production and agri-business presence, unlock growth opportunities through relationship building and collaboration.
Acknowledging that there are mutual benefits to be achieved through this partnership, Executive Director Frank Sammut said, “The NAB business banking staff have a great knowledge of the region and the challenges businesses are facing today. Having NAB on board as a major sponsor provides us not only with a financial benefit for our organisation, but also a collaborative partnership that works to support our local manufacturing sector”.
Local NAB senior business banking representatives, Kevin Ure and Ian Hamilton, are familiar faces within CCIC as they have been active members since the group’s inception. Commenting on their decision to join and become the major sponsor, Mr Ure said, “In terms of what CCIC does for the local community, it’s largely about making connections, sharing insights into what local businesses are experiencing, and working together to try and overcome the challenges they face. Here at NAB Erina, we see ourselves as part of that value chain. By being involved in those conversations, we can work together to find solutions. This sponsorship is a means for us to cement our relationship with CCIC members and take our support to the next level and go ‘all in’.”
Managing Partner for NAB Hornsby and the Central Coast, Tiffany Morgan agrees. She said, “CCIC helps businesses flourish and grow when the right people are connected in. I’m incredibly excited about this opportunity and I think it goes to show the strength of Kevin and Ian’s relationship with Frank [Sammut] and many others that they’ve developed over the years.”
NAB is known for its passion and commitment to fostering sponsorships at a local and national level and for having ‘boots on the ground’ and a long-established tenure within the areas they serve. With several financial institutions having reduced their footprint on the Central Coast, NAB’s recent major refurbishment of its Erina premises coupled with the decision to be a Platinum CCIC sponsor is a testament to their ongoing commitment to the region’s growth and prosperity. Mr Ure said, “We’ve recommitted to the Central Coast with our brand-new fit out, and we’re thrilled to be meeting face-to-face again with CCIC members and hearing about the challenges and disruptions they are facing.”
With 4 branch locations on the Central Coast, including the newly refurbished Erina Hub, home to five business bankers and numerous industry and product specialists on the ground, the team at NAB have the knowledge, expertise and access to a vast network to assist CCIC members across all industry sectors with whatever solutions they are looking for. Mr Hamilton said, “Where something niche is required, we are supported by a wonderful team of specialists, who each know their niche in the market extremely well.”
Ms Morgan added, “We are a bank on the Coast for the Coast and we’re local. Being on the ground, we really understand the Central Coast market. I feel it’s going to be a fantastic 12 to 18 months as we forge our relationship as CCIC’s major sponsor.”
Commenting on the timing of the sponsorship agreement, Mr Ure said, “We see being the top tier sponsor as a good alignment with what we are about, which is to support local businesses to achieve sustainable growth. We know businesses have been disrupted in all sorts of ways following a really turbulent period. But it’s time to get back to business. We’re really keen to support CCIC members and other local businesses to thrive, and we see this sponsorship as a great way to achieve this.”
