The Office of Fair Trading (operating within the Department of Commerce) oversees the Building Contractor Advisory Service (BCAS) that is funded to provide business advice, including insolvency information to licensed building contractors who operate in NSW.

There are some 170,000 licensed building contractors in New South Wales. The contractors consist of builders, swimming pool builders, building consultants, electricians, plumbers, carpenters and joiners, concreters and a number of other trade categories. Many of these contractors are operated by small businesses who are not necessarily members of industry associations upon which they can call upon for assistance and advice.

The NSW Government is committed to ensuring that these licensed building contractors have access to timely assistance and advice with which to make the difficult and complex business decision required during these challenging economic times.

Fair Trading’s role in providing consumer protection and marketplace regulation means that it provides services which promote the rights and responsibilities of both home building consumers and contractors. The Home Building Advocacy Service (HoBAS) has already been established to provide services to consumers. The pilot BCAS is being established to provide services to traders.

BCAS assists licensed building contractors via the provision of business management and insolvency advice and information on a confidential basis at no cost to contractors. It is expected that the best and most effective method for delivery of this service would be via a free-call telephone service. BCAS targets those licensed building contractors who may not have ready access to an industry association upon which they can reply for such assistance. 

Key dates

Funding period:  1 May 2009 - 30 April 2010

Who can apply?

Expressions of Interest can be made by appropriate skilled and experienced individuals or organisations that have a track record in the provision of business management and insolvency advice to the building sector.

Joint expressions of interest, where two or more organisations pool resources and expertise, are also encouraged.

Who can’t apply?

Expressions of Interest cannot be made by:

• organisations intending to use the funds for a project in a State/Territory other than NSW
• universities, TAFE and other academic institutions
• government agencies
• the Office of Fair Trading, including the Consumer Trader and Tenancy Tribunal, or their employees.

What will be funded?

The objectives of BCAS are to provide:

• a free-call confidential telephone advisory service to NSW licensed building contractors
• a service designed to assist traders with the making of business decisions, particularly decisions regarding the viability and solvency of their business
• referrals of licensed building contractors to relevant service providers and government agencies for assistance
• assistance with industry education activities.

Current priorities

Funding of BCAS contributes to the achievement of Fair Trading's strategic intent, that NSW will be recognised for value and fairness in the marketplace. It also assists the Government to achieve its consumer protection and social justice policy objectives and assists in ensuring that the community has access to information and assistance.

How much funding is available?

Approximately $80,000 per annum is currently available under this pilot program.

How to apply

To apply for funding under this pilot program, please refer to the following documents:

Funding guidelines in PDF format (size: 119k) and
Essential information for applicants in Word format (size: 197k).

Currently funded service

The service currently funded is:
CRS Warner Kugel
Phone: 1300 100 285

Want more information?

Contact Community and Industry Grants Branch at grants@oft.commerce.nsw.gov.au or phone 9619 8731 or fax 9777 8810.