Bell Partners Hunter New England is strengthening regional business communities through a philosophy of mutual support, according to managing director Matthew Sweeney. Sweeney, who leads the accounting division in Tamworth and recently took on the same role in Newcastle, believes that when businesses help each other, the entire community benefits.
Sweeney, a former president of the Tamworth Business Chamber and current member of the Business NSW Regional Advisory Council, emphasizes the importance of business groups for knowledge sharing and moral support. He notes that running a small business can be isolating, and peer networks can make a critical difference between success and failure.
Beyond business advocacy, Bell Partners Hunter New England sponsors the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service and local sporting organizations. In 2020, Sweeney helped establish the Tamworth Football Referees Association, providing training and technology for regional referees.
The community focus extends to Bell Partners nationally, founded by CEO Anthony Bell, who received an Order of Australia medal in 2018 for charitable work. The company's Loyal Foundation has raised over $6 million since 2009, purchasing more than 400 pieces of life-saving medical equipment for children's hospitals across Australia.
Sweeney says he is proud to be part of a firm that prioritizes community engagement, aiming to create opportunities for the next generation in regional areas.
