GRADUATES of a business management program in Taree were honoured at their induction ceremony.

The program was facilitated by JCE Positive Outcomes with graduate's receiving their Diploma of Business Management during the ceremony at Club Taree.

The one year course was run at the Taree Uniting Church and featured face to face study sessions.

Eighteen students passed the course to received their diplomas.

Pastor Michael Dumas is the chairperson of 4 Life Training which nominated the candidates for the program.

He said the graduates were all focused on having careers in a business.

"The biggest thing was a few of them wanted to start business and a few already owned their own business and they wanted to update their skills," he said.

Michael said the ceremony was well attended by the Manning Valley business community.

"It was a great night. We had 130 people attend which was overwhelming to see," he said.

"It was family and friends of the graduates and a lot of professional people from the business community, as well as mayor Paul Hogan."

Michael said he was pleased to see the success of the program first hand.

"It was great to see what we set out to do years ago has come to fruition," he said.

"It's a place where people can come to learn about business, and there was a need for it.

"We had 18 students, 14 of whom were indigenous, and it was encouraging to see so many indigenous people wanting to be a part of local business."