Grow Your Business - Group Programs

Project aim

Grow Your Business - Group Programs are aimed at encouraging smaller firms to develop the management skills and competencies required to support long term growth. Participation in groups enables firms to observe and develop better business practices and processes and to share management challenges, experiences and insights.

Nature of assistance

Eligible groups (a minimum of five to a maximum of 15 business participants) can apply for a grant of 75 percent of costs for the total group project up to a maximum of $15,000.

The Group Program consists of a subsidised workshop for groups of 5-15 participating firms, organised on a sectoral or regional basis, with a particular business development focus, for example, diagnostic, business plan, finance, environment or marketing export. There are no mandated group courses or licensed deliverers.

The Group Program also involves a component of one-on-one time with the business and consultant. This individual time should be in the range of 6-8 hours with the total program time being 20-23 hours.  Group Programs must be completed within three months of the date of approval.

Group Programs are organised by an auspice body that deals with the department. An auspice body may be a Council, Industry or Business Association, or other approved organisation which is incorporated and financially sound.

The department will provide grants to the auspice body based on the lowest comparable consultant quotation. The grant payment amount to the auspice body will be the agreed subsidy for each participating business that completes the program.

Eligibility criteria

Every Group Program proposal will be individually assessed by the department on its merits.  It is the responsibility of the auspice body to ensure that each business participating in subsidised Grow Your Business - Group Program satisfies the following criteria:

• be financially viable
  
• be a tradeable service (A business that falls under the definition of tradeable services include manufacturers (as indicated by the ANZSIC classification system) and service firms, showing they face import competition, are exporting or have the potential to export or internationalise their business operations in other ways.)
  
• be based in Victoria
• have a commitment to export or import replacement
• show management strengths
• at least 12 months trading history
  

How to Apply

Contact a Centre Business Officer
at your nearest Victorian Government Business Offices (apart from the CBD office)