Business Support and Advice

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The following organisations offer helpful information to support business and industry:

Business

• Business.gov.au is a whole-of-government service providing essential information on planning, starting and running your business. The grants and financial assistance summary provides a list of specific grants available.
• Business Victoria is a comprehensive State Government resource designed to help you start, run and grow a business.
• Indigenous Business Australia assists and enhances the economic development opportunities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia through a range of programs and resources.
• Regional Development Victoria promotes economic, infrastructure, and community development in rural and regional Victoria by providing grants, programs, and resources. These initiatives support local communities and businesses, enhancing regional Victoria as a place to live, work, and invest.
• Victorian Chambers of Commerce and Industry offers a range of products, services and activities to assist business owners to manage their business.  

Recruitment 

• Employment and Small Business Victoria helps businesses to plan, start and grow by providing information and assistance, expert business advice and low cost and local skills development training opportunities.
• Jobs Victoria offers free recruitment support to connect businesses and employers with new staff.
• Workforce Australia offers in-person, tailored recruitment and workforce planning, streamlining finding and hiring the right people.

Industry

• AusIndustry partnerships and networks offer information and connections to assist in navigating local, state, and Australian government support for your business.
• Austrade provides services to assist Australian businesses succeed in export and international trade. Their Export Market Development Grants Scheme can reimburse up to 50% of expenses for promotional activities.
• Agriculture Victoria works in partnership with farmers, industries, communities and other government agencies to grow and secure agriculture in Victoria.
• Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited is the peak national body that represents the interests of manufacturing technology suppliers and users within the precision engineering and advanced manufacturing sector.
• Creative Victoria is the peak body for Victoria's creative industry and supports the state's creative industries, spanning arts, culture, screen, design and more.
• Master Builders Victoria is the peak body representing a range of stakeholders in Victoria’s building and construction industry.
• Music Victoria is the peak body representing musicians, venues, music businesses and professionals, and music lovers across the contemporary Victorian music community.
• Victorian Tourism Industry Council - The peak body for Victoria's tourism and events industry, providing opportunities for members to connect and keep informed on Victorian visitor economy. 

Business advisers can assist you in identifying and achieving your business goals and provide specialised advice on operating a business.

• Small Business Mentoring Service offers a range industry specialist mentors of your choice which can be booked online. Minimal fee applies. 
• Business Victoria - Virtual mentor sessions - Business Victoria offers free online business advice sessions to help you start or grow your small business. Available Monday to Friday, the one-on-one sessions with a business expert will provide information on your business idea or how to grow your existing business. Please note that only one session is available for each business per 12-month period.
• Business Victoria - Small Business Bus - The Small Business Bus travels to locations across Victoria providing advice and support for small businesses in regional areas. Business advisors can help you with 1:1 tailored advice to help you start, build, or transform your small business. Confidential sessions are 45 minutes, free of charge and bookings are essential.
• Business Recovery Advisory Service is a free, confidential, one-on-one support from local Business Recovery Advisers via telephone, online or in-person for businesses.
• Partners in Wellbeing Service offers a broad range of free business advisory services including one on one support to improve your financial, business and emotional wellbeing.
• NewAccess for Small Business offers a free and confidential guided mental health coaching program to support business owners. 

Establishing business plans is a powerful method for achieving your objectives, maintaining focus, and navigating through periods of uncertainty, such as unforeseen events. There are various resources and tools available to simplify this process.

Business Plans

 A written business plan is essential to help you start and grow your business. A well-constructed business plan details your business vision, sets operational and financial objectives, and make sure your business is manageable and effective. Additionally, it is vital for obtaining financing and investment in the initial and growth phases.

• Write a business plan

Marketing Plan

A marketing plan helps to clearly define your business goals, enables the development of realistic strategies to achieve them, and supports creating your unique brand. Business Victoria has developed the below resources to guide businesses in creating their own marketing plans.

• Do market research – understanding your customers and the industry.
• Write a marketing plan – steps to developing a marketing plan
• Marketing plan template
• Brand your business for a competitive edge – learn the importance of branding.

Disaster Resilience Planning

Disaster resilience planning is the process of planning for the unexpected so that your business can respond and recover quickly and effectively. Being prepared helps to reduce the impact of the event on your business. There are many unexpected or unplanned events that can occur, and the below resources can assist you in your continuity planning.

• Respond after a crisis – How to react quickly and keep a clear focus.
• Checklist for business response and continuity to help you when disasters strike.
• Disaster resilience for business toolkit to help your business be more resilient to future disasters.
• CPA Australia – Disaster Recovery Toolkit a framework for how you, your staff and your business respond to a crisis.
• Guide to continuing your business provides positive steps you can take to help keep your business operating in times during emergencies and natural disasters.

• Business Victoria has additional resources to help with disaster resilience.

Opportunities and key stakeholders in education and training across Murrindindi Shire include:

• Alexandra Community Hub offer a broad range of community services and opportunities to learn and develop skills in a safe and healthy environment, locally.
• Neighbourhood houses in Kinglake, Yea, Toolangi and Flowerdale are community based organisations that offer social, supportive and educational programs and opportunities.
• GoTAFE Mobile Campus makes regular visitation to the Shire and offers employment, career and education services.
• The Outdoor Education Group guide students, community and special interest groups through dynamic learning environments while developing their social, emotional and physical wellbeing.
• Holmesglen at Eildon offers conference and student programs that are designed to provide solid educational and personal development outcomes for guests and students.

Training and Development Opportunities

Business training and development opportunities are offered in conjunction with the following agencies and organisations

• Business Victoria offer a diverse range of online and in-person workshops encompassing many aspects of starting and managing a business. 
• Victorian Chamber of Commerce & Industry provide a sought-after calendar of events bringing businesses of all sizes across all industries together.
• Local Business and Tourism Associations offer a range of business events and activities to meet local needs.
• Tourism North East offer a range of workshops and webinars designed to assist visitor economy (tourism) related businesses.
• Agriculture Victoria provides a variety of educational materials through podcasts, webinars, workshops, courses, online learning modules and on farm activities to support the different agricultural sectors and all aspects of operations.

Learning modules and program opportunities include: 

• Business Victoria offer a range of online courses and self-paced learning opportunities.
• Australian Taxation Office (ATO) - Business Learning Modules offer webinars and workshops detailing what businesses need to know about the taxation system.
• Small Business Digital Solutions Program is an Australian Government funded initiative to support the digital growth of small businesses.

Central Ranges Local Learning and Employment Network

Council has a close working relationship with the Central Ranges Local Learning and Employment Network with a view to working together to improve pathways from secondary school to the workforce and enhance local learning and training opportunities.

Keeping abreast of your business' financials is crucial for efficient management. There are various resources and organisations that can offer assistance:

• Your accountant, financial planner, advisor or bookkeeper
• Rural Financial Counselling Service - provides free, impartial and confidential service to agribusinesses.
• Partners in Wellbeing provides free, confidential, one on one support to improve your financial, business and emotional wellbeing.
• Australian Banking Association is an association that provides news, tips and resources regarding your business finances.
• Moneysmart provides accessible financial counselling, tips and contacts to advise you on managing your money.
• Managing energy use identifies opportunities and resources to reduce your energy costs.
• Align your finances to strategy - demonstrates how you can direct and allocate financial resources towards meeting your strategic goals.
• Prepare a profit and loss budget - steps you through developing or reviewing your budget.
• Cashflow - Manage the inflow and outflow of money through your business so you can manage your expenses effectively. 

Grant Seeking

Seeking grants can offer significant growth opportunities for your business, contributing to both your success and that of the local community and economy.

Starting a business, expanding, or embarking on a new project? Consider exploring the available grants.

• Council Grants and Sponsorships Program
• Murrindindi Shire Funding Finder

Grant Writing

Preparing and writing a grant application involves careful planning, conciseness, and effective time management.

The following resources can assist you in the preparation of a grant application.

• How to write a grant application - Tips to help organisations and community groups write a good grant application.
• How to Guides and Videos - detail the key steps in being grant ready, preparing a grant application, grant assessment, grant acquittal and most helpful tips and tricks.  

Signage is an essential component in providing quality information across the region.

View the range of signage options available to business and community.