The Australian Centre for Business Growth has seen increased demand for its business growth programs across Western Australia as small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) seek support to grow into larger enterprises.
“There is a need to support those larger SMEs who are keen to grow but perhaps lack the clarity, skills and structure required to achieve the next stage of growth,” explained Alison Taylor, Growth Expert at the Australian Centre for Business Growth.
“Australia-wide there is an abundance of support for startups through incubator and accelerator programs, and this assistance is necessary. How do we continue to help these businesses once they have outgrown the startup phase and they are faced with the more complex challenges of growth?”
Support for these companies is coming from the WA State Government, via the New Industries Fund: X-TEND WA Program, by providing more opportunities for small and medium companies with 5 to 199 full time employees to grow into larger enterprises.
Business owners, CEOs and managing directors from a diverse range of companies and industries can attend the Centre’s one-day Assessment Clinics, with the option to progress further to the advanced Growth Ramp and Growth Module programs to learn valuable growth strategies and develop a comprehensive business growth plan.
In the Growth Modules program, the CEO or business owner and at least two members of the executive team are given the space out of the day-to-day pressures of business to develop a sustainable three-year vision and detailed plan for their company.
Under the guidance of industry-leading Growth Experts who’ve started, grown and exited successful companies of their own, participants network with and learn from other peers in an accountability-led environment where they can actively discuss and apply their learnings to their own business.
“It’s amazing how many companies come into our programs thinking that their issues are unique to them, and soon discover that businesses across a range of industries are all struggling with the same things,” Ms Taylor said.
“By the end of the program, not only has each company developed their own ambitious three-year plan to grow the business, they have also increased their confidence in their ability to deliver on those plans.”
L-R Alison Sentance, Helen Slater and Deborah Wikes - ABC Foundation graduates from the Australian Centre for Business Growth’s Growth Modules program
Building the foundations for business growth
ABC Foundation, an Indigenous-led not-for-profit social enterprise, which partners with Indigenous communities to deliver sustainable on-country programs and services to empower future generations, participated in the Centre’s nine-month Growth Modules program under the leadership of its CEO, Helen Slater.
Ms Slater, a proud Whadjuk Ballardong Noongar woman, led recent organisational changes at the Foundation since taking part in the program, which has provided the structure, guidance and a level of accountability required to plan and execute its next stage of growth.
Through strategic growth planning, ABC Foundation has been able to redefine its core purpose – building sustainable Aboriginal community organisations in remote and regional areas through tailored social enterprise management services – taking it into a new chapter of growth.
“Redefining our Foundation provides stakeholder clarity and marks the next chapter, focused on partnership growth and the ultimate goal of becoming a majority self-funded social enterprise, allowing us to invest in the Aboriginal communities and environments we support,” Ms Slater said.
Designed for CEOs or business owners who are genuine about growing their business and are willing to be open to growing themselves, the Growth Modules program brings the framework, knowledge and expertise for executive teams to chart an ambitious and achievable plan.
“What we have learned over the past nine months of planning is that although we are an on-country focused social enterprise, what defines us is our tireless work in building and supporting our Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations partners. It is only through the success of creating on-the-ground stability and empowering our people that we can support them to get back to Country and care for our environment,” Ms Slater said.
Over the next three years, the Foundation’s goal is to grow its Charitable Future Fund, seeking corporate and philanthropic support to establish a nationally recognised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ fund. “This Fund will support on-country initiatives designed and led by our Aboriginal community partners. Our aim is to expand beyond WA, strengthening regional and remote Aboriginal community organisations nationally,” she added.
Taking part in the program has given Ms Slater and the leadership team at ABC Foundation the clarity to take on its overarching goal to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to better lead their communities through a partnership model.
“Collectively, we will champion our vision of strengthening Aboriginal regional communities through our social enterprise management services. We will measure our success through our partnerships and enhance our impact within these communities,” Ms Slater said.
Since 2016, ABC Foundation has successfully supported several Aboriginal community organisations, resulting in increased job opportunities, reduced reliance on government funding, and the development of sustainable community businesses.
Ms Slater, who has dedicated over 30 years to working in education, training, employment and business development, won the prestigious Director’s Award for ‘Most Growth as a Leader’ at the Centre’s recent Growth Modules program graduation in Perth. “This reward reflects the collective efforts of our team at ABC Foundation and our shared commitment to creating a sustainable future for Aboriginal people,” Ms Slater said.
Building WA’s economic complexity and diversity
Ryan Williams, Professor and Director of the Australian Centre for Business Growth, said supporting small businesses through the Centre’s specialised programs has a wider impact on strengthening the WA economy. “We believe that equipping companies who want to grow with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in their growth journey ultimately contributes to a stronger economy for all,” Prof Williams said.
“The Australian business landscape is dominated by a relatively small number of large corporations and an abundance of startups and microbusinesses. A robust economy requires a greater level of economic complexity and diversity. It needs more small businesses with the capacity and capability to become medium to large enterprises.”
Find out more about the Australian Centre for Business Growth’s programs at centreforbusinessgrowth.com.
