Support for small to medium businesses

The Entrepreneurs’ Infrastructure Programme, a federal government initiative, began providing its first business management services on 1 July.

Announced in the May Budget, the aim of the program is to provide practical support for small to medium enterprises.

The program is now accepting applications for Business Evaluations and Business Growth Grants under the Business Management stream.

Business Evaluations provide a free top to bottom analysis of an eligible business. The business receives a detailed report and recommendations to make improvements.

Business Growth Grants are small co-funded grants to engage external expertise to assist businesses with implementing improvements recommended by their Business Evaluation. Businesses must have received a Business Evaluation to be eligible for a Business Growth Grant.

The Research Connections (September) and Commercialising Ideas (November) streams of the program will be available later this year.

Information, including guidelines and application forms, is available through the government’s new Single Business Service portal, via the Department of Industry.

The government will continue to seek feedback to inform the design of the EIP as it is implemented throughout 2014. AusBiotech made preliminary comments on the EIP in June 2014.