Entrepreneurs’ Program (EP)
Entrepreneur`s Program (EP) offers easy to access practical support to small and medium businesses to improve business capability and competitiveness, promote economic growth and support the commercialisation of new ideas.
The programme offers advice, assistance and tailored support to businesses through three streams: Business Management, Research Connections and Commercialising Ideas. Some services can be accessed by all Australian businesses. Eligibility criteria apply for more targeted assistance and grants.
Business Evaluation
A Business Evaluation is a part of the Entrepreneurs’ Infrastructure Programme. The objective of the Programme is to drive business growth and competitiveness through support for business improvement and promoting economic growth through research connections and commercialisation of new products, processes and services.
Business Evaluations are a holistic analysis of the eligible business carried out on-site by skilled and experienced Advisers. At the conclusion of a Business Evaluation, the business will be provided with a Business Evaluation Report accompanied by a range of recommendations for improvement.
Business Growth Grant
Business Evaluations aim to help owners improve businesses, and are a possible avenue to receive a Business Growth Grant.
If a business is interested in implementing the Evaluation Report recommendations and would like some financial assistance, they can apply for a Business Growth Grant - $20,000 available on a Co-investment basis. The Grant reimburses businesses for some of the cost of engaging consultants to implement one or more of the recommended improvements outlined in the Business Evaluation report.
Eligibility
To be eligible for a Business Evaluation, applicants must meet the eligibility criteria.
Must be a small to medium sized business operating in one of the following Sectors, or else demonstrate commitment to, and the skills, capability, intellectual property or expertise to operate in, one or more of the sectors listed in a - e in the future:
a. Advanced Manufacturing
b. Food and Agribusiness
c. Medical Technologies and Pharmaceuticals
d. Mining Equipment, Technology and Services
e. Oil, Gas and Energy Resources
f. Enabling Technologies and Services of the sectors listed in a – e above.
Must be a business incorporated in Australia under the Corporations Act 2001, that is non tax-exempt and is registered for GST, with trading activities that:
Must have operated in Australia and filed Business Activity Statements showing ongoing trading for at least three consecutive years
Must have an annual turnover or operating expenditure in the current, or one of the two previous, financial years within the following thresholds:
• between $1.5 million and $100 million or;
• between $750,000 and $100 million for applicants from Remote Australia;
Must be Solvent
Must not be named by the Affirmative Action Agency as an organisation that has not complied with the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 (Cth).
Must not have previously received an Entrepreneurs’ Infrastructure Programme Business Evaluation under the Programme or Business Review under the Enterprise Connect Programme in the last five years.
Individuals, partnerships and trusts, however an incorporated trustee that meets the trading activity requirements of eligibility criteria may apply on behalf of a trust.
