Growing Your Business – Best Practice Model

Robert Wilson







Business Skill Delivery in Agrifood Enterprises for Owners, Managers and RTOs

Growing a business takes direction and drive. But how often do business owners stop and check they are heading down the right track, or making the most of every opportunity?

AgriFood Skills Australia has developed a best practice delivery model designed to enhance engagement and business skills. The model, Growing Your Business, has been designed for industry, including enterprises of all sizes and types, managers and Registered Training Organisations (RTOs). The model seeks to equip business owners and trainers with the knowledge and skills to maximise business potential in four key areas:

  • Financial Management
  • Business Management
  • Marketing
  • Managing Staff.

The descriptions and documents available from this web page can be downloaded and used - no charges apply. We would appreciate, however, being informed of any uptake for our records. 

How it works

Growing Your Business has been tested with enterprises from rural and related industries, food processing and seafood. Two pilot studies were implemented in the wheatbelt of Western Australia and the tablelands of north Queensland. Case studies are provided below.

The project materials include: a best practice model, independent research evaluation and all supporting materials for use by enterprises and RTOs.

Growing Your Business has been divided into a number of elements (or steps) with each element representing a part of a holistic approach to learning which increases engagement of participants and retention of the knowledge and skill. 

The outcomes from the implementation of this model have indicated an increased proactive approach to the management of small businesses from participants, and in turn, an increase in their confidence to grow the businesses.

Download resource materials here:

Please let us know

The model and supporting documents are available free from this webpage. However, we would appreciate advice on use of the Growing Your Business model for our records. Details can be provided to Robert Wilson (right) - contact details are below. 

Heading down the right track

Growing the business skills of agrifood enterprises is a key objective for AgriFood Skills Australia and this has resulted in the development of this Growing Business Project.

The support materials, available on the website for downloading and printing, include a Trainer’s Manual containing reference material, delivery plans, worksheets and assessments and the reference manual for participants. The method of implementation is outlined in the best practice model and reflects learning gained throughout the project.

Reimbursement of costs

For participants, the cost of the program can be reimbursed to growers and their management staff through the FarmReady funding program. The website also lists two case studies of participants and identifies some of the outcomes they have found valuable.

It works

The outcomes from the implementation of this model have indicated an increased proactive approach to the management of small businesses from participants, and in turn, an increase in their confidence to grow the businesses.

This project was undertaken at a time of economic stress and recovery and it was clear that the business skills identified in this program were critical to the success of a business’s sustainability into the future. The outcomes of this project, on which this best practice model is based, clearly show the need for the program and for industry and / or government funding to support participants’ costs. 

Background

In early 2009 AgriFood Skills Australia, an Industry Skills Council, was contracted by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) to devise a best practice model of training delivery for small enterprises in the agrifood sector and to disseminate this model to industry groups and Registered Training Organisations (RTOs).

AgriFood convened a Business Skills Project Steering Committee to undertake the national project with the remit to identify the needs of small business owners within the agrifood sector and to develop innovative best practice learning methods that would meet their needs. The Steering Committee held meetings with prominent members of the industry and community.

Four business skill areas were identified by small enterprise owners from the areas in which the pilot would be delivered: financial planning, business planning, marketing planning and managing small teams. These were then delivered in two locations: Atherton, Queensland and wheatbelt, WA.  The outcome of the pilot project was the creation of a best practice delivery model for small business owners.

Project manager

Robert Wilson
Manager, Industry Strategy and VET Advice
p: 02 6163 7237 e: robert.wilson@agrifoodskills.net.au

Business Skills Project Steering Committee

  • Chairman David Taylor
  • John Keniry, CRC for Sheep Innovation and Chair Ridley Corporation
  • Andrew Wilsmore, Winemakers Federation of Australia
  • David Singe, Chief Executive, Wheatbelt Development Commission
  • Denita Wawn, National Farmers Federation
  • Jolyon Burnett, Australian Macadamia Society
  • Tammy Pavelic, Industry Engagement Branch, DEEWR
  • Arthur Blewitt, Chief Executive, AgriFood Skills Australia