Stepping Up Mentoring Program

Stepping Up is a business development program aimed at established small businesses and is offered periodically through the Hunter by Hunter Business Centre in conjuction with Industry & Investment NSW.

Click here for details of current programs.

Stepping Up provides established business owners committed to growing their business, with an opportunity to acquire new skills and develop growth plans and strategies to drive their business to the next level. 

 

The Stepping Up Program recognises that after business start-up, the next critical phase is for the owner to decide ‘how, where, when and what’ resources to commit to expansion. This is the time when the ‘voice of experience’ is invaluable. And it is even more essential that the advisor has no vested interest.

The Stepping Up Program consists of two core components: The Stepping Up workshops and the Stepping Up Mentoring.

The Stepping Up Program offers a series of four business planning workshops designed to help you identify your business growth pathway. You will be matched with an experienced business person (mentor) who will be available for up to ten hours to help you develop relevant growth strategies.

Eligibility Criteria

    Be NSW-based
    Have been in business for at least two years
    Provide financial reports covering at least two years and which show the business profitable and with a positive balance of assets over liabilities
    Have a turnover of between $200,000 and $10 million a year.
    Employ at least one person in addition to the owner
    Identify a business goal or hurdle to be addressed by the program
    Be prepared to enter an agreement with I&INSW to progress recommendations resulting from the Stepping Up Program
    Cooperate with I&INSW monitoring, surveys and promotional opportunities for up to two years after the project is complete.

Note that not all eligible businesses may be accepted into the Stepping Up Program.

What will it cost?

The NSW Government will match each participants contribution dollar for dollar. In 2009 this reduced the program cost of $1320.00 per participant to $660.00 (inclusive of GST).

Would you like to be a voluntary mentor?

If you have a minimum of five years recent experience as a business owner/operator of a successful business, we would like to hear from you.

Mentors need to have strong communication skills and be prepared  to sign agreements that preclude conflicts of interest and breaches of confidentiality.

Mentoring is a rewarding experience as the mentor can pass on their knowledge and skills to help other business owners to create new sales, jobs and profits.