There are a number of Australian government grants available to growing SME’s. Enterprise Connect offers some grant opportunities that are worth considering. Enterprise Connect is an Australian Government program that provides support to eligible Australian small and medium sized businesses. They aim to help Australian firms develop the skills, tools and knowledge needed to improve their competitiveness and productivity and to maximise their growth potential.
They have two main grants on offer:
1) Researchers in Business Grants
2) Tailored Advisory Service Grants
Azure Group sees the Tailored Advisory Service Grant as a great opportunity for our clients to explore – and here’s why:
- The grant is provided for business owners to engage service providers to help implement changes that improve their business performance and to help them become more innovative, efficient and competitive
- The grant does not restrict the application to a preferred list of suppliers, so you can request a quote to engage Azure Group
- You can apply for a grants up to $20,000 (matched $ for $)
Of course there are a number of eligibility requirements to consider before applying, and another requirement before applying for this grant is to undertake Enterprise Connect’s Business Review service. You can find more information on this service here.
Below is some further detail about the grant:
Tailored Advisory Service Grant
Have you had an Enterprise Connect Business Review?
If you have, you can apply for our Tailored Advisory Service (TAS) grant.
Tailored Advisory Service funding can be used to engage a consultant/s to make improvements to your business that your Enterprise Connect Business Adviser recommended in your Business Review. Enterprise Connect will reimburse your business up to half the cost of engaging the consultant, up to a maximum of $20,000 (excluding GST).
Enterprise Connect does not enter into preferred supplier arrangements with consultants. Businesses applying for a Tailored Advisory Service grant are able to request a quote or proposal from any consultant or service provider and must attach at least two different quotes with their Tailored Advisory Service grant application.
Applications for Tailored Advisory Service are to be submitted within six months of completing your Business Review. In extenuating circumstances, this may be extended to 12 months if you can demonstrate you have commenced implementing the recommendations in the Business Review and the recommendations are still relevant to your business.
Tailored Advisory Service funding can be accessed for a single project, or span several projects using different consultants. Businesses must seek proposals and quotes from at least two consultants prior to applying. Businesses have a maximum of 12 months to complete all projects.
Eligible Activities
Tailored Advisory Service projects must cover issues or recommendations identified in your Business Review. All projects must address areas of expertise new to your business, build the internal capability of your business, embed new knowledge into your business and not be in the normal course of business.
Please refer to the Client Information Guides for a list of eligible activities that may be undertaken as part of the Tailored Advisory Service.
Apply for Tailored Advisory Service
To be eligible to apply for the Tailored Advisory Service an Australian business must:
- have completed an Enterprise Connect Business Review
- be solvent
- provide proposals and quotes from at least two consultants with their application.
For more information about this grant please visit the Enterprise Connect website directly by clicking here. Feel free to contact the Azure Group team for more information on how we can assist the application process by emailing us at ourteam@azuregroup.com.au.
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