Small Business Mentoring Service

Summary Sheet

Small Business Mentoring Service

Administering Agency

Dept of Education and Training

Small Business Solutions

Why the Support is Provided?

Small Business Solutions is a new Smart State initiative designed to enhance the business skills, profitability and growth of small businesses across Queensland. The service incorporates one on one business mentoring and formal skills recognition for business owners in their workplace at a time to suit them.

What Support is Provided?

Specifically, Small Business Solutions:

• Provides government subsidised Business Skills Mentors to small business owners, who will receive personalised, one-on-one mentoring on-site from experienced and accredited business professionals.

• Provides businesses with comprehensive diagnostic services that incorporate small business planning and tailored solutions.

• Provides a Business Skills Mentor who will complete a Business health Check to ascertain the strength and weaknesses of the small business, and provide assistance with strategies to find solutions to problems and take the organisation to the next level.

• Provides personal, practical, one-on-one guidance in the areas of selling, profit, loss and business growth, marketing and sales, human resource management, computer skills and business planning.

• Ascertains the experience and skills small business owners have acquired over time, as part of the Recognition of Prior Learning program. Participants may be eligible to receive accredited TAFE qualifications that will add value to their business and personal achievements.

• Provides owners the opportunity to participate in flexible training opportunities and in tailored group workshops, and have access to relevant information to support their business.

• Offers practical, hands-on help to reduce the isolation small business operators can sometimes feel.

In essence, Small Business Solutions aims to sculpt workforce skills to meet tomorrow’s challenges.

Small Business Solutions is an innovative and dynamic strategy which enables small businesses to access professional assistance in their workplace, in the form of Business Skills Mentors to enable them to sustain profitability and grow their business.

The Following Eligibility Criteria Apply:

The service is designed to assist operators of small to medium enterprises that are operating in a commercial environment. To participate in the program the business owner must have a level of business experience that will enable them to demonstrate skills recognition towards formal qualifications and define themselves as a small business operator.

Definition of Terms:

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process of recognising the existing skills of an individual toward nationally recognised qualifications.

What Costs are Involved?

$350 for a three hour session OR $1200 for up to 12 hours of mentoring support.

Contact Details:

For further information or clarification, please contact the appropriate office. Please dial the prefix +61 7 instead of (07) when calling from outside Australia. Please note that you cannot dial 13, 1300 or 1800 numbers from outside Australia.

BRISBANE OFFICES

Capalaba

Skilling Solutions Queensland Customer Service Centre

Shop 98

Capalaba Park Shopping Centre

Cnr Mt Cotton Road & Redland Bay Road

Capalaba Q 4157

Ph: 1300 406 080

Email: enquiries@smallbusinesssolutions.qld.gov.au

Web: www.smallbusinesssolutions.qld.gov.au

Shailer Park

Skilling Solutions Queensland Customer Service Centre