Business Skills for agrifood enterprises

Robert Wilson, General Manager Industry Strategy and Intelligence







Business Skill Delivery for Owners, Managers and RTOs - A Best Practice Model

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 of agrifood enterprise owners and their business skills. The model, entitled Growing Your Business, has been designed for small to medium enterprise owners and managers to enhance their business skills, through RTO-delivered training. The model seeks to equip business owners and trainers with the knowledge and skills to maximise business potential in six key areas:

  • Financial Management
  • Business Management/Business Planning
  • Marketing
  • Managing Staff
  • Business Operations
  • Legal.

The descriptions and documents available from this web page can be downloaded and used free of charge.
 

The Model - 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 training 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.
 

Resource materials:

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 subsidised for growers and their management staff through the FarmReady funding program.
 

Outcomes

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. 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 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 learning methods that would meet their needs. The Steering Committee held meetings with prominent members of the industry and community.

Four initial business skill areas were identified by 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 in the wheatbelt, WA.  The outcome of the pilot project was the creation of a best practice delivery model for small business owners.

The business program adapted and delivered for this project was originally developed in 2007 for the vegetable industry through the Australian Vegetable Industry Development Group, funded by the Australian Government.
 

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
  • Tammy Pavelic, Industry Engagement Branch, DEEWR
  • Arthur Blewitt, Chief Executive, AgriFood Skills Australia

 

Contact

Robert Wilson
General Manager, Industry Strategy and Intelligence
Ph: 02 6163 7237
E: robert.wilson@agrifoodskills.net.au