SMEs

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) that are adversely impacted by the coronavirus will have up to two years to pay deferred rent under a federal government mandatory code of conduct. The code, which was developed as a standard national approach to mitigate “a rapid and severe commercial impact” to coronavirus, will apply to all relevant … Continue reading SMEs given two years to defer rent payments →

The Victorian government has announced it will provide a $500 million fund to help public infrastructure workers find work as part of a $1.7 billion package to save jobs. The Working with Victoria Fund will support employment in response to the pandemic and afford security for Victorians. Premier Daniel Andrews said the government will continue … Continue reading Victorian government announces $1.7 bn support package →

The volume of work predicted in the Australian defence industry needs no overstating, but how can manufacturing SMEs be involved? Connor Pearce reports. From October 8 to 10, 2019, the four lower exhibition floors of the ICC Sydney were filled with 21,241 attendees and 657 exhibitors from 22 countries, the largest number ever for the … Continue reading Building a sovereign industrial capability →

The latest recipients of the Accelerating Commercialisation grants have received $1.7 million in funding. The three businesses demonstrate how advanced manufacturing can have wider societal benefits. Gyder Surgical, from Victoria, received over $200,000 to commercialise their surgical navigation system for more precise hip replacement surgery, while Vernx Biotechnology, also from Victoria, received almost $600,000 to … Continue reading Medical and digital SMEs receive commercialisation boost →

Defence-related businesses may be eligible for a grant of up to $1 million to invest in projects that build capabilities aligned with Defence’s stated Sovereign Industrial Capability Priorities. The Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority Grants aim to ensure Australian businesses have the capacity and resilience to support Defence’s most critical capabilities. The Centre for Defence Industry Capability … Continue reading Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority Grants now available →

The federal government has awarded five Australian businesses contracts with a combined value of more than $12 million to further develop their innovative technologies to support the Australian Defence Force. Funded through the Defence Innovation Hub, the investments will see Sentient Vision Systems, a small Australian computer vision technology company, awarded a $5.5 million contract to … Continue reading Defence Innovation Hub contracts worth $12m awarded →

The federal government has launched its annual grants program for Australian small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) involved in delivering the pipeline of projects enhancing the capability of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority Grants program makes available a total of $17 million in grants per year to eligible Australian SMEs with fewer than … Continue reading Federal government launches defence industry grants program for SMEs →

The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) Defence Council has signed MOUs with the Defence Teaming Centre (DTC) and the Australian Industry and Defence Network (AIDN National) to collaborate on developing the capacity of small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) in the defence industry. The agreements will see the organisations work closely together in an effort to improve the … Continue reading Ai Group teams up with defence industry advocacy groups to boost SME participation →

The federal government has launched a $20 million program aimed at helping small and medium businesses grow, export and generate local Australian jobs. The Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Export Hubs Initiative, initially announced in the 2018–19 federal Budget, will fund successful applicants to develop local and regional hubs that will help local firms begin … Continue reading Federal government launches export hubs program →

Australian science and technology will be front and centre in the ASEAN region as Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, formally launches its presence in Singapore today. The announcement coincided with Singapore-headquartered investment company, Temasek, becoming the third largest investor in the $232 million CSIRO Innovation Fund, managed by Main Sequence Ventures. The CSIRO Innovation Fund … Continue reading CSIRO launches ASEAN presence with Singapore node →

The Western Australian government has announced 23 local businesses as the winners of the 2018 Innovation Vouchers Program. The program, an initiative of the state government’s New Industries Fund, enables small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to improve their capability and commercialise their innovations through the support of the state government. The successful applicants, who were chosen … Continue reading WA provides innovation grants to local SMEs →

The NSW Government will feature some of the state’s best defence companies at Australia’s premier land defence expo, Land Forces 2018, in Adelaide from 4-6 September. Twelve organisations and their leading capabilities will be showcased on the state government’s stand ranging from electronic warfare specialists and experts in live fire target training solutions, to component … Continue reading NSW gov to showcase state’s best at Land Forces 2018 →

Last week, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk  opened a new manufacturing facility in Darra that will assist small Queensland businesses to capitalise on advanced manufacturing opportunities in the defence sector. The Palaszczuk said Products for Industry Pty Ltd, one of 111 SMEs that form the Queensland branch of the Australian Defence and Industry Network, is typical of … Continue reading New Darra manufacturing facility opens in Qld →

The Queensland state government is increasing its efforts to attract business to the state with a $40 million boost in the state budget for the Advance Queensland Industry Attraction Fund. In a press statement on the state government’s website earlier this week, Deputy Premier and Treasurer Jackie Trad said the additional funding, being provided over … Continue reading $40 million for Qld businesses, manufacturing a focus →

This year’s Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards honoured women veterans of the industry. Minister for Industry and Employment Ben Carroll presented the inaugural Woman Manufacturer of the Year award to Vanessa Kearney from Viva Energy and Jill Walsh from Actco Pickering Metal Industries at the awards. The Hall of Fame Gala Dinner, held at … Continue reading Women shine at Victorian Manufacturing Hall Of Fame Awards →

Minister for Employment and Small Business Shannon Fentiman said during a visit to students at Warrigal Road State School that the latest round of small business grants will help local businesses to thrive and grow, leading to more jobs for Queenslanders, according to the Queensland state government’s website. “We know the first few years can … Continue reading Grants available to help small businesses get a kickstart →

The Queensland government has announced that registrations are open for women leaders and business owners to access financial education and support programs to help their business to succeed, with the Queenslands government’s Advancing Women in Business initiative. Minister for Employment and Small Business Shannon Fentiman announced the latest series of seminars and conversation workshops to support … Continue reading More financial education, support programs for women business leaders →

The Victorian state government has stated that it will invest $2.9 million in educating thousands of Victorian startups though the state’s startup agency, LaunchVic. Sixteen service providers have been selected to run the education programs, with up to 2,000 places available to Victorian startup founders and their staff. The programs will vary in length and … Continue reading Boost for startup skills and services from Vic gov →

The future looks bright for the small-scale solar power industry as more and more households and businesses are taking interest in installing power panels on their rooftops than ever before. According to the Clean Energy Regulator’s Small-Scale Renewable Energy data, a record 3.5 million panels were installed in 2017 across all Australian states and territories, … Continue reading More users of renewable energy, growth in small-scale solar power industry →

The Westpac-Melbourne Institute SME Index (the Index), which examines the economic health of Australian small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), shows business confidence is in slight positive territory heading into the holiday season. The Index rose from 100.7 in Q3 2017 to 101.8 in Q4 2017. The uplift in confidence is being supported by a solid improvement … Continue reading SME sentiments positive heading to the close of 2017 →