Business growth scholarships for VIC SMEs & start-ups to support growth following COVID impact

BDO Australia is offering six fully-funded business growth scholarships to Victorian SMEs and start-ups to help leaders and founders grow their companies following the impact of the COVID pandemic.

The scholarships, which commence in July 2021, have been purposely designed for leaders and founders who have experienced the turbulence and uncertainly of the COVID pandemic over the past 18 months, and who are now looking to grow their business operations.

Scholarship recipients will gain participation in the ‘BDO Business Growth Program’, a 12-month course valued at $9,540 per person. Scholarships are open to people and organisations based in Victoria that fall into one of six categories:

1. Female entrepreneur running a company she founded
2. Not-For-Profit organisation
3. Community housing organisation
4. Health organisation
5. Local Government
6. Start-ups

Aletta Boshoff, BDO Melbourne Partner and lead facilitator of the course, said many Victorian companies have had to put their growth plans on hold due to the ongoing impacts of COVID.

“As a state, we need our businesses to bounce back and then grow and prosper. We know many leaders and founders of SMEs and start-ups are currently focussed on staying afloat, but with the good news of the state slowly starting to open up, we want to help businesses plan and prepare for growth,” Aletta said.

“The BDO Business Growth Program has been designed to develop leaders and founders’ financial acumen and help them put in place a strategic framework for growth,” she said.

“While the program is grounded in financial management skills, it also covers sales and marketing strategies, human resource management and business operations to allow participants to make informed, strategic decisions that align with their vision.”

The BDO Business Growth Program will include a range of virtual and in-person workshops, access to online tools and apps, and opportunities for participants to build a network with other leaders and founders in Victoria.