Communications giant Optus has used a stop on its national roadshow tour in Shepparton to announce it is providing $15,000 in telecommunications grants to local businesses.
The grants will be offered in partnership with Shepparton Chamber of Commerce and Industry to help businesses audit and upgrade their technological infrastructure to better “meet the unique evolving needs of small business owners”.
The announcement was made during the Optus Business Plus Roadshow event on Wednesday, March 29, one of four across the country, with the others being held in Adelaide, Cairns and Orange.
The roadshow included a keynote address by a co-founder of social enterprise One Love Australia, Jamal Elsheikh, and a panel discussion, which included local business owner Min Innes-Irons, from In Hospitality.
The discussion covered topics including how small businesses can navigate the current economic climate, financial tips, expansion in Shepparton and strategies for growth, recession-proofing and planning for the future.
Optus Business vice president Sean Casey said the roadshow aimed to connect local business owners with business mentors and the technology that could improve their businesses.
He said the grants on offer could help with the technological side.
“Five businesses can get $3000 each, and what that grant is about, it’s about them getting a full tech audit so that they can understand what they can do to improve that productivity through systems processes or products into their business,” he said.
Tracy Lyle, from the Shepparton Chamber of Commerce, said the grants application process would not take business operators long and offered them a chance to upgrade their technology in a way that was specific to their enterprise.
“Having Optus here means it is able to look at how technology is going to benefit them (the business) and they can actually have that conversation with someone local to work with them to build what they need,” she said.
“So they have the ability to actually spend the grant money on equipment that they have worked through knowing that they need it.”
The event was attended by about 30 local business owners, who heard from Mr Elsheikh about his experiences establishing One Love Australia and working with some of Australia’s highest profile sports, including the AFL, and with Test cricket captain Pat Cummins.
“We reflected on my experiences in the past, and not just the successes, but the failures, what didn’t work,” he said.
“Maybe sometimes it’s what not to do. What can you learn from failure, what didn’t work out, but at the same time built on what’s working, to be able to look forward to the next 12 months and meet your goals, wherever that is.”
Applications for the Optus small business grants close on April 30 and can be applied for at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Y2N7WT6