Skills for Growth
Small and medium enterprises play a pivotal role in Victoria’s overall economy as they account for more than 99 per cent of all Victorian businesses, and employ nearly one million people across a range of industries.
Whatever industry your small to medium-sized business is involved in, you will always need skilled and job-ready people to help you meet your goals in the short, medium and longer term.
The Victorian Government recognises the important contribution small and medium-sized businesses make and has committed $52 million to Skills for Growth: the Workforce Development Programut
Skills for Growth: the Workforce Development Program provides a team of independent specialists who will work with you – free of charge - to identify your strategic business aims and objectives. They will assess the skills of your existing workforce and identify opportunities for skills development and training. A training plan will be put together in consultation with you, and the specialist will help you to find the most appropriate training for your business needs.
From April 2009, the program will aim to assist 5,500 Victorian small and medium sized enterprises put 55,000 of their employees into accredited training. Skills-based training helps businesses develop innovative and cost-effective work practices and highlights opportunities for productivity and growth.
The benefits of having your management and staff participate in this program include:
• increasing the productivity and efficiency of your workforce through improved skills;
• developing and applying expertise across your business, products and services;
• improvements to workplace practices and procedures; and
• skills-based training programs that meet business needs.
Your employees will continue to adapt, take on new challenges, work more effectively and apply their new skills in practical ways to benefit and grow your business.
To learn more about the program, or to register your interest in participating, visit: www.business.vic.gov.au/skillsforgrowth www.skills.vic.gov.au Alternatively, visit one of our metropolitan or regional Victorian Business Centres or call Business Victoria on 13 22 15.
To download the Skills for Growth Fact Sheet Click here
Recommended Service Providers
Mentor Professional Pty Ltd
Australian Vocational Training & Employment Services
Bill Lang International Pty Ltd
Box Hill Institute of TAFE
BRACE Education Training & Employment
Business Skills Services Pty Ltd
Centre for Adult Education
Chisholm Institute of TAFE
Deloitte Growth Solutions Pty Ltd
Drake Australia Pty Ltd
East Gippsland Institute of TAFE
FS Learning
Gipps TAFE Employment & Transitional Training Centre
Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE
Industry Education and Training Services
Pacific Personnel Australia Pty Ltd
Phalanx Resources Pty Ltd
Swinburne University of Technology
Transport Distribution Training (Victoria) Inc
University of Ballarat
Verve - knowledge and skills
Skilling Business, a consortium of Victoria University and Australian Industry Group
Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce
Wodonga Institute of TAFE
WORKCO Limited
Note: This is the list of recommended service providers that will be offered contracts to deliver the Skills for Growth Program.
Program Eligibility:
Skills for Growth: the Workforce Development Program is open to all Victorian-based small and medium sized businesses. To be eligible, your business must:
• employ between 1 to 200 staff;
• have been in operation for at least 12 months; and
• be financially viable.
The Victorian Training Guarantee:
In some cases, your staff may be eligible for The Victorian Training Guarantee which entitles Victorians to a subsidised place in a recognised vocational training course. Eligibility will be determined by factors such as age, prior educational history, citizenship and residency status.