Mentoring, Training and Leadership Program

A comprehensive program for small business owners, operators and managers in 2008 and 2009 - enrolments for 2009 now open. Practical, hands-on and highly relevant with real outcomes for you and your business. Including one-on-one mentoring sessions; and learning sessions with leading sustainability educator, The Permaforest Trust. Only $619 per person

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Mentoring, Training and Leadership Program

Small business owners, operators and managers have lives that overflow with busyness. The responsibilities of running a successful small business coupled with family, community and other commitments usually make it impossible to step back and look from a distance at either the business itself or approaching opportunities and threats for the business from external sources like governments, consumers or large corporations.

The Building Sustainable Small Business (BSSB) Mentoring, Training and Leadership Program is designed to give small business owners, operators, managers or key staff the chance to briefly step out of their business and significantly grow their skills through hands-on, relevant, high-value activities.

The Mentoring, Training and Leadership Program runs in 2008 and 2009 with enrolments now open for 2009

Fit into your business commitments and lifestyle
Give you practical, hands-on, highly relevant, effective and real outcomes for you and your business
Offer you 3x half-day, one-on-one mentoring sessions with a business or industry leader related to your industry sector, at your own premises
Give you accredited progress towards Certificate 4 studies in sustainable business with leading sustainability educator Permaforest Trust. This is through 6 x multi-hour sessions. Special arrangements have been made to deliver these sessions by DVD to Scenic Rim participants, either in group sessions or by individual online viewing.
Give you your choice of a self-directed business project that’s of high value to your business. Choices include (but are not limited to):
Detailed business planning (including sustainability) to support your long-term business success
Resource management planning (water, energy, waste etc) to save your business money or stabilise your resource costs in the face of rising prices
Preparation for relevant sustainability accreditation in your industry sector (eg) Ecotourism, Green Globe, EcoBiz, Organics, Biodynamics, Permaculture etc
Research and development of new product/s or services
Detailed marketing planning (including the rise of the green consumer)
Detailed sustainability or post-carbon business transition planning to transform your business
Offer you ongoing facilitation, support and guidance in a collaborative and practical environment
Give you access to the Building Sustainable Small Business interactive website and online resources
Give you a comprehensive resource book of small business information, tools and links
Create a network of colleagues, peers and co-learners
Support your business leadership across the Region
Give you the opportunity to showcase your business at the annual Beaudesert Eco Expo

How will this program help you and your business?

This program is specifically designed and timetabled to ensure you can continue to operate your business efficiently on a day-to-day basis while participating in all aspects. At the same time:

You can step out of your busy day-to-day operational business tasks to reflect on your business – it’s history, lessons learned so far, your original aims and aspirations for starting the business and where you’d like to go in the future
You can update your knowledge about the huge shifts that are starting to radically change the way we do business – issues like climate change, peak oil, water scarcity, fuel and energy costs and shortages, the rise of the green consumer, and changing government regulations and incentives
You will learn how these phenomenon are creating opportunities for small businesses that plan ahead
You will be able to plan ahead and position your business to take advantage of emerging opportunities
You will be able to prepare your business for the external threats and challenges that are emerging globally, regionally and locally
You will have 3 half-day, one-on-one sessions with a leading business person from yours or a similar industry – to discuss your business aspirations and operational systems with the best in the business and have their undivided attention and feedback
You can prepare to reduce or stabilise key business costs if resources like water, energy, fuel and waste are significant to your business
You will have access to a wide range of practical tools and resources to help you run your business more effectively and efficiently
You will create a relevant plan for your business that combines effective management with sustainability, growth, transition or transformation
You will meet and link with like-minded, local business people and start to create a strong, influential network of sustainable businesses in the region
Your business will be showcased across the shire and region to consumers, colleagues, government leaders and other key stakeholders.

Who are the mentors in the program?

The program is engaging business leaders with extensive, practical experience in sustainable business from a number of industries including farming and agriculture, food, tourism and ecotourism, manufacturing, urban development and home-based/cottage industry.

We will give participants mentor names and details before the program begins so that the best match can be made between each participant and their mentor.

What are the classes at the Permaforest Trust all about?

The Permaforest Trust is a leading non profit sustainability learning organisation based in Byron Bay. It offers a highly relevant, practical and formally accredited curriculum that prepares students to create or grow sustainable enterprises, communities and organisations.

Program participants who choose to attend four core classes and two electives (conducted in either the first half or second half of each year), and who complete a self-directed plan relevant to the sustainability of their own business are eligible for assessment towards Certificate 4 and Permaculture International accreditation.

Permaforest’s classes begin with an overview of permaculture principles because these are extremely relevant to planning and developing sustainable businesses, projects, enterprises and communities in the face of global changes such as climate change.

Six multi-hour classes will be offered to participants in Building Sustainable Small Business:

Four core classes are:

Introduction to Permaculture Principles and Practices
Bioregions and Bioregional Development
Community Development
Project Administration

Two elective classes from:

Energy Fundamentals
Organic Farming and Gardening
Appropriate Technology
Climatic Factors
Urban Permaculture
Rural Permaculture
Forestry and Silviculture
Earthworks, Water and Aquaculture
Food Storage and Preservation

The classes will be organised in multi-hour DVD sessions in the Scenic Rim Region to suit participants and online directly with Permaforest Trust. Some elective classes may require travel to Permaforest Trust’s Byron Bay campus.

How much does the program cost?

This BSSB Mentoring, Training and Leadership program is funded by AusIndustry and Scenic Rim Regional Council and is coordinated by sustainability learning organisation the Ethos Foundation.

Because of the significant funding received by local and federal government, all-inclusive participation in the full program is only $619 per person.

The BSSB program cost includes...

...all Permaforest Trust learning resources, and assessment is included.

For more information about Permaforest Trust go to their website www.permaforesttrust.org.au or read their Certificate 4 and Diploma Course Information Document at www.permaforesttrust.org.au/apt

Find out more and register for the program...