Program & events
The broad program outline includes understanding your business, strategic planning, marketing, business sustainability, financial viability of new concept / product / business expansion and the fundamentals of entrepreneurship. These topics will be addressed through the professional development sessions, field trips, panel discussions and the mentoring program. Please note; we are able to tailor aspects of the program to suit your region and your capabilities.
In a nut shell, here is the program overview:
Sessions
- FUNDAMENTALS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP
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- Establish entrepreneurial thinking, define your business growth vision and design a profitable business model.
- The following sessions are yet to be finalised. Once applicants are selected for each region, we will work up a program that is tailored to your region/groups needs.
- MARKETING AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
- Week begining 11 May 2009
- Market research, brand development and market validation.
- BUSINESS PLANNING - GROUP SESSION
- 9-16 June 2009
- Building the business planning skills of young entrepreneurs. Through this series of sessions individuals will work on developing a tailored plan for their business. Specialised trainers will work with you to investigate risks, budgets, business goals, strategies for growth etc.
- BUSINESS PLANNING - INDIVIDUAL SESSION
- June-July 2009
- Working one on one with a consultant to implement the learning's from the group planning session into your own business plan.
- FIELD TRIP TO SUCCESSFUL SA BUSINESSES
- 30-31 July 2009
- Over 2 days this session will bring together all clusters to network and visit successful businesses; hear from experts on how they took the steps to finance, manage and grow their business.
- MENTORING EVENT #1
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- Introduce Ignite participants with mentors through a facilitated session
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- SUCCESION PLANNING
- 28 September - 6 October 2009
- Understanding succession planning and how it affects farm business, understanding process of managing, planning, developing and implementing a succession plan to ensure a successful distribution of an estate within a family agricultural business context; how to communicate ideas and information to family members; legal implications
- MENTORING EVENT #2
- 16-20 February 2010
- Introduce Ignite participants with mentors.
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- FARMING THE FUTURE / ECO PLANNING
- March 2010
- Planning for success, how focussing on future sustainability can reduce costs and help you capitalise on new opportunities.
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- FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
- April 2010
- Gross margins, sensitivity analysis, budgeting, development budgets, cost effectiveness of taking on new opportunities, risk management, benchmarking, monitoring financials.
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- TASTING SA EVENT / SPEAKERS PROGRAM
- 3-5 May 2010
- More details to come
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Speakers
The program will utilise the skills of academics, lecturers, successful business owners, business consultants and numerous skilled training providers from throughout South Australia. These people will be of high standard with practical experience of regional communities and their needs.
More information about program speakers will be added to this page as they are confirmed, so remember to regularly check back for updates!
Mentoring
As young entrepreneurs you will be teamed up with business mentors in the agri-business or agri-food industries to spark new business ideas and develop your entrepreneurial skills.
Providing you with relevant mentors will enable you to access industry/market knowledge and find relevant contacts for helping with your business. Your mentor will be able to assist you in brainstorming market development schemes, business service ideas, road-testing the product, product viability and the ‘green’ integrity and marketability. This support will ensure that as the young entrepreneur your product or market development initiative is sustainable and can reasonably be anticipated to occupy an expanding place in a growing or future market.
Do you work in the agri-food industry and would like to share your knowledge and experience with enthusiastic young people?
The Ignite team is now calling for business people and entrepreneurs with experience in the agri-food sector who are willing to mentor and support Ignite participants over a 12 month period.
The Ignite mentoring program is for you if:
You have skills in the following fields:
· Business / Financial management
· Expanding through the value chain
· Investment management / off farm diversification
· Sustainable farming practice
· Marketing / product development / branding
· Managing agri-business in a changing climate
· Succession planning
You can participate in three mentoring activities over a 12 month period;
You are prepared to participate in two days of mentoring training.
Mentors will be paid an honorarium dependent on region and travel requirements.
Mentoring positions are available in the following regions: Mid North (Barossa Valley and Clare), Kangaroo Island, Naracoorte and Murraylands.
Applications closed: 27 March 2009
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