Business mentoring

Whether you are new to running a business or a seasoned business owner, a mentor can help you refine your business strategy, map out the direction that your business should be taking and assist in setting goals for your business to succeed.

The Mornington Peninsula Shire in conjunction with Small Business Mentoring Service offer mentoring sessions to help support businesses on the Peninsula.

Three free sessions are available, offering you the chance to engage in a one-on-one discussion for 45 minutes at a time with a small business mentor at no cost.

Benefits of working with a mentor:

• Help you to work on your business, rather than just in it
• Increase your marketing and business planning skills
• Help you to set objectives and direction
• Improve your motivation and confidence
• Help you to increase sales and profit
• Bring fresh thinking and identification of new opportunities
• Help you to link into other organisations
• Help you to resolve time management issues

All the business mentors have had specific experience of small business whether it is from having run a successful small business themselves or been in a company at a senior level involved with small businesses.

Bookings are essential. Simply email our team to receive your booking code.

Find out more about Small Business Mentoring Service

Business Victoria offers free online business advice sessions to help you start or grow your small business. The one-on-one sessions with a business expert will provide information on your business idea or how to grow your existing business.

Whether you’re planning, starting or growing your business, Business Victoria can help you to develop your business ideas and capabilities.

A business expert will help to identify a clear direction for your business, discuss key issues and priorities, and develop a business action plan to achieve your goals, all for free.

Available Monday to Friday from 9am to 7pm, the one-on-one online sessions last 45-minutes. Choose your mentor and book online (essential).

Sign up now for a free virtual advice session to improve your skills and get advice on your business from an expert or mentor.

Please note only one session is available for each business per 12-month period.

Self-Employment Assistance is a free Australian Government program that helps aspiring business owners or those operating an existing micro business to navigate self employment.

Eligible businesses can access a range of services such as:

• Workshops on how to start a business
• Support to develop a business plan
• Free accredited Small Business Training
• Targeted advice sessions
• Business health checks
• Small business coaching

The program allows you to choose the level of support that meets your needs and the needs of your small business.

To be eligible you must:

• Be at least 15 years of age (or at least 18 years of age to access Small Business Coaching)
• Be an Australian citizen, holder of a permanent visa, or a nominated visa holder (including a New Zealand Special Category Visa, Temporary Protection Visa Holder or a Safe Haven Visa Holder)
• Not be an undischarged bankrupt
• Meet any additional eligibility criteria specific to the Self-Employment Assistance service you have chosen

Find out more about the program here

This program is delivered on the Mornington Peninsula by:

• APM Employment Services Start Your Own Business with Self-Employment Assistance – Workforce Australia | APM
• Transcend Self-Employment Assistance Program (transcendhcs.com.au)
• Asuria Self-Employment Assistance (asuria.com.au)

When you apply to any of these programs, a business mentor will call you to discuss your needs and eligibility

The  Mornington Peninsula Shire in conjunction with Business Victoria offer free in-person sessions at selected locations on the Mornington Peninsula twice a year. Whether you’re starting, building, or transforming your business, the Small Business Bus can help you to develop your business ideas and capabilities.

On the nominate dates, business advisers offer 45-minute tailored sessions from 10am-4pm at selected locations around Victoria. They can help you to identify a clear direction for your business, discuss key issues and priorities, and develop a business action plan to achieve your goals.

Walk-ins are also welcome on this day for general information about Business Victoria as well as the Planning and Starting Your Business pack.

Contact the Business and Industry Support team to register your interest.

The FNTMP can support you to grow your tourism business by:

• connecting you with industry professionals who can provide free, one-on-one advice
• and culturally respectful support
• providing access to a suite of learning supports and resources developed for and tailored to the First Nations tourism sector.

The FNTMP is open to businesses that are:

• at least 50 percent First Nations-owned
• currently operating in the tourism sector or associated supply chain (e.g. cafes and restaurants, accommodation providers, etc.)
• that are active and currently in operation and have products or services which are or can be made available to domestic and/or international visitors.

Find out more here

The Small Business Debt Helpline is a not-for-profit that helps small business owners and sole traders in financial difficulty.

Their services are free, independent and confidential – no strings attached.

Get help with:

• understanding business and personal debts, and personal guarantees and their implications
• grants and training for small business owners that you may be able to access
• considering business viability and whether your business can survive
• disaster relief for events such as bushfires and COVID-19
• options for payment arrangements with the Australian Tax Office (ATO), creditors, suppliers and service providers
• information about closing your business, including bankruptcy and insolvency
• where you can access dispute resolution
• emotional support.

If they can’t help you with something – such as legal or health issues – they’ll connect you with someone who can.

Call 1800 413 828 from 9am to 5.30pm AEDT, Monday to Friday.

The Rural Financial Counselling Service is a federal government program delivered by NEX. The program provides financial counselling to farmers, fishers, forest growers and harvesters, as well as owners of small, rural related enterprises who are experiencing, or at risk of, financial hardship. This program is FREE for eligible clients.

A rural financial counsellor can help you: 

• understand your financial position
• understand the benefits and drawbacks of different options to manage financial issues
• develop budgets and cash flows
• negotiate with creditors
• access dispute resolution services
• understand your rights and access broader professional advice and support
• provide information on accessing government and community grants, programs or schemes

Make time to chat 1300 045 747 or Email NEX