The ‘Southern Inland Regional Accelerator’ (SIRA) program supports ten businesses to realise their growth potential and is the result of collaboration between the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) and the Regional Development Australia Southern Inland region (RDA Southern Inland). 

“This is not just another workshop, this is an intensive program that will help businesses achieve real growth,” said the Acting Executive Officer of RDA Southern Inland, Richard Everson. 

Participants in similar programs have achieved an increase of 20 per cent in sales and a 17 per cent increase in the number of people they employ. Demand for the limited number of places in the Regional Accelerator Program is expected to be high. Winners will receive tailored mentoring and workshop sessions focusing on growth, goal-setting and strategy to accelerate their overall business performance. 

The RAI and RDA Southern Inland have commissioned Voyager Strategies to implement the program, supported by an expert panel of industry leaders. 

RAI CEO, Jack Archer, highlighted the significance of the Regional Accelerator Project as a way to boost the performance of local and regional economies. 

“We know that high growth small and medium sized enterprises can create up to 50 per cent of new jobs in an economy. But there is currently a big gap in how we support these businesses to be successful in regional Australia.

“The Regional Accelerator Program aims to fill this gap, by boosting the performance of high growth potential small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) in order to accelerate job creation and growth in the local economy,” he continued. 

To win a place in this prestigious program, eligible businesses in the Southern Inland region are encouraged to register their interest and make an application online at www.SIRA.net.au. Entries opened on  September 16 and close on October 7.

Contributed.