Ready Set GROW

In collaboration with Ballarat Regional Tourism, the City of Ballarat is proud to support and subsidise the Ready Set GROW program for visitor economy businesses to help find new growth opportunities.

The program helps businesses overcome barriers to growth, test new growth plans and take their best ideas to market.

The program, which is coordinated through Runway, is offering two different streams depending on the level the businesses concept is at, and the application process will direct each business to the correct stream depending on what is appropriate.

The Runway business growth program consists of three key stages;

• Get Ready, to evaluate the gap between the business and the external environment to identify the key challenges.
• Get Set, where the program turns the challenges into opportunities and makes sure that it meets the customer requirements.
• Grow to build a realistic and practical roadmap to execute the businesses opportunities. The business will receive one on one coaching to drive the results.

The programs consist of eight workshops along with classes for one hour per week and supplemented with one hour individual coaching sessions.  

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Daniel Moloney said Council is continuing to look for ways to help transform the quality and diversity of product, experiences, and events here in Ballarat.

“Programs like this offer great new opportunities for locals to create even more bold, compelling, and sustainable experiences. Living, breathing, and owning the DNA of Ballarat,” he said.

“This is a really exciting time for tourism and hospitality businesses as traveller confidence restores and our community is once again open to welcoming guests. The growth of Ballarat’s visitor economy and overall traveller experience is strengthened by local ideas and talent.

“This program aims to support new ideas come to life for such an important part for Ballarat’s local economy.”

Ballarat Regional Tourism CEO Sarah Myers is thrilled to be able to offer this amazing opportunity for businesses to enhance their current tourism experience or diversify their offering to meet current and emerging product demand.

“Ballarat Regional Tourism, with the help of recovery funding from the State Government and in partnership with City of Ballarat, is delighted to be able to offer this highly valuable program series to businesses in our region that contribute to our visitor economy,” she said.

“Whether you are looking to tap into a new market, or you’re a business with a brand new idea, we’d love you to get in touch to see if this is right for you.”

The program is valued at $6,000 per participant, which is fully subsidised by the City of Ballarat and Ballarat Regional Tourism. Limited spots are available, and applications are open until 1 April 2022 with the program commencing on 2 May 2022.

Apply now.