PacPrint forums discusses future funding

The PacPrint Forum Series Friday sessions will see presentations on printers funding their futures.

There will be two sessions during the day, the first starting at 1.30pm hosted by Celia Jordaan, principle procurement advisor at Ichiban Commercial Solutions, and the second at 2.15pm by John John Macdonald, assistant state manager at Victoria for AusIndustry Business Services.

Jordaan has 21 years of experience in procurement, tenders, supply chains, contract management law and risk. She will be outlining strategies to make tendering easy – and to boost business performance and improve the bottom line.

Jordaan says, “The session will look at why businesses might choose to tender for work, how to assess and prepare your business for the tendering process, what is involved in putting together a successful tender, and how to get the most out of the process, win or lose. Tendering is big business, and an excellent way to establish solid, reliable revenue streams that can fund your business development and diversification, but many businesses are daunted by the prospect. Some people do not know where to find tender opportunities, or think the process is too difficult or time-consuming. Others assume you have to meet exceptionally high external standards to even be considered.

“In fact, a lot of my clients are surprised to find just how low the barriers to participation are for many tenders, and how straightforward the process can be once you know how to approach it – and that is what I will be sharing in this PacPrint forum session. Tendering is an amazing opportunity to see where the market is, to benchmark your performance, and identify weaknesses in how you are communicating.”

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The second session will be straiht after and is a presentation from John Macdonald, assistant state manager at Victoria for AusIndustry Business Services, who will outline a range of government initiatives and programs which might help attendees.

MacDonald says, “Industries like print face great challenges, but also enormous opportunities. The government is keen to help businesses innovate and I am looking forward to introducing some of the ways in which businesses can access assistance and clarifying who might be eligible.”

“Established businesses may benefit from the Entrepreneurs Program which facilitates access to valuable services like professional business evaluations, specialist support to overcome barriers to growth and supply chain facilitation.

“Under this program, eligible businesses can access co-funded business growth grants of up to $20,000 to help them access external expertise to implement recommended improvements. This program also has an accelerating commercialisation component, under which established or start-up businesses, entrepreneurs and researchers who own the IP for new products and services can access funding and co-funded grants of up to $1m to bring those to market.”

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Macdonald points out other initiatives which could deliver benefits to future-focused businesses in the print sector include the Advanced Manufacturing Industry Growth Centre Initiative and the $653m Cooperative Research Centres Program.

“The Advanced Manufacturing Industry Growth Centre aims to build capability and stronger industry systems through a collaborative, industry-led approach. The aim is to enhance the competitiveness of our advanced manufacturing sector, so that Australian business becomes – and remains – globally competitive.

“The CRC Program is also led by industry. It’s a merit-based grant program that supports collaborative partnerships between researchers and SMEs, and has a proven track record for developing important new technologies, products and services.”

For businesses already attempting to make or do something new, and already involved in R&D – like testing new or improved products, processes or services, Macdonald suggests the R&D Tax Incentive may also be worth investigating as it can provide tax offsets for eligible businesses.

The PacPrint Forum Series is completely free of charge to all registered PacPrint and Visual Impact visitors, but with limited seating available at each session, bookings are essential. Go to the PacPrint website to find out more.

PacPrint will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, May 23-26. 

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