Member for Farrer, Sussan Ley today announced that four local businesses had received Industry Skills Fund grants totalling $15,468, assisting with the costs of training their staff to take advantage of new growth opportunities.

Ms Ley said the enterprises were located in Broken Hill and Albury, and also family cattle and sheep grazing properties at Holbrook and north of Griffith (respectively).

“Although these businesses are each very different, the common theme is an interest in expansion and diversification.

“The Turnbull Government is committed to helping business, especially small and medium enterprises, to grow, expand their markets, and create more local jobs.

“Under the Industry Skills Fund, eligible businesses can receive support to undertake training in areas that they have identified as growth opportunities and develop innovative training solutions,” said Ms Ley.

The fund will assist in building a highly skilled workforce that can take advantage of new business growth opportunities and adapt to technological change. The four local projects are;

• Broken Hill
Sumtin Electrical is an electrical contracting business working predominantly in the mining industry and residential housing market. They have identified an opportunity to expand their services to the installation of grid connect and stand-alone battery storage solar units and are completing training in the installation of grid connected and stand-alone power systems to support this opportunity.

• Albury
McSpark Electrical is an electrical contractor. The business has identified an opportunity to expand their services to the installation of hybrid, grid connect and stand-alone battery storage solar units. They are completing training in the design and installation of grid connected and stand-alone power systems to support this opportunity.

• Holbrook
Business is a beef cattle producer. Business has identified opportunity to expand into intensive cell grazing. It will also allow them to enter into the market of carbon farming which adopts farming methods that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and earns carbon credits. Training is being undertaken to increase skills in specialised carbon farming.

• Goolgowi
Business is a sheep grazier who has identified opportunity to expand into intensive cell grazing to increase production and take advantage of increasing demand in foreign export markets. Training is being undertaken to increase skills in specialised grazing management, including property development, business analysis, paddock management, herd recording, grazing chart analysis and carbon baselining and is part of a massive growth phase to both incorporate family farm succession planning and to build a long term, sustainable, family farming grazing business.

“The Government provides funding to businesses to help with the costs of any associated training including assisting employees to acquire new skills, upgrade their existing qualifications, or to train staff who may be new to the workforce,” said Ms Ley.

For further information about the Industry Skills Fund please visit www.business.gov.au/industryskillsfund or telephone 13 28 46.