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The Commonwealth government has partnered with defence industry to develop a new pilot program aimed at equipping SMEs with the tools to secure contracts.
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The federal government has invested $430,000 to facilitate the rollout of the Defence Ready Pilot program, developed in conjunction with Hunter Defence, Australian Industry and Defence Network AIDN and Goal Group.
The program, offered to businesses free of charge, aims to ensure local SMEs are better equipped to secure key defence contracts.
The pilot program will be jointly delivered by HunterNet (a member of Hunter Defence) and the Centre for Defence Industry Capability (CDIC), which will provide free online workshops to Hunter-based businesses.
Topics covered by the workshop include tendering, cyber security requirements, export controls and business continuity.
The 13 online and interactive modules will be delivered over three tiers – Explorer, Exponent and Expert –assisting both new entrants and established businesses over the next 14 months.
Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price noted the benefits of the new program.
“Regional businesses like those in the Hunter provide crucial support to Defence,” Minister Price said.
“They are supporting Australia’s security and ensuring our nation can achieve a robust, sovereign defence industry.
“The Defence Ready Pilot is all about helping more local businesses win Defence work.”
Senator for NSW Hollie Hughes also welcomed the initiative, adding: “I would encourage any interested Hunter region business to get involved in this fantastic initiative.”
Bret Barton, CEO of the Goal Group, said the program would deliver insight and advice to SMEs based upon decades of “hard-learned Defence business experience”.
“The result will be a larger, more capable SME workforce who are Defence ready,” he added.
Hunter Defence chair Tim Owen said government funding would bolster business participation, noting that the contribution was a recognition of the work conducted by Hunter Defence Task Force.
“Defence is an important industry to the Hunter and provides significant opportunities for SMEs to pivot as our regional economy continues to diversify,” Owen said.
“We have been working closely with Minister Price and the federal and state governments to promote regional capability, and this partnership demonstrates the value they see in the work we are doing with industry in the Hunter.”
[Related: New Defence Industry Secondment Program commences]
