Biz Booster assists growth-oriented small to medium businesses to fast-track their expansion and generate employment.

Local employment co-ordinator Jane Robinson said the strategy had been running successfully in the Illawarra since 2006. 

“About 300 businesses have participated in this strategy known as economic gardening,” she said.

“It focuses on who you’ve got in your region who is committed to that region and wants to grow their business.

“This was the first time we had run it in the Shoalhaven and there is absolute potential to grow in those businesses.”

Michael Duncan from Bishops at South Nowra said he wanted the Biz Booster team to take a close look at the business.

“Bishops has been going for 60 years and we’ve had it for about 20 years.

“This course was excellent.

“They had presentations from different parts of the business world who gave us ideas.

“We had one-on-one coaching and looked at strategies specific to growing our business.

“It was motivating.”

Michelle Rowe bought Centaur Packaging with her husband three years ago. 

It was a one-person business that now employs four people.

The Biz Booster program has enabled them to employ another staff member.

“We went into it to work out how to move forward,” she said.

“The other thing for me was because we mainly sell business to business it was about making some business connections.

“I think local people do like to support locals, but a lot of them are not aware of what is available in the region.

“[Biz Booster] gives you a refocus.

“They get you to really think about the dynamics of what you’re doing and help you find ways to improve it,” she said.