Local Businesses to Benefit From Online Coaching Program
THE Seed Scheme is launching in Charters Towers, giving local women in business access to training, mentoring and support.
Nine local women are preparing to grow or launch their businesses with the support of a national program designed for, and delivered by, rural women in business.
The women, who come from a range of different sectors, have received scholarships through THE Seed Scheme, supported by Regional Australia Bank. They will take part in their first online training session on 12 March.
Training, Mentoring and Business Support
The first phase of the program includes six sessions, with weekly online training and mentoring covering business, digital skills and wellbeing.
Participants will also host a local weekend event, receive support from a dedicated facilitator, build a local support network and gain access to a national online network of other rural women in business.
THE Seed Scheme is regarded as one of the most exciting micro-focused projects in rural Australia, and the participating women are excited to be involved.
Supporting Rural Women-Led Businesses
In the past 12 months, THE Seed Scheme is estimated to have supported the generation of an additional $810,000 across communities in three states.
With a goal of supporting 700 rural women-led enterprises nationwide, the program aims to inject $17.5 million or more into the rural economy, while also delivering strong social value to participating members, partners and communities.
Rebel Black, Founder of THE Seed Scheme and THE Rural Woman, said the program is not about unearthing talent, but about activating the potential that already exists inside each woman and her business.
She said the goal is to help women build solid foundations so their businesses can support themselves, their families and their communities over the long term.
“With a scaffolded support and education approach that is focused on long-term connection and continuity, we expect that a significant percentage of THE Seed Scheme members will go on to become small businesses, and a further percentage will become medium businesses,” Ms Black said.
“This will see the economic and social impact of this scheme expand exponentially in years and decades to come.”
THE Seed Scheme Goals
Through training, mentoring and community support, each online micro-enterprise Seed Scheme member is supported to achieve:
- Clarity in her vision, ambition, product or service, financial goals, profitability, marketing and sales processes.
- Confidence in herself, her ability to take her product or service to market, and her ability to succeed.
- Connection to the tools, training and technology needed to achieve her goals and manage her business effectively.
- Support from other micro-enterprise founders for advice, collaboration, encouragement and shared learning.
- Access to sponsor partners and their extended networks.
About THE Rural Woman
THE Rural Woman was launched in 2015 by Founder Rebel Black and is an internationally award-winning business headquartered in the outback opal mining town of Lightning Ridge, NSW.
The business has a team of 15 women across Australia and Asia, including advisers, mentors, coaches, administrative support, technology consultants and training specialists.
Further Information
For further information, interviews or connection to local Seed Scheme members, please contact Rachel Allan, Project Manager of THE Seed Scheme, on 0408 177 700 or by email at
