Ten high-performing SMEs named as participants in ANZs Business Growth Program
In partnership with the University of South Australia’s Centre for Business Growth, ANZ has identified ten high-performing Australian small-to-medium sized businesses to participate in a nine-month intensive program that provides executives with the skills they need to accelerate company growth and compete in a global marketplace.
The program is open to executive teams of ANZ business customers with between 5 and 200 employees and more than $5 million in annual sales. It was developed by Dr Jana Matthews, ANZ Chair in Business Growth, Director of the Centre of Business Growth at the University of South Australia.
Luggage and leather goods company Hunt Leather, construction company Cadwell Constructions and Interiors and sports injury service WorkXtra are three of the ten businesses chosen to commence the course in 2016.
The companies who participated in the 2014/2015 program achieved an aggregate 24 per cent increase in revenue during the program, taking earnings from $132m to $164m, and created 114 new jobs in total. 40 per cent of participants are now selling their products and services in nine new countries, and 30 per cent of businesses opened offices in new countries.
ANZ Managing Director Corporate & Commercial Banking Mark Hand said: “This program gives CEOs a framework to sustainably scale their businesses. It is important that we provide not only finance and banking services, but also the essential knowledge to expand and grow.
“With Asia on our doorstep, it is essential that CEOs and executives look to external support to prepare their companies for growth in offshore markets. CEOs and executives need to develop their leadership and management skills in order to lead and manage growth sustainably in the overseas market. ,” said Mr Hand.
Program facilitator Dr Jana Matthews said: “We believe each of these companies have high growth potential. Many small companies begin as a family business with close links to employees and the community. It is important for CEOs to learn what is required to grow their companies and why they need to innovate and go global.
“95 per cent of the executives we’ve worked with say they now understand their company’s growth issues and what they need to do to lead, manage and accelerate growth. We look forward to working with these ten companies and helping them unlock their potential,” said Dr Matthews.