LGBTIQ+ Sector Capacity Building Workshops 2022

Workshop 1: Establishing and growing your business

This workshop is designed to help small business owners learn the essentials of starting a small business. It focuses on setting up and effectively running various organisational structures including a Board, and understanding how to create a business strategy that allows employees, customers and other stakeholders (e.g. investors) to know where the company is heading.

Facilitator Ross Anderson brings his rich background as an executive coach, psychologist and experienced developer of leadership initiatives. As a trainer and facilitator with Melbourne Business School, Ross intertwines his knowledge of small business management with his skills exploring emotional intelligence, interpersonal relationships, influencing, engagement, and business resilience.

Module 1: Becoming an Incorporated organisation: responsibilities of not-for-profits

Module 2: Best-practice small business governance:

• Establishing a new Board/Management Committee
• Strengthening Board diversity and inclusion
• Board induction and management
• Business processes and reporting (business papers, minutes)
• Mentoring and coaching for business success
• Business leadership: beyond the Boardroom
• Case Study/Exercise: Establishing a diverse Board

Module 3: Strategic business planning:

• The opportunity
• The market
• Creating business networks
• Risk management and mitigation
• Goals and actions
• Case Study: Creating a business network

Take home activity: Strengthening business practices

Workshop 2: Financial & Legal Responsibilities for Small Business

This workshop is designed to help small businesses develop an understanding of systems and operational activities to improve cash flow. Business owners will learn what laws apply to their business and how to prepare for and mitigate risks across all areas of their business. They will also gain the confidence needed to engage in government and industry funding by providing practical tips and simple strategies on how to respond to tenders, quotes and grants.

Facilitator Liz Fleming is a finance professional who works with small businesses to start-up, grow and ensure they're doing it in an efficient way. Liz is a (fun!) Chartered Accountant and passionate about helping people to thrive in their chosen field and turning it into a business. As a Business Mentor, she uses her years of corporate experience and knowledge and shares this with small business owners in an approachable and energetic manner. She ensures that small business owners have the tools and understanding to succeed in business.

Module 1: Introduction to financial processes and systems for small business

Module 2: Introduction to legal responsibilities

• Financial - including Deductible Gift Recipient Status (DGR)
• Human Resources
• People and Volunteers
• Insurance
• Partnerships and stakeholder engagement
• Risk management and mitigation
• Case Study: Managing people and volunteers

Module 3: Securing funding:

• Finding the right funding
• Writing applications
• Administering funds – understanding contractual obligations and reporting
• Case Study: Lessons learnt from managing grants

Module 4: Diversifying income streams: transitioning to financial sustainability

Take home activity: Business Self-assessment

Workshop 3: Strategic Marketing for Small Business

This workshop is designed to give small businesses guidance on how to prioritise their digital and social media marketing efforts – on varying budgets. Business owners will learn actionable tips, tools, and strategies to enhance their online presence, and discuss the risks and successes that can come from creating and implementing a strategic marketing plan.

Facilitator Despina Karatzias has an unwavering passion to serve and support small business owners and marketing professionals across a range of industries. With a strong background in tourism and hospitality she is a highly experienced digital marketer and is currently the General Manager of Navii Digital. For over 30 years she has worked with small businesses to effectively create a presence in local, domestic and international markets, using digital and social media distribution strategies.

Module 1: Taking your Business online

Module 2: Social Media Marketing

• Understanding your customers
• Brand storytelling
• Designing content
• Social Sharing and Social Selling
• Risks and rewards
• Case Study: Social Media risks and rewards

Module 3: Engaging communities and stakeholders:

• Finding and landing opportunities
• Building networks
• Case Study: Engaging the broader community

Module 4: Marketing for growth: strategies for success risk identification and management

Take home activity: Taking your business online

All workshops are free for staff or volunteers from LGBTIQ+ organisations to attend and we encourage organisations to enrol key people into workshops either in person (regional or metro venues to choose from) or online.

Participants may enrol into all three workshops, or choose only one, depending on their needs and interests. To ensure a good mix of participants and organisations can be included we ask that each organisation limits their enrolments to a maximum of two representatives.

To enrol, please visit the online enrolment system via the links provided below.

Please note that workshop enrolments will close one week prior to their scheduled date.