Business Retention Expansion Program
Two projects undertaken during 2000 and 2001
The
Business Retention and Expansion Program (BREP) promotes employment
development by helping to identify the concerns and barriers
to survival and growth facing small local business. It springs
from the economic development principle that sustainable long
term business and employment growth is created by retaining
and expanding existing businesses rather than by attracting
new businesses into a community. Research in the USA has shown
that seventy percent of all new jobs are created through the
growth of existing businesses.
The BREP has been developed over 15 years in the USA where it has been very effective in creating a direct link between businesses and local business development resources.
BREP operates on the principal that the well being of any community is underpinned by the success and vitality of its business sector.
The Centre has partnered two Area Consultative Councils - Jobs East in Melbourne's East and South East Development in the Westernport Region. The USA BREP model has been adapted to suit the cultural and local needs of the two distinct regions.
Jobs East worked in partnership with six local government areas - the Cities of Boroondara, Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Whitehorse and the Shire of Yarra Ranges. The pilot involved co-opting individuals from the local community, business, service organisations, educational institutions and business organisations to local Task Forces. Local Task forces were responsible for administering the survey tool by interview and for assessing, actioning and reviewing any immediate issues arising from the interviews. Six hundred and fifty businesses were interviewed in 1998. The project underwent a strategic planning phase during 1999 and final analysis and evaluation of the project was undertaken by the Swinburne team in 2000.
South East Development (SED) brought together the six local government economic development units, the region's tertiary educational sector, other business development resources and networks active in the region, to implement a regional Business Retention and Expansion Program in the second half of 2000.
In partnership with the Councils of Bass Coast Shire, Cardinia Shire, City of Casey, Frankston City, City of Greater Dandenong and Mornington Peninsula, SED sought to concentrate the project on three of the key regional sectors - manufacturing, retail and tourism. The selection was justified on the basis that the sectors are well represented within each of the region's six municipalities. The three sectors represent a significant proportion of the region's workforce.
SED drew heavily upon the experiences (and generic resources) of Jobs East. Nine hundred and seventy-nine businesses were interviewed either in person or by telephone survey. Some questions were omitted from the telephone surveys.
The Swinburne team undertook data analysis and the production of the BREP reports in the first half of 2001. There is a regional report for each region and six local area reports for each region.
Full reports can be obtained from
Jobs East
333 Mitcham Rd
Mitcham, 3132
Ph 9873 8377
South East Development
Suite 2, 329 Thomas Street,
Dandenong, 3175
Ph 9793 6466