Industry Facilitation and Support Program IFSP Regional

Industry Facilitation and Support Program (IFSP) – Regional Round 2 Peter Cox Industry Participation Branch WA Department of Commerce

BACKGROUND • Genesis - Regional Buy Local Working Group Report submitted to Cabinet in January 2011 • From that report $500, 000 in Royalties for Regions funding was allocated to the Department of Commerce for - regional briefing sessions - IFSP funding aimed at improving access by SMEs to the supply chains of the government and resources sectors

BACKGROUND • Four rounds of the IFSP have been completed since 2012 - State-wide round funded by Department of Commerce - Regional Round funded through Royalties for Regions - Two jointly funded rounds between Department of Commerce and Chevron • The four completed rounds have achieved - 315 jobs created - 33 apprenticeship positions created - $205 million in contracts generated - Over 600 attendees at 12 regional briefings

CURRENT ROUND • The current regional round of the IFSP is the second funded through R 4 R • Support has been broadened • Now supports SMEs accessing opportunities in - State and local government - Resources sector - Agribusiness - Tourism - Utilities (gas, water, power) - Other major regional market opportunities

FUNDING AVAILABLE • The total amount available is $405, 000 • Up to $25, 000 is available in matched funding to successful applicants

ELIGIBILITY • ABN • Solvent • Not a charitable organisation • Headquartered in regional WA • Operating for 3 years (some flexibility) • Employ less than 200 people • Turnover between $250, 000 and $100 million • Applicant able to pay up-front • No double dipping for the same activity from other Government sources

EXAMPLES OF WHAT IFSP WILL FUND AND WHAT IT WON’T FUND Temporary expert / consultancy fees ü ü ü Meeting pre-qualification requirements Implementation and audit of ISO management system standards Contract and tender negotiations Business / marketing plans Feasibility studies Assistance in applying for other government and international grants ü International market entry planning • • • Unqualified consultants Third parties that are not at arm’s length from the applicant Support of any legal action

EXAMPLES OF WHAT IFSP WILL FUND AND WHAT IT WON’T FUND Equipment purchase / upgrade ü Upgrading or modifying existing equipment, vehicles or machinery ü Acquiring equipment, machinery ü Vehicles (commercial and/or specialised in nature eg Plant / Forklift) • Vehicles not commercial or specialised in nature, that can be used for personal and recreational purposes i. e. cars, utility vehicles, vans and 4 x 4 s.

EXAMPLES OF WHAT IFSP WILL FUND AND WHAT IT WON’T FUND Internal business systems ü Improvements to occupational health & safety systems, quality assurance systems, manufacturing and management systems ü Upgrades or expansions to applicant owned property/buildings ü Software purchase and upgrades e. g. tender management software, computer aided drafting or project management software ü Purchase of electrical equipment (desktop computers, laptops or portable electronic devices) linked to remote working • • • General software upgrades and purchases e. g. Microsoft Office/Windows operating systems Land property acquisitions Internal research and development activities

EXAMPLES OF WHAT IFSP WILL FUND AND WHAT IT WON’T FUND Training ü Up-skilling employees which leads to operational improvements ü Training linked with the acceleration of Australian Apprenticeship completion rates ü Travel and accommodation costs associated with training - where local options are not available ü Costs involved in bringing registered trainers to deliver local group training • • • In house training Training by unregistered training organisations Tertiary education

PAYMENTS AND REPORTING PAYMENTS • Payments are made as re-imbursement so you must be able to pay for the activity upfront • Last date for applicants’ claims is 1 May 2015 REPORTING • Within 6 months of receiving funding. Not onerous but critical for us to measure the success of the program and feed this back to our masters • A template is provided

FURTHER INFORMATION • Department of Commerce website www. commerce. wa. gov. au/localindustryparticipation • Interactive pdf application form online • User guide • Max Betteridge, Department of Regional Development, Aboriginal Economic Development section, is here for any Aboriginal businesses that may wish to speak with him