We are extremely proud to announce that the small business accelerator program we designed and delivered in partnership with Wyndham City Council, has been named a finalist for the Economic Development Initiatives – Regions Over 15,000 Residents category at the National Economic Development Awards for Excellence. The award recognises organisations and individuals who are driving sustainable growth and community prosperity across Australia.

The winners will be announced at the National Economic Development Conference 2024 (NEDC24), during the Awards Gala on 17 October 2024 in Melbourne. Being named a finalist in such a competitive national field is a significant achievement and a testament to the impact the program has had on small businesses in Wyndham.

Innovate to Excelerate: Empowering Local Businesses

The Innovate to Excelerate program, which targeted small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating for 12 months to four years, was designed to boost entrepreneurship, strengthen local supply chains, and increase business capacity. Through a combination of personalised education, 1:1 coaching, and strategic group workshops, the program aimed to empower local businesses with the knowledge, skills and confidence to innovate and grow.

Participants developed a strategic 90-day action plan, incrementally building their knowledge through personalised online education and tailored educational workshops. This was complemented by 1:1 coaching and mentoring to ensure comprehensive approach to business growth.

The program's objectives focused on enhancing business knowledge and confidence, increasing revenue, and creating job opportunities within the Wyndham community.

Impact by the Numbers

The success of the Innovate to Excelerate program is reflected in both qualitative and quantitative outcomes. At the end of the program, the results were:

An average of 53.23% achieving mastery in business knowledge across all educational modules, with top performers reaching the mastery level in 100% of all education and 100% of all participants demonstrating their understanding and confidence to apply their increased business knowledge.
9 out of 10 businesses reported revenue growth, with 50% attributing their increased revenue directly to the program. One participant made more in two weeks during the program, than the whole of the preceding quarter.
Five new jobs were created, further contributing to economic development initiatives.
Two businesses began preparing to export, while several invested in new assets like vehicles and automation software.

Real Business Impact

The program wasn’t just about learning; it was about putting that knowledge into action. Local businesses experienced significant transformations:

Pickleball Alley quadrupled session offerings, secured a new venue lease, and launched youth programs, seeing a rapid increase in revenue and community engagement.
Little Growling Cafe expanded into catering and event services and is on track to open a third location.
Safer Family Solutions created a new brand, built a website, established an appointment booking service, and secured new clients, marking a pivotal moment for the business.
Caffeina & Co merged two passions to create a unique proposition and leapt into the next stage of business.

See images of these business at the bottom of the page.

Feedback from Participants

With a Net Promoter Score of 90, an attendance rate of 94% and

The feedback from participating businesses speaks volumes about the program's effectiveness. 100% of participants agreed that the program helped them define their business's core purpose, identify key strengths, and clarify their business model. One participant noted, "This program gave me the confidence to build my business and the tools to apply what I learned immediately." Another participant praised the group sessions, saying, "The program helped me focus on what matters most for my business growth."

A real bonus to the program is the sense of connection with each other and location. The cohort meet regularly to continue to support each other in their growth journey.

Looking Ahead

As a finalist at the National Economic Development Awards for Excellence, 25eight’s Small Business Accelerator Program demonstrates the power of targeted support in helping small businesses thrive. We look forward to the Awards Gala in October and remain committed to driving sustainable growth for businesses across Wyndham and beyond.

For more information on the National Economic Development Awards, visit this link.

Images of four of the participating businesses

Images 1 - 4 is Pickleball Alley’s website, showcasing their ever-increasing venue and session offerings as well as a new Expo.

Images 5 & 6 is Little Growling Cafe’s website where they highlight the stories behind their food and showcase their new catering offering.

Images 7 & 8 is Safer Family Solutions (formerly Eraams Wellness Centre) website, their new brand and ability to book services through the website.

Images 9 & 10 is Caffeina & Co’s new website, where the lovely Jess showcasing her community building carts for hire.