WITH a focus on taking beef business owners to the ‘next level’ in their business thinking, skills and profitability, a series of Better Beef Business workshops have been launched in southern Queensland, with a good response from participants at a recent pilot event held in the South Burnett district.

The main focus of the program is on improving business, as opposed to improving production – though production issues are discussed. Better Beef Business workshops are designed to complement and build on other programs such as Grazing BMP and EDGE programs, by digging down into the detail around business strategy and management. They are run as part of the MLA Donor Company-supported Northern Beef Business Mentoring Program.

One of the early participants, Durong beef producer Philip Coe said he found the workshop informative.

“The presentation was knowledgeable and made me sit back and think of some strategic areas of our business that could do with some improvement,” he said. “The day definitely set out some positive strategies we can use to make our business more profitable.”

Business not production

The program addresses topics such as:

• How to factor changing climate conditions into structured long-term business plans
• Increasing income and profit – by reviewing current and potential markets (including those outside of participant’s current thinking) and engaging key customers
• Better managing people – including workers, contractors and improving family dynamics
• Ways to create a high performing business suitable for sale or for attracting an investor
• Managing business change over time – particularly if business control is changing hands.

The Program is also based around sharing ideas and experiences with like-minded producers, through discussion based events. The specialist presenters have a role in both facilitating these structured discussions, and delivering business information.

“The free-flowing conversations and opinions have given me some confidence in where we should be focusing in regards to our beef enterprise,” workshop participant Jeff Seiler said.

Click the link below to view a webinar from the program titled “Creating a high-performing beef enterprise – the five golden rules.”

How the program works

The Program is a combination of one-day workshops and longer-term mentoring by business change mentors.

The workshops allow participants to undertake a stocktake of where their business is now, and work out what needs to be changed or fine-tuned.

The mentoring provides support and guidance through the business change process – based on the understanding that the hardest part is not working out what needs to change – the hardest part is following through and making the changes happen. The mentors work with businesses to guide them through the business redesign or refinement process and help them stay accountable to their desired results.

Producers can also stay up to date with market updates and business tips via webinars, email updates and teleconferences.

Getting involved:

Workshops will be run across southern Queensland in the remainder of 2016, and move to other regions in 2017.

More information: www.abdi.com.au/northernbeefmentoring or contact Gordon Stone E: info@abdi.com.au or T: (07) 4615 2255.

Source: MLA