Five local women who are starting a new business and five looking to grow their existing business have been awarded City-sponsored 2024 Business Accelerator scholarships with Business in Heels.
We’ve increased our support for the scholarship in order to double the number of recipients this year, up from five in 2023:
- Maria Prusac – A Simple Wish Events
- Hannah Lawicki (née Millerick) – Wedding Photographer
- Quill Howard – Clinical Nutritionist
- Jess Hobbs – Waste Free Events
- Elly Mirkovic – Complete K9 Training
- Laura Heywood – Digi Media Hive
- Marie Walker – Darling Pea Garden Care
- Mariana Gaona Lopez – Pink Ocean Virtual Solutions
- Octavia Chabrier – Wellness Consultant
- Sam Searle – Sensitive Support Services
The Business Accelerator program has just begun and runs until August 2025. It is designed to support and empower new and existing female business owners in Greater Geelong to set up, establish and build sustainable businesses.
This intensive program supports business owners who might already have a great product or service but don’t know how to develop it into a sustainable business. The 12-month course also assists women who need help refining their target market, promotion or pricing model in order to become more profitable.
Participants will have access to business mentoring, 24/7 support from trainers, regular group sessions and an online course.
The successful recipients will receive training on business planning, cash flow, unique sales proposition (USP), target market clarity, content and social media strategies, marketing, website search engine optimisation (SEO) and more.
Mayor Trent Sullivan
Council is thrilled to partner with Business in Heels once again to empower a new wave of local businesswomen.
A big congratulations to Maria, Hannah, Quill, Jess, Elly, Laura, Marie, Mariana, Octavia and Sam for securing a Business Accelerator scholarship.
Council is pleased to support you through this intensive year-long course that will help set you up for success in the business world and we look forward to seeing you achieve into the future.
Business in Heels CEO Lisa Sweeney
The 10 local women will learn from experienced mentors and receive tailored training over 12 months.
The comprehensive Business Accelerator program includes lessons, workshops and mentoring designed to set these businesswomen up for success.
We will support these women by arming them with critical business knowledge to build a profitable business with staying power.
