Michael Ferguson,Minister for Science and Technology
The Tasmanian Liberal Government is boosting the Digital Ready for Business program to ensure small businesses continue to receive tailored and targeted support assistance at no charge, with a range of new resources and guides, as well as additional one-on-one business coaching.
Following increased demand for this successful program, we have increased funding in the 2020-21 State Budget to more than $1 million over the next two years, which will support Tasmanian businesses, jobs and confidence.
The program’s free one-on-one coaching support will extend from two hours a year to four hours a year from January 1, 2021.
The program is also providing extra resourcing to respond to a significant increase in businesses enquiring about ways they can uplift their cyber security capacity and mitigate their potential risk.
This follows feedback from businesses to the no-cost coaching sessions, which has been incredibly positive and has been accessed by more than 700 Tasmanian businesses in 2020.
Mr Andrew Quill of AQ Advisory has been appointed as a specialist small business cyber security adviser to the Digital Ready for Business program, to provide businesses with individualised cyber security advice and assistance upon referral from their Digital Coach.
Mr Quill is a well-regarded expert in the field and by his peers, serving as an active member of the peak body for the ICT sector; TasICT, as well as chair of the organisation’s cyber security subcommittee.
Mr Quill will be a tremendous asset to the program moving forward as we continue to expand the breadth of free support that the Digital Ready for Business program delivers, to create even more jobs for Tasmanians as we recover and rebuild.
