A fully funded opportunity to improve efficiency for regional NSW manufacturers

If you’re a manufacturer based in regional NSW, there’s a timely opportunity to step back, review how your business operates and identify practical ways to lift efficiency at no cost to you.

The NSW Government’s Regional Business Improvement Program offers eligible SME manufacturers a 100% funded business improvement audit, designed to identify opportunities to strengthen operations and support long-term growth.

What is the Regional Business Improvement Program?

The program provides government-funded improvement audits for eligible manufacturing businesses located in regional NSW Local Government Areas. These audits are delivered by experienced industry professionals and focus on identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, productivity and capability through lean and continuous improvement practices.

In short, it’s a structured, expert-led review of how your manufacturing operation runs, with clear recommendations on where you can improve.

What’s included in the audit?

Eligible businesses can access:

• A fully funded improvement audit – there is no cost to participate
• A detailed review of operational processes, workflows and systems
• Practical recommendations aligned to lean and continuous improvement principles
• A tailored roadmap outlining improvement opportunities, including estimated implementation costs

The audit itself is fully covered by the program. Any costs associated with implementing recommendations are the responsibility of the business.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible, your business must:

• Be an SME manufacturer operating in regional NSW
• Employ between ten and 200 full-time equivalent staff
• Hold a valid ABN and an eligible manufacturing ANZSIC or BIC code
• Have $10 million in public liability insurance (or equivalent)
• Not be insolvent or subject to unresolved legal or reputational issues
• Commit appropriate time and resources to participate in the audit process

Key dates to note

• Applications open: 10 December 2025
• Applications close: 16 January 2026 at 4:00pm

Places are limited and assessed on a first-come, first-served basis, so early action is important.

Why this matters for your business

For many regional manufacturers, day-to-day demands make it hard to step back and objectively assess operations. This program creates space to do exactly that – with expert support and no upfront cost.

Participating businesses gain:

• Clear insight into inefficiencies and improvement opportunities
• A practical, costed plan to support smarter decision-making
• Stronger foundations for productivity, competitiveness and sustainable growth

How we can support you

As your accounting and advisory partner, we can help you make the most of this opportunity by:

• Reviewing eligibility and helping prepare a strong, compliant application
• Guiding you through the audit process and liaising with service providers
• Supporting post-audit planning from budgeting and cashflow considerations to implementation prioritisation

Next steps

If you think your business may be eligible, now is the time to act. We can help you assess eligibility, prepare your application and plan what comes next, so you’re ready to turn insight into action.

This program is a rare opportunity for regional NSW manufacturers to access expert operational advice at no immediate cost. If you’d like support applying or planning your next steps, get in touch with our team today.