Greater Shepparton City Council, Media Release, 6 July 2026

Greater Shepparton City Council has marked the conclusion of its inaugural 2026 Greater Shepparton Business Mentor Program on Thursday 2 July 2026 at the Aussie Hotel in Shepparton.

The program, which ran from May to July 2026, brought together new and emerging local businesses with experienced mentors for practical one-on-one guidance, honest conversations and support tailored to their business goals.

Mentors and mentees reflected on the value of sharing local knowledge, building stronger connections and working through real business challenges together.

Each mentee was matched with an experienced local mentor for two structured mentoring sessions across the May to July period.

Discussions focused on planning, cashflow, marketing, digital capability, human resources, business resilience and other challenges specific to each business.

Mayor, Councillor Shane Sali said the program had created valuable connections across the local business community.

“Running a business can be rewarding but it can also feel isolating at times,” he said.

“The Business Mentor Program has given local business owners the opportunity to speak openly about their ideas and challenges with people who understand the realities of running a business.

“It has also created a meaningful way for experienced mentors to share their knowledge, give back to the community and support the growth of local businesses.”

Business Mentor Program mentee Bronwyn Watts from Born Maternity Clothing said the program had delivered practical improvements she could put into action straight away.

“I had some quick wins that I could implement immediately, and I started seeing the benefits almost straight after my sessions with my mentor. They helped me strengthen my digital marketing, resolve technical issues and explore ways to use AI in my business,” she said.

“I am now more consistent with email marketing and paid advertising and our sales have increased based on the advice I received through the program.

“The best part is that my mentor has offered to stay in touch, so I now have a trusted contact I can reach out to. The biggest lesson I will take away is consistency. Keep showing up and keep doing the work.”

Greater Shepparton Business Mentor Program mentor Debbie McColl from All Farm Gates said she joined the program to help local businesses work through challenges and achieve their goals.

“Running a business can be challenging and it is valuable to have someone to share ideas with and talk through different aspects of the business,” she said.

“I love seeing our local business community thrive and reach where they want to be.

“Sometimes we get caught up working in the business rather than on the business. This program gives people the opportunity to step back, look at the bigger picture and learn what they can do to move forward.”

Council is proud to support local businesses through practical initiatives that build confidence, strengthen connections and create opportunities for growth.

The Greater Shepparton Business Festival is the next opportunity for local businesses to learn, connect and grow, with more than 20 free workshops, events and networking opportunities taking place from Monday 3 August to Friday 21 August 2026.

The festival will cover practical topics including marketing, artificial intelligence, workforce development, finance, business growth and more.

The full program will be officially launched at 5.30pm on Monday 13 July 2026 at the Peppermill Inn, Kialla. Bookings are essential and limited to two tickets per business. Secure your place at shepp.city/gsbf-launch by 2pm on Wednesday 8 July 2026.

Local businesses can subscribe for updates and be among the first to receive the full program and booking information in their inbox at shepp.city/sub-gsbf.

For further information, please contact Council’s Economic Development Engagement Coordinator on 5832 9700 or email council@shepparton.vic.gov.au.