Image Credit: Inland Rail

Are you a local or First Nations business looking to grow your capabilities and connect with major infrastructure projects? The Inland Rail Skills Academy, in partnership with Deborah Wilson Consulting Services, invites you to participate in the Supplier Capability Development Program.

This program, which will run between July and October 2025, will help local and First Nations SMEs and social enterprises understand how to engage with buyers, prepare competitive tender submissions, and manage contracts for work on major projects and within regional supply chains.

What you will benefit: The program will:

• help you understand the capabilities and compliance requirements expected by major project buyers

• improve your skills and capabilities to be a competitive supplier

• assist you to be compliant with buyer requirements

• ensure your business is prepared for procurement processes and managing contracts

• improve your profile with, and access to, local, regional and project buyers.

The program will run over three months and includes two workshops, with mentoring offered in between. Each workshop is interactive and includes presentations from buyers and business advisory experts, a panel discussion and networking. As participant numbers are capped, interested businesses will need to commit to both workshops.

The program is open to:

• local and First Nations businesses and social enterprises

• new and established businesses

• small to medium enterprises

Priority will be given to businesses in the following LGAs:

• Benalla, Victoria

• Mitchell, Victoria

• Strathbogie, Victoria

• Cootamundra-Gundagai, NSW

• Junee, NSW

• Temora, NSW

2025 workshop locations and schedule:

Victoria

• Benalla

  Workshop 1- Tuesday 2 July, 8:30am to 1:30pm

  Workshop 2 - Tuesday 28 October, 8:30am to 1:30pm

• Euroa

  Workshop 1 - Wednesday 30 July, 8:30am to 1:30pm

  Workshop 2 - Wednesday 29 October, 8:30am to 1:30pm

• Broadford

  Workshop 1 - Thursday 31 July, 8:30am to 1:30pm

  Workshop 2 - Thursday 30 October, 8:30am to 1:30pm

NSW

• Cootamundra

  Workshop 1 - Tuesday 5 August, 8:30am to 1:30pm

  Workshop 2 - Tuesday 14 October, 8:30am to 1:30pm

• Junee

  Workshop 1- Wednesday 6 August, 8:30am to 1:30pm

  Workshop 2 - Wednesday 15 October, 8:30am to 1:30pm