Designed to support the growth and development of First Nations small businesses, the initiative will see 10 businesses gain free access to a six-month mentoring programme run by CGU in partnership with McCarthy Mentoring. Indigenous small business owners can now apply to take part in the pilot programme.
“CGU has backed the ambitions of many small business owners by protecting their businesses, and we’re proud to launch this mentoring programme to provide even more support to First Nations business owners and help in their continued success and growth,” noted executive manager Phil Lockyer.
“Over the last few months we’ve been speaking to many First Nations owned businesses about what they believe could help their business succeed, and mentoring was a recurring theme that came up in those conversations.”
Lockyer added: “Running a small business requires a broad range of skills, and having a mentor to bounce ideas off and speak to for advice can be really useful when you don’t have a bigger team or network to lean on.”
“Kayku Kumpa,” from the local language of the Gringai people of the Wonnarua nation of the Hunter Valley, means ‘strong yesterday, stronger tomorrow’.
Insurance giant IAG, the parent firm of CGU, describes itself as a proud supporter of the reconciliation movement in Australia. Last year it unveiled its third Reconciliation Action Plan, which outlines commitments such as supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses as well as providing employment and internship opportunities to First Nations people.
