Industry leaders take note
The Advertiser, 9/2/2016
GRADUATES of a business leadership program have been instrumental in creating more than 450 new permanent jobs in South Australia, a survey has found.
The program the Industry Leaders Fund has supported 86 South Australians to pursue further training since it was founded six years ago.
Launching the 2016 round of sponsorships, ILF chief executive Geoff Vogt said the program was clearly delivering results.
Funded by the private sector, the ILF offers grants of up to $50,000 for business leaders to study at colleges such as Harvard and Insead as well as Australian institutions.
A survey of past recipients showed more than 450 jobs had been created at companies where the graduates worked.
Effectively, this was at an average cost of $2500 which was far below government job schemes.
These jobs are generated because the upskilled business leader is growing their business profitably, Mr Vogt said.
He expected the effect to be longer lasting than government schemes with business leaders likely to apply their learning for decades.
Past recipients include Anthony Kittel of Redarc, Grant Wilckens of Discovery Holiday Parks and Shane Kelly of Kelly Engineering.
La Casa del Formaggio boss Claude Cicchiello said being supported to attend Harvard had been life-changing. I bring home so many takeaways which I am already applying in the business, he said.
Mr Vogt said the application process for grants was simple but rigorous.
He expected the fund would have about $235,000 to distribute this year. Applications close on May 31.