C190/08
2 July 2008
Curtin University of Technology’s Muresk Institute is offering agricultural and regional businesses free help to prepare a business plan which develops an idea or proposal.
This unique offer is linked to a major project which agribusiness students undertake in their final year of study.
Professor Graeme Robertson, Director of Muresk explained this unique offer.
“Students concluding their degrees in the agribusiness streams of marketing, viticulture, equine, horticulture and aquaculture and seafood sciences undertake a business planning unit in their second semester. The unit requires them, usually in groups of three, to prepare a business plan for a real business opportunity,” Professor Robertson said.
The resulting business plans are of a professional standard and are a sound basis for new and existing businesses to make decisions on expansion, new activities or new products.
”The plans include an assessment of the production systems, market research, advice on marketing and a financial evaluation,” Professor Robertson said.
“In the past, students have assessed the cost of establishing processing plants, the design of specialised equipment, the importing and exporting of new products as well as determining prices that customers may be willing to pay for new products. This information can be extremely important in order to make informed decisions on new investments and has been used by many clients to launch new businesses.
“To get the most out of the unit the students need to work with real proposals and we are now seeking topics or business opportunities for 2008. The students need a topic, and an “owner” of the idea who will be the client to the students as consultants.”
During the process the students operate as professional consultants. All work is confidential and only discussed between the students and the client, and Professor Robertson as the mentor and supervisor of the process. Usually a confidentiality agreement is signed between the “owner”, the students and Professor Robertson.
Anyone with a business plan concept they wish to develop should contact Graeme Robertson at Muresk on 08 9266 4400, or email (G.Robertson@curtin.edu.au ).
Contact: Lisa Mayer, PR Coordinator, Curtin, 08 9266 1930, 0401 103 755 l.mayer@curtin.edu.au
CRICOS provider code: 00301J
Modified: 8 July 2008
