Regional Business Improvement Program Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the frequently asked questions for the Regional Business Improvement Program.
The Regional Business Improvement Program (the program) is a targeted audit program to help small and medium-sized manufacturers in regional NSW. These audits will highlight ways to improve operations, strengthen skills and boost long-term competitiveness.
The program is a continuation of the highly successful Lean Manufacturing Pilot and supports the NSW Government’s commitment to strengthen regional manufacturing by improving efficiency, building resilience and preparing businesses for advanced technologies. In doing so, it contributes to stronger local economies and helps protect jobs in regional communities.
To be eligible, an applicant must meet all of the following requirements, including:
- have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
- be able to demonstrate the project facility operates in a manufacturing industry through a relevant Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) code or Business Industry Code (BIC)
- have an operating manufacturing facility in an eligible location
- be a small-to-medium enterprise business (between 10-200 full-time equivalent employees)
- hold or commit to obtaining public liability insurance of not less than $10 million per occurrence or hold equivalent or better self-insurance to the satisfaction of the department
- be a fit and proper person/legal entity
- not be insolvent, bankrupt or subject to ongoing legal proceedings
- declare in the application form that the applicant is not aware of any issues which could cause reputational or other risks to the NSW Government
- be able to provide timely access on reasonable request to the service provider appointed by the NSW Government to complete business audits
- be able to allocate necessary resources during the business audit period.
Businesses must be located in one of the 95 regional NSW Local Government Areas (LGAs), the Unincorporated Far West region or on Lord Howe Island.
Projects located in the Sydney metropolitan area are ineligible.
See the guidelines for full details on eligibility and locations.
The delivery timeframe is expected to begin in February 2026 and will be completed by 30 June 2026.
This program is demand driven. Funding from this program will be allocated to suitable applications in the order they are received.
Applications will be assessed by the department on a first-come, first-served basis up until the available program funding is fully allocated.
No. Funds are not provided directly to businesses. The department will run a process to onboard a service provider specialised in lean and continuous improvement who will deliver the audits to each successful business.
No. Eligibility is assessed at the entity level linked to the ABN, not at the individual site level. If the entity associated with the ABN employs more than 200 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff in total (across all sites, states or globally), the business is ineligible for the program.