building stronger
business communities
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Not just another workshop series. Not another one-off event.
A structured pathway that creates lasting capability.
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Stronger businesses.
Stronger communities.
Stronger economies.
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Get the Partner Overview Pack →the growth compass pathway
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Turning business conversations into real, measurable capability.
A structured 12-month business capability pathway helping councils, chambers and industry bodies move beyond one-off events and create lasting change across their business communities.
Through facilitated conversations, practical workshops, structured learning and mentoring, businesses build the confidence, capability and connections needed for sustainable growth.
When small businesses struggle, communities feel it.
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Business capability doesn't happen in a single workshop.
Running a business can feel isolating.
Most business owners are constantly making decisions, solving problems and managing the next urgent thing - without enough time to step back and consider where they are heading.
The Growth Compass Pathway gives businesses a structured journey of support.
Starting with honest conversations, moving into practical action and building long-term capability, businesses can access the right support at the right stage of their journey.
Real conversations. Practical tools. Clear direction.
This is our flagship implementation program within the Your Business Compass Capability Framework™.
The challenge is not getting businesses into the room once. The challenge is creating the trust, structure and ongoing support that helps them keep moving forward.
why a pathway?
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Moving beyond one-off business support
Workshops and events create valuable connections. Mentoring creates valuable individual support.
But meaningful business growth happens when those moments connect together.
The Growth Compass Pathway creates a clear journey that helps businesses:
âś“ connect with their community
âś“ identify their priorities
âś“ build practical capability
âś“ access deeper support when needed
YOUR REAL BUSINESS CONVERSATION
The conversation that starts the journey.
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Most business owners don't need another presentation.
They need space to stop, reflect and discuss the challenges that are shaping their decisions.
Your Real Business Conversation is a quarterly business breakfast designed to create meaningful connection, surface local business challenges and introduce businesses to the Growth Compass Pathway.
 The conversation starts the journey. The pathway creates the change.
the growth compass journey
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Four stages. One pathway that meets businesses where they are.
STEP ONE
YOUR REAL BUSINESS CONVERSATION
The conversations we're not having in business.
A quarterly business breakfast designed to bring local business owners together for honest discussion, practical ideas and meaningful connection.
 QUARTERLY ENGAGEMENT + CONNECTION
→
STEP TWO
COMMUNITY ACTIVATION WORKSHOP
Practical workshops with immediate actions
Launch local momentum with a paid, once-off 'Grow Your Brand Locally' workshop.
Identify businesses ready to continue.
  PRACTICAL BUSINESS FOUNDATIONS
STEPÂ THREE
BUSINESS CAPABILITY COHORT
Structured online learning
Monthly coaching
Peer accountability
Sector-specific resources
Plus: Local Activation Sessions (delivered by Compass Guides)
See Partnership Options
STRUCTURED CAPABILITY BUILDING
→
STEPÂ FOUR
LOCAL IMPACT + MEASURABLE OUTCOMES
Local Impact
Quarterly reporting.
Capability measurement.
Community outcomes.
Economic development insights.
Reporting built into all steps
INFORM +TAILOR YOUR ECONOMIC STRATEGIES
why councils and partners choose the framework
More than events. A measurable business capability pathway.Â
At the end of each quarter and at program completion, you receive a detailed impact report, after providing communities with:
Ongoing engagement
Regular opportunities to connect with businesses throughout the year.
Business intelligence
Real insights into the challenges and priorities businesses are experiencing.
Capability building
Practical support that moves businesses from ideas into action.
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Measurable impact
Reporting that captures engagement, confidence and capability growth.
âś” Supports Economic Development Strategies
âś” Strengthens business capability
âś” Activates local precincts
âś” Encourages collaboration
âś” Complements existing advisory services
âś” Provides quarterly impact reporting
âś” Builds stronger local business networks
This gives your team, your elected members, and your board something real to point to - not just "we ran some workshops."
the impact
Stronger businesses start with better conversations.
The Growth Compass Pathway helps communities create:
âś“ more connected business owners
âś“ stronger local networks
âś“ increased confidence and capability
âś“ better understanding of business needs
âś“ measurable economic development outcomes
your growth compass partnership pathways
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Flexible models designed to create stronger businesses, stronger communities and stronger economies.
Engagement Layer
Your Real Business Conversation
4 x Facilitated Events $9,000 + gst
Activation Layer
Grow Your Brand Locally Workshop
First Facilitated Event $3,500 + gst
Additional cohort sessions $2,500 + gst
Capability Layer
Growth Compass Cohort
See Partnership Options below
Foundation Partnership
$8,000+gst
up to 20 businesses
Community Growth Partnership
$16,000+gst
up to 40 businesses
Regional Impact Partnership
$32,000+gst
Up to 80+ businesses
Pricing reflects the per-participant course fee less each business's $50 inc GST co-contribution — which ensures commitment and improves completion.
All tiers include a pre-program planning session, ongoing access to Shelley for program oversight questions, and full reporting at program completion.
Designed for:
âś” Councils
âś” Regional Development Australia
âś” Mainstreet Associations
âś” Chambers of Commerce
âś” Tourism Organisations
âś” Industry Bodies
âś” Place-based Partnerships
a framework designed for place-based impact
 The Growth Compass Pathway supports businesses through six capability areas while strengthening the wider business community.
Your organisation isn't simply funding workshops. You're investing in stronger local capability.
Stronger collaboration. Greater resilience. Long-term economic development.
BRAND IDENTITY
 Clarity on what they're building and who it's for
FINANCIAL SAVVY
Understanding their numbers and pricing for sustainability
MARKETING STRATEGIES
Consistent visibility in the right places
LEADERSHIP & TEAMS
Leading themselves and others with more intention
THE WAY WE WORK
Confidence in systems that make the business more sustainable
REFLECT, EVOLVE & SCALE
Quarterly review and intentional growth
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Built for six Business Communities.
Every community has different strengths.
Different industries.
Different priorities.
The Framework adapts to support each, while maintaining one consistent capability framework.
why work with Shelley?
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I started Your Business Compass because I believe small, community-minded and regional businesses are the connective tissue of our communities.
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When they thrive — really thrive, not just survive — something changes in the places we live.
Your Business Compass was created in regional South Australia after nearly thirty years working across business ownership, mentoring, economic development, and community leadership. The Framework combines that lived experience with practical education to create a scalable model that works for business owners and the organisations supporting them.
The Growth Compass Pathway was built for the councils and organisations that share this belief. You're not looking for another workshop series; you're looking for something that creates genuine, lasting change in your business community.
It's practical, place-based, and designed for small business growth in Australia.
I’d love to have a conversation about what that looks like in your community or region.
Shelley Cox — founder, Your Business CompassÂ
David West
Waikerie Business Alliance
The Regional Mainstreet Forum in Waikerie got off to a great start with two important sessions for businesses and retailers.
Shelley interviewed a panel of three local Waikerie retailers about their business journey in the first session and provided valuable start-up guidance. In the second session Shelley shared her 'hands-on' experiences to help businesses take a close look at their business growth and strategies.
Using her Your Business Compass resources Shelley provided great insights into target marketing and strategic marketing.
I would recommend Shelley as a skilled consultant and presenter because she has done the hard yards as a small business operator.
Anita Mariani
Regional Development Australia - Barossa, Gawler, Light, Adelaide Plains
Wow! It's just been so great working with Shelley and her team of Regional Champions on this 'My Business Compass' event.
The whole process has been so easy, Shelley and her team has put together all of the collateral and all of the marketing needed - we just have to share it far and wide.
And we are so lucky that many of the Regional Champions are actually on our B2B Program as well, so the synergies there are just perfect!
Using her Your Business Compass resources Shelley provided great insights into target marketing and strategic marketing.
book a conversation with Shelley
Whether you're supporting 20 businesses or 200, The Growth Compass can be tailored to your community's size, priorities and budget.
20 minutes · No obligation · Let's talk about your communityÂ
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Prefer to start with information first? Download the Growth Compass Partner Overview.
Send me the Partner Overview