Behind the Scenes with the Melton Business Excellence Awards Judges

Image: The Small Business Mentoring Service (SBMS) team

The Small Business Mentoring Service (SBMS), led by CEO Pamela Sutton-Legaud, has been a crucial support for small businesses across Australia, with a primary focus on Victoria since its establishment nearly 38 years ago.

SBMS is a not-for-profit organisation that provides affordable mentoring services, guiding small business owners through challenges and helping them build resilience. Volunteer mentors, experienced across a variety of sectors, lend their expertise in areas such as finance, marketing, retail, and manufacturing.

At the heart of SBMS's mission is the belief that small businesses play a vital role in community growth and prosperity. Collaborating with government and industry partners, SBMS ensures that support is accessible to those who need it most.

This commitment extends to SBMS’s long-standing partnership with Melton City Council, where they actively participate in the Melton Business Excellence Awards (MBEA). Each year, SBMS mentors join the judging panel, assessing applications and identifying local businesses excelling in customer service, innovation, and community impact.

SBMS addresses a critical gap for small business owners who often lack affordable access to expert advice in areas like marketing, finance, operations, and customer relations. By providing low-cost, tailored mentoring, SBMS empowers entrepreneurs to make informed decisions, develop strategies, and overcome obstacles, thereby enhancing their business’s sustainability and success potential.

Pamela is inspired by SBMS’s mission to support small businesses, seeing their contribution as essential to economic growth and community vitality. As the organisation continues to expand its reach across metropolitan and regional Australia, SBMS is also adapting its programs to include emerging business needs like digital innovation, cybersecurity, and sustainability.

SBMS’s goal is to offer impactful mentoring that is accessible to all small businesses, regardless of their stage, and to continue supporting the resilience and growth of small business owners nationwide.

Website: www.sbms.org.au
Phone: 1300 816 817
Email: enquire@sbms.org.au