At Projects RH we prepare reports which can be the basis of applications for grants and debt funding. We then act like a company team member and assist directors to prepare the applications and support documents for plus assist directors in presentations and meetings.
Dealing with governments and banks is part of personal and corporate life. For many of our client’s, Projects RH is able to assist them in dealing with the complexities but more importantly, with the rigour of actually making applications.
Our focus in dealing with government is on seeking grants for funding, including research and development / commercialisation grants.
There are also a limited number of grants available from corporations and others not associated with government; these are limited in number and applying mostly to the commercialisation of recent developments within either the university sector or the CSIRO including industry specialist organisations which may be participant funded but run under the auspices of government. Generally, these groups are not our clients.
Our focus with banks is dealing in establishing accounts and in some cases, seeking funding by way of grant as well as debt. A number of banks not only offer grants and/or take direct investment in fin tech’s but invest in agricultural technology or other industries where they believe they have expertise.
How does it work?
What is important is:
Clients must be rigorously honest and clear and accurate, and disclose what they must disclose.
Our process is to prepare for our client the information they need to provide.
First, we assist them to prepare a financial model of the business and to show the impact of the funding sort.
Second, we produce a background and information memorandum which explains to government or a financial institution what the client is proposing to do, how, where and when.
Third, we know the client is going to have to a short meeting respective and/or financial institution – for this they will need a short slide presentation, a pitch deck, which should not exceed 16 slides of information. This meeting with government and/or the financial institution is preliminary in nature and if we have been successful, they will read the full information memorandum and review the financial model.
Fourth, we prepare a one-page teaser, for when for example, our client needs to get a meeting with the government department and/or financial institution. They too are flooded with applications and can reject the unprepared ones. What we seek to do is provide a one-page executive summary, always with numbers, and the key people, to assist that we get the meeting.
The spice to get it right
Projects RH is very pleased that over the years it has developed an ecosystem of specialist consultants who can work with our team of strategic partners to provide the client with the best solution.
For example, we generally recommend in the process that we engage Dr Warren Harmer, of the Business Planning Company, to ensure that we have a comprehensive business plan. It needs to reflect the key measures appropriate to the industry. This business plan needs to be prepared specifically for the audiences it is directed to. An application for a funding grant to develop a technology needs to be directed to the party who will assess it. Likewise, a loan application needs to be directed to ensure that it meets the banks requirements. This takes knowledge and experience which Dr Harmer brings to each business plan he prepares or oversees.
Some applications require expert reports and we are pleased to say we have a network of parties that can provide expert reports in various areas.
We work with our clients to see what grants are available and what is the process or processes for making an application.
With respect to making an application for debt funding to a regulated financial institution, we work with Barry Watkins, of Clever Financial Solutions, who holds a credit licence and is able to provide guidance in the detail which needs to be included in our proposal. Barry is able to ensure the forms are filled out appropriately and would work with our clients to ensure that their proposal is taken to the right financial institution and can be guided to guarantee it has the best chance of being successful.
It is critical to remember: when making an application, either for a grant from government or a loan from a financial institution, generally if the first application is rejected such institutions do not review new applications. It is therefore critical that when a formal application is made our client puts it best foot forward.
Conclusion
Some clients ask why should know just do this alone? The answer lies in the fact that most clients don’t have the knowledge to repair the documents required and they do not have the experience to deal with the processes and questions which emerge. Most successful applications require both the skill to make the application and the knowledge or how to make it successful. Like most of us, our clients do not see their businesses objectively, and they need to answer the questions that may be asked so no doubts are left in the assessors’ mind.
At Projects RH we seek to marry the two so our client has the best chance of success. As we frequently say to clients, “the best cake not only needs a recipe but the experience on how to make it”.
Generally, our clients are happy with what we do as we have clear processes and are able to give them the best chance of success.
