Business grants, growth and the HR mistakes startups make

As business confidence weakens and growth slows; many SMEs are looking for new ways to fund expansion and stay competitive. In this episode, Kate Whitehead, MD of strategic grants and government funding advisory, Avant Group, explains what the 2026 Federal Budget means for business grants, innovation funding and where future government investment is likely to flow. Then, Ilona Charles, CEO and Co-Founder of HR consultancy Shilo explains why startups and scaleups so often run into people and culture problems as they grow. From hiring too quickly to promoting unprepared leaders, she shares the common mistakes businesses make early, and why they become much harder to fix later on. If you’re considering launching a podcast to grow your authority and client base, reach out to our team to learn how we can support you. Business Essentials is produced by soundcartel.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.