The South Australian Young Entrepreneurs Scheme (SAYES) is facing a “funding crisis” according to its facilitator the South Australian Business Chamber.

It said state government funding for SAYES runs out at the end of June this year and the chamber is seeking about $100,000 per year to keep the program going for another two years.

It’s called on the state government to continue supporting the program that has assisted over 1000 young business people.

Established 26 years ago, SAYES is a business mentoring and learning program designed to help young South Australian entrepreneurs aged between 18 and 35 establish a business or further develop and grow their existing business.

As part of the SA Business Chamber’s 2024 state budget submission, to be released this month, the organisation has called for the state government to continue backing SAYES with a “modest contribution of $200,000 spread over two years, securing its future beyond its current intake of participants”.

SA Business Chamber CEO Andrew Kay told InDaily the program had been “very successful” to date in assisting entrepreneurs with getting “every chance to succeed”.

“It’s created thousands of jobs in South Australia and taken businesses into national markets and international markets,” he said.

“They never would have without that support.”

Unlike targeted, tailored entrepreneurship programs that focus on what’s trendy in the local startup sector, Kay said SAYES “catches those that might fall between the cracks”.

“They may not be high-tech businesses, they might be very basic and simple, but they’re entrepreneurs who are getting out there and having a go,” he said.

Adelaide and Hills Lawns and Gardens co-owner Luke Timmins said his experience with SAYES led to him being named the Chamber’s South Australian Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2021.

“The SAYES program was recommended to me by a friend and when we looked into it, we realised a lot of the offerings were what we were looking for,” Timmins said.

“It’s disappointing to hear that the program is at risk of losing funding.

“It’s been a successful program for a long time with a lot of alumni who have gone on to do great things.”

Adelaide and Hills Lawns and Gardens co-owner Luke Timmins. Photo: Supplied.

Kay said state funding was “even more important” considering the Federal Government’s Entrepreneurs Program was cancelled last June.

“It’s not an enormous investment to keep something going that has been a part of the business landscape here for over 26 years, and it’s not feasible to run it without this state government funding,” he said.

The full SA Business Chamber state budget submission is due to be released later this month.