Growing tomorrow's entrepreneurs: City of Canning's first six months of mentoring in action

From high school classrooms to startup studios, the City of Canning has spent the past six months backing the next generation of entrepreneurs, innovators and leaders – proof that a strong local economy starts with investing early in local talent.

Between February and June 2026, the City delivered or supported four distinct mentoring and leadership programs, reaching students, emerging founders and established local businesses alike. Each program is different in format and audience, but they share a common thread: the City of Canning's ongoing commitment to nurturing entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership at every stage – from the classroom to the boardroom.

Partnering with schools to build future-ready leaders

Two of the four programs took the City directly into local high schools, reflecting Canning's belief that entrepreneurial and leadership skills should be nurtured well before students enter the workforce.

Future Female Leaders – "Leading with Purpose"

For the third year running, the City has sponsored the Future Female Leaders and this was extended this year when it participated in the pilot of “Purposeful Leaders Program” which funded 30 places shared between Lynwood Senior High School and Sevenoaks Senior College. The program is an eight-module digital leadership course built around skills identified by the World Economic Forum as essential for the future workforce – self-awareness, communication, influence and purposeful leadership.

To complement the online learning, the City hosted a "Leading with Purpose" breakfast forum on 11 June, bringing around 30 students and their teachers face to face with local leaders. Mayor Patrick Hall welcomed attendees and spoke about the opportunities available for young voices to shape local government, before a panel featuring Councillor Linda Ross and Manager of Strategic Communications & Customer Experience, Louise Bolt, shared candid insights on building a meaningful career while making an impact close to home.

Just Start IT

Looking ahead, the City is also supporting Just Start IT, a 20-week program that places St Norbert College students into cross-disciplinary teams – combining IT, business, design, science and media skills – to develop and pitch their own tech-enabled start-up. Backed by an industry mentor throughout, students will progress from classroom concept to a live pitch event, with the opportunity to compete for a place at the state-wide Gala in August. It's a hands-on introduction to entrepreneurship that mirrors the real pathway from idea to business.

Mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs

Supporting young people doesn't stop at the school gate. In June, the City backed a practical, four-hour Idea Validation Workshop for members of the local community looking to turn an early idea into a real business. Fifteen participants worked through a structured process to sharpen their idea, identify a genuine customer problem, test for evidence of demand, and build the confidence to take a validated next step – the critical first stage that so many first-time founders skip.

At the more advanced end of the entrepreneurial journey, the City partnered with Plus Eight to deliver a six-week Pre-Accelerator Program at Spacecubed, supporting 10 local founders to refine their business ideas and build momentum toward growth. The program wrapped up with a Showcase evening where founders pitched to industry judges, with Vibe Mates, S2R2 and Vibe Path taking out top honours. Founders were supported throughout by local mentors and industry experts generously giving their time and expertise.

A pipeline, not a series of one-off events

Viewed together, these four programs form a clear pipeline of support – from high school students exploring leadership and innovation for the first time, through to community members validating a first business idea, right up to founders actively building and pitching real ventures.

This is a deliberate approach. The City of Canning recognises that a resilient, diverse local economy depends on continually growing the pool of people with the confidence, skills and networks to start and lead businesses. By investing in mentoring at every stage – schools, first-time founders and early-stage startups — the City is helping build the foundations for long-term economic growth, innovation and opportunity across the community.

These programs also lay important groundwork for the City's broader economic development agenda, including the upcoming Canning Connect Economic Outlook Forum 2026 on 6 August, where the City will bring together business leaders, researchers and the community to explore the region's economic future.

Interested in getting involved in future mentoring or entrepreneurship programs? Contact the City of Canning's Economic Development team to find out more.