The Master Plumbers Australia and New Zealand is to receive an Australian Federal Government grant, over two years, to provide members with ‘trusted digital advisory services’.

The grant is made available through the Small Business Digital Champions Project, an initiative of the Department of Jobs and Small Business.

The Digital Champions project aims to inspire small businesses to improve their digital capabilities and learn about the latest trends in hardware, software, web content development, digital marketing and cyber security.

The Association is one of 15 groups to receive such a grant.

The group’s chairman Robert Pearshouses says: “The grant will enable us to give our members knowledge that’s essential in business today. As small business owners who are often time poor, many of them are reaching out for trustworthy advice about all aspects of digital technology.”

He added: “The plumbing industry is at the front line of public health and safety because of our role in ensuring the delivery of clean drinking water and the proper disposal of waste. Everything our members do must be ‘best practice’ and this grant will help them achieve that.”