Meet Phillip Smallwood
Phillip Smallwood is the founder of Ochre Land Maintenance. Born in the Bundjalung area (Tweed), with roots from the Biri Nation in far north Queensland and Dungahtti from Kempsey. After 20 years in civil work, Phillip started his own business to be more present for his young family and provide mentorship to others. What began as small gardening jobs has now grown into a full-time business.
“Meeting Tito from Many Rivers was incredibly valuable. I knew the hands-on work, but I didn’t fully understand the logistics, financials, or the bigger picture of running a business. Tito helped me navigate areas like taxes, GST, cash flow, and decision-making.” – Phillip Smallwood
Read more about Phillip’s business journey so far:
Tell us about your business and what motivated you to grow your business
My name is Phillip Smallwood, founder of Ochre Land Maintenance. I’m 39, born in the Bundjalung area (Tweed), with roots from the Berry Nation in far north Queensland and Dungari from Kempsey.
I spent 20 years in civil work, but one motivation for starting my own business was to be more present with my young family. While staying home with my daughter, I began doing small gardening jobs, which gradually grew into a full-time business.
Another motivation was to create a positive work environment for others, especially young Indigenous people. Having faced challenges in my early career, I wanted to provide mentorship and opportunities for others to succeed and feel valued.
Working with Many Rivers
- Meeting Tito from Many Rivers was incredibly valuable. I knew the hands-on work, but I didn’t fully understand the logistics, financials, or the bigger picture of running a business. Tito helped me navigate areas like taxes, GST, cash flow, and decision-making.
- Having a mentor I could call or meet with gave me confidence to pursue larger contracts that previously felt out of reach. Tito would guide me through processes, break down complex tasks, and help me feel prepared to tackle bigger opportunities. That guidance has been empowering and continues to be a vital support.
Growth Aspirations
- One of my key growth aspirations was understanding the behind-the-scenes aspects of business, particularly the logistics and financial side that I wasn’t familiar with. Through a workshop and one-on-one sessions with Tito, we mapped out systems for cash flow, taxes, and contracts.
- This hands-on approach, with papers and visual breakdowns, gave me clarity and confidence. I could take on bigger projects, including contracts with 16 schools and Tier 1 clients, because I understood the processes and had support to make informed decisions.
Impact of the Small Business Development Program
- The program has been transformative. It has given me confidence, knowledge, and support to pursue contracts I would have otherwise avoided. I now have a structured understanding of business operations, and having Tito’s guidance ensures I’m making the right decisions for growth.
- This mentorship has turned what started as a small side activity into a growing, successful business. It’s also allowed me to balance family life while expanding professionally.
Would you recommend the SBD program to anyone who is looking to grow their business?
Anyone looking to grow their business would benefit enormously from this program. The mentorship, guidance, and expertise provided by Many Rivers and Tito are invaluable. It’s more than just advice; it’s practical support that enables real growth, confidence, and success in areas you might not even realize are critical.
Thank you Phillip for sharing your business journey with us. We wish you the best of luck with future endeavours and business success.
We love to encourage people to take the first step towards growing their small business ideas. Do you want to grow your business?
CLICK HERE to see if Many Rivers is right for you
B0019041
