GROW Ballarat, in partnership with Commerce Ballarat and City of Ballarat, launched new platform Localised on Thursday at a networking meet-up for more than 120 business leaders.

GROW Ballarat Project Manager Rob Croucher said the Localised initiative aimed to encourage businesses to buy local.

"We have great local businesses but sometimes they lack visibility," he said.

"The Localised website will continue to drive local connectivity as we look to build local economic growth."

Jan Livingston and Phoebe Croucher from Smuk Property Styling said the event was a great opportunity to get to know other business in Ballarat from their 20 second lightning pitches.

"I got to know a lot of businesses in that time I had no idea existed. I could approach them afterwards to ask for their business cards," Ms Croucher said.

GROW Ballarat is a free Victorian Government initiative designed to increase the success of local businesses and create career opportunities for target groups in Ballarat.

Young people including young mums, mature-age female job seekers, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have been identified as the target groups.

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Ben Taylor said Localised was a fantastic initiative that would help a wide range of local businesses.

"Localised will really help businesses across a wide range of sectors, from small business up to large industries," Cr Taylor said.

"This will give them a real opportunity to promote their business and network across the whole region."

Business that become GROW Ballarat members commit to local procurement and practicing inclusive employment.

GROW Ballarat is facilitated by Highlands LLEN.

Visit centralhighlands.localised.com.au/ballarat/ to join the new online business networking platform.

RELATED COVERAGE:

Have you signed up to The Courier's variety of news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.