The Career Revive program, launched earlier this month, is giving ten medium to large businesses the opportunity to work with professional services network KPMG to develop better policies to support women.

Design and manufacturing company Keech Bendigo has been selected as one of the businesses to take part in the pilot program.

"I know that the initiative was brought to our attention through the Bendigo Manufacturing Group," Keech Bendigo human resources officer Brent Bruns said.

"We put in an expression of interest because we recognised that due to the nature of our industry, we don't receive many applications from potential female employees.

"We thought we would throw our hats in the ring."

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Some women in regional areas experience barriers that make it harder for them to return to work such as access to childcare, transport, training, and development.

Under the pilot program, KPMG will work with the chosen businesses to review their physical workplace and polices, as well as offer guidance to improve those practices.

The professional services company will also develop a case study of the businesses for a new online toolkit.

Mr Bruns said Keech Bendigo will begin receiving advice from KPMG in the coming weeks.

"The next step is that KPMG will come and meet with us and look at our policies," he said. "We are primarily male dominated at the moment, it's something that we would be foolish not to address."

Another central Victorian company that has been chosen to take part in the initiative is Don Smallgoods - a division of the George Weston Foods Group.

The food service provider employs more than 1300 people in Castlemaine.

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Don Smallgoods managing director Will Ursell said the businesses was pleased to have been chosen to participate in the initiative.

"We are very proud of the role we play in regional Victoria, being an open and inclusive employer is also very important to us," Mr Ursell said.

"The Career Revive initiative is great way for us to support women looking to re-join the workforce after a career break."

The business has already begun making their workforce more accessible to women, Mr Ursell said.

"Our business has a big appetite for talented people and the Career Revive initiative will work well with other programs we have including family friendly shifts, part time options and weekend shifts," he said.

"We look forward to working with KPMG on this federal government initiative."

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