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October 2011 There are lots of ways to keep up to date with the latest news on the Sunshine Coast Excellence in Business Awards. View the full list of finalists, link with other businesses and get ‘hot off the press’ information about the Gala Awards Ceremony on Saturday evening, 19 November 2011. Follow the Awards on Facebook and Twitter or alternatively, visit Maroochy Chamber of Commerce website.
In this month's edition:
On 14 September 2011 Sunshine Coast Council endorsed a new approach to supporting local business and encouraging job creating investment in the region. The new package – Delivering a Natural Advantage to Business – has the backing of key business groups including the Sunshine Coast Business Council, the Chambers of Commerce Alliance and council’s own Economic Development Advisory Board. This package marks a new approach by council and is designed to establish the Sunshine Coast as an ideal place to invest and a region which supports local business. The Business Investment Framework and Local Business Support Program will work hand in hand to help local businesses to grow, as well as encouraging appropriate new investment. Council’s commitment to this approach is about strengthening the region’s economy, encouraging jobs for the people who live here and supporting our local businesses to flourish. For more information, email economicdevelopment@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
Broadband Today Alliance (BTA), a Sunshine Coast Council-led initiative, has won the Digital Productivity category in the National Economic Development Conference 2011 awards in Adelaide for pioneering an organisation committed to developing the digital economy in Australia, enhancing the benefits of the Federal Government’s National Broadband Network (NBN) rollout. BTA is a collaboration of 115 local governments and 45 affiliate organisations representing a significant population base of more than 6 million Australians. As a result of this there have been many achievements including collaboration with the state government to establish a working relationship and united approach to state and regional interests in the NBN rollout. BTA is also working directly with NBN Co on practical issues affecting the rollout of the NBN in local areas. For more information on Broadband Today Alliance, visit www.broadbandtoday.com.au
High-quality aged care services group Arcare has arrived on the Sunshine Coast and will shortly begin construction of a 90-bed facility in Peregian. A leading provider of aged care services in Victoria and South East Queensland, Arcare has identified the Coast’s significant development prospects and believes this to be an ideal location in which to establish a community-orientated aged care facility. Construction of the facility will generate 75 jobs and, on completion, 130 jobs in key sectors such as nursing, hospitality, maintenance and administration. It will cater for both low-care (hostel) and high-care (nursing home) residents. All rooms will be single with individual en-suite bathrooms as well as warm and inviting communal living and dining rooms. Sunshine Coast Council Economic Development Portfolio Councillor Lew Brennan welcomed the news. "Arcare has recognised the great potential for its growth on the Coast and the company’s decision to expand – with another potential facility to be located here down the track – confirms the confidence that business has in this region," he said.
Will this mean even more paperwork for my business? These are just a few questions that some of the Coast’s 34,500 businesses might be asking themselves, following the passage of the carbon tax legislation through Federal Parliament last week. But the answers could be only a workshop away. "Sunshine Coast Council has been carbon tax-ready for some time now - but we want to do what we can to help local businesses to be in a similar position," council’s Economic Development Portfolio Councillor Lew Brennan said. "So council has invited a recognised authority on the implications for business of a carbon tax to host free workshops and to answer some of the pressing questions for business owners. "BDO Australia is an independent and globally recognised leader in carbon accounting and Partner Dylan Byrne will take you through the steps to ensure your business is carbon tax-ready," Cr Brennan said. Mr Byrne will provide:
The workshops are scheduled for 3, 10 and 17 November across the region. For more information and to register your attendance at one of these workshops, visit council's business support website. Places are strictly limited so register early. This initiative is part of council's commitment to encouraging local business to flourish, in line with its Local Business Support Program.
A first-time Sunshine Coast Council-led partnership has snared federal funding for 24 Coast workers to further develop skills in renewable energy and environmental waste management. As one of 190 applications for funding from the Federal Government’s $200 million Critical Skills Investment Fund, council’s partnership with Sunshine Coast TAFE and Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast made the final cut of only 11 successful applicants in Queensland. Over the next 12 months for varying periods, 11 of these 24 people will receive training in the area of solar grid connections. The remainder will be upgrading their abilities in the area of environmentally sound waste-water treatment processes. For more information on the Critical Skills Investment Fund and the National Workforce Development Fund, visit the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations website. Coast companies whose employees will benefit from the upskilling:
Fourteen members of the Sunshine Coast Council-backed Seasons of the Sun group will be taking on all comers at the 2011 Brisbane Good Food and Wine Show, with the aim of educating Brisbane foodies about the range of high-quality products produced here on the Coast. Council’s Economic Development and Entrepreneurship portfolio councillor, Lew Brennan, said the Council-led Seasons of the Sun initiative was helping to establish this region as one of the premier food and beverage destinations in the nation. "More than half of domestic tourism to the Coast comes from Brisbane day trippers, and Seasons of the Sun’s profile sends the message that we are more than beautiful beaches and bushwalks – we are fast moving towards becoming a recognised quality food production region in Australia. "I hope every Sunshine Coaster will soon learn to recognise the work the Seasons of the Sun group does and proudly support them in buying their products – and helping us achieve this important goal." The marketing manager of member Maleny Dairies, David McKinnie, who attended last year’s show, said it was a great opportunity to network with wholesale and retail outlets, restaurants, chefs and manufacturers. "One day, high-end restaurants in Australia will proudly itemise the locale of the ingredients used in choices on their menus, and Sunshine Coast products will feature as a selling point for quality and freshness – count on it," he said. The Brisbane Good Food and Wine Show is being held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from 4-6 November 2011. For more information and to book tickets, visit the Good Food & Wine Show website.
The R&D Tax Incentive is a major part of the Australian Government's commitment to boost industry investment in research and development (R&D) activities. The program is broad-based, market driven and accessible to companies in all industry sectors. It provides a tax offset to support Australian companies to be more innovative, productive and competitive in the global marketplace. The R&D Tax Incentive applies to R&D activities and expenditure for income years commencing on or after 1 July 2011 and replaces the R&D Tax Concession. For more information visit AusIndustry website or phone 13 28 46.
Noosa Boardroom, in partnership with Quest Community Newspapers, is giving back to the local business community with a $10,000 Business Expansion Giveaway in a State-wide competition. Steve Lawrence, general manager of Noosa Boardroom is driving the initiative and said that local businesses are extremely important to our economy and they wanted to give at least one business the opportunity by giving them a kick-start towards growth. The winner of the competition will receive six months free office space and services at the Noosa Boardroom business centre and serviced office complex in Noosaville. “Along with the free office space the winner will also receive all major office on-costs such as use of internet, phone answering, reception services, furniture and use of meeting rooms” said Mr Lawrence. The competition forms part of the Quest newspapers ‘Jobs for the Coast’ campaign with both Quest and the Noosa Boardroom encouraging all business types from all Queensland regions to participate. Perhaps you have a business elsewhere on the Sunshine Coast and you want to expand into the Noosa market? Or you may be one of the many home-based businesses in the region looking to make that next step? Businesses are encouraged to demonstrate how they would contribute to the local Sunshine Coast economy in a short simple online form. The competition closes on Monday 21 November and is open to anyone with an Australian Business Number. For further information and to enter the competition visit Quest Community Newspapers website.
The annual Noosa Triathlon Multi Sport Festival will take place from Wednesday 26 October to Sunday 30 October 2011. The Noosa Triathlon, being the highlight of the Festival, is recognised as one of Queensland's iconic events, Australia's largest, oldest and highest profile triathlon, and the second largest triathlon event in the world. For more information visit USM Events website. Clean Futures Conference Carbon Tax Workshop (Caloundra) - Are you ready? Local Search Marketing Carbon Tax Workshop (Maroochydore) - Are you ready? Tendering for Government Business Web Wednesday - Top Online Trends for 2012 Carbon Tax Workshop (Noosa) - Are you ready? Branding and Marketing your Food Product Webinars Webinars are live presentations conducted in ‘real time’. In a webinar, each participant sits in the comfort of their home or workplace and using their computer, is connected to the presenter via the internet. Queensland Government Webinars Online Courses Free Sustainability Training
Thank you for taking the time to read our eNewsletter. We would appreciate any feedback you may have. Please email us at economicdevelopment@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
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