Coffs Coast Business News - June 2025

Each month, the City of Coffs Harbour's Economic Development & Tourism Team collates information for all businesses, large and small, across the Coffs Coast - helping you stay informed, keep connected, and feel supported.

We hope you find our monthly newsletter valuable. Please feel free to forward it to colleagues and your team. They can also subscribe to receive a copy directly. Previous editions of Coffs Coast Business News are available to view here.

IN THIS ISSUE:

Business events and training

• Business NSW: Economic Update with Sherman Chan & Pat Conaghan - Wednesday 11 June
• LinkedInLocal: From Clicks to Conversations - Wednesday 11 June
• Sawtell Gentleman's Club: The Long Lunch - Sunday 15 June
• Coffs Chamber: NBN Connects with Microsoft Business Breakfast - Wednesday 18 June
  
  Destination NSW: Accessible and Inclusive Webinar Series

• 16 June - Disability Inclusion in the Tourism Industry

• 18 June - Inclusive Customer Service

• 23 June - Creating Accessible Digital Content

• 25 June - Inclusive Marketing and Communications

Local news and opportunities

• In case you missed it around the region
• New manager appointment - Coffs Harbour Airport to be managed locally
• Have your Say: NSW Government - Jetty Foreshores Precinct planning proposal
• NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service: Notice of public exhibition
• Award submissions now open

Grant funding and business support

• Coffs Harbour Grant Finder
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Key Findings from 5- and 10-Year Employment Projections 
• Improve your marketing in 60 minutes or less

What's On Coffs Coast and major event calendar

LOCAL BUSINESS EVENTS

ONLINE TRAINING

NSW First Program: Accessible and Inclusive Webinar Series

Being accessible and inclusive is about creating an environment and visitor experiences that are welcoming to people of all ages and abilities. It’s estimated that 1 in 5 Australians has a disability — whether temporary or permanent — and with an ageing population, this number is only expected to grow.

Join Destination NSW for this free webinar series designed to give you practical tools and insights to help make your business more accessible and inclusive. Learn how to:

• Create spaces and experiences that feel welcoming to everyone
• Tips for delivering inclusive customer service
• Ways to make your digital content and marketing more accessible
• Understand how inclusion benefits all your customers

All visitor economy businesses are encouraged to attend. You're welcome to join all four webinars or just the sessions that interest you. Each session will run from 10.30am - 11.30am, including Q&A. 

LOCAL NEWS & OPPORTUNITIES

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Check out this monthly snapshot of articles, marketing activities, and campaigns making news across our region and beyond. Here's what's happening:

• Link Airways: Coffs to Canberra direct service to recommence from September 2025
• AFLW: Sydney Swans to travel to Coffs Harbour for final game of home-and-away season
• Fishing Australia: Rob Paxevanos in Coffs this week to film upcoming segment
• Wotif: Think you're up for the Coffs challenge?
• Media Release: Appointments to Destination Coffs Coast Committee

ALL COFFS COAST BUSINESSES are invited to share these news stories in their business marketing. This is a great way to bring people from out of the area to your business - and the content is already created for you!

New manager appointment - Coffs Harbour Airport to be managed locally

Coffs Harbour Airport Pty Ltd (CHAPL) entered into a 50-year lease with a 49-year option of Coffs Harbour Airport from the City of Coffs Harbour (Council) in 2021. Since that date, Sunshine Coast Airport Pty Ltd has facilitated the establishment of the new business entity and supported the local operations team under a management services agreement. With the business now on a firm footing, CHAPL will assume full responsibility for management of the Airport and Enterprise Park and will establish a locally based management team.

From 1 July 2025 CHAPL will operate fully under local management. To lead the expanded CHAPL organisation its board has conducted a nationwide search for a suitably experienced and qualified CEO. It has appointed Mr Craig Shaw, currently the CEO of Broome International Airport, to fill this position. Mr Shaw will commence in the role in early November.

Celebrate success and submit an award submission today! 

There are a number of regional, state, and national awards available to enter across a range of industries. Some are closing soon, but you have to be in it to win it!

🏆Business NSW Mid North Coast - 2025 Business Awards: Celebrate the vibrant business community across the region. Whether you are a finalist, a sponsor, or simply a supporter of local businesses, your involvement helps to build a stronger, more resilient economy for all.
Entries close: Monday 7 July
Learn more: 2025 Business Awards - Honoring Excellence in NSW Businesses | Business NSW

🏆NSW Tourism Association - 2025 NSW Tourism Awards: Following an extensive national review and wide-ranging industry consultation, this year’s program features a fresh, streamlined entry process designed to make participation easier, while maintaining the prestige and integrity that the awards are known for.
Entries close: Friday 13 June
Learn more: Australian Tourism Awards - NSW Tourism Association

🏆Economic Development Australia - 2025 National Economic Development Awards for Excellence: The only national program dedicated to recognising innovative, transformational projects and exceptional individual achievements in economic development.
Entries close: Friday 18 July
Learn more: National Economic Development Awards for Excellence

🏆Banksia Foundation - 2025 NSW Sustainability Awards: Do you know an individual or organisation that is truly leading the charge in sustainability? Their work could be changing lives, protecting our planet, and inspiring generations to come. We want to celebrate these incredible achievements!
Entries close: Friday 8 August
Learn more: About Awards NSW - Banksia Foundation

🏆Australian Event Awards: The Awards program is the only opportunity for Australian event professionals to compete directly right across the nation and across all facets of the industry to establish which are Australia’s best events and event-related goods, services and innovations. The Australian Event Awards Gala Dinner and Symposium will be held in Coffs Harbour from 13-15 October. Details on how the local industry can be involved to follow. 
Entries close: Monday 28 July
Learn more: About – Event Awards

GRANT FUNDING & BUSINESS SUPPORT

COFFS HARBOUR GRANT FINDER

The City of Coffs Harbour provides a free service for locals to find grants and grant writing tips. Register to be notified of specific grants for your business or organisation.

Jobs and Skills Australia: Key Findings from 5- and 10-Year Employment Projections 

Jobs and Skills Australia’s latest employment projections shine a spotlight on the trends shaping our future workforce. The projections forecast expected growth across all industries. Total employment in the Australian economy is projected to grow by more than 6% over the next five years, reaching 14.8 million by May 2029. Over a ten-year horizon, employment is expected to grow by 14%, reaching 15.9 million by May 2034. 

The primary drivers of this growth are expected to be service-based industries, particularly: 

• Health Care and Social Assistance 
• Professional, Scientific and Technical Services 
• Accommodation and Food Services 
• Retail Trade 

Improve your marketing in 60 minutes or less

business.gov.au has compiled five ways to improve how you market your business, in 60 minutes or less. Each section has practical examples as well as free resources and templates to download. 

• 10 minutes: Review your social media bio and links
• 15 minutes: Reach out to your regular customers for reviews or testimonials
• 30 minutes: Create a strong visual identity
• 45 minutes: Research your target market

• 60 minutes: Create your marketing plan

WHAT'S ON @ COFFS COAST

Please reach out to our team at City of Coffs Harbour if you have any questions.

Check out our 6 degrees business support website for business events and resources.
For tourism industry and visitor economy business support and information, go to our Coffs Coast tourism industry hub.

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