Flinders Island Business e-News March 2023
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Published March 2023
Flinders Island Business e-News
Small Business Growth Strategy 2026
Thank you to all Flinders Island businesspeople who participated in the consultation visit to Flinders Island by the Department of State Growth's Small Business unit coordinated by FIBI as well as providing direct submissions. The Tasmanian Government has now launched the Small Business Growth Strategy 2026, setting out the objectives by which government and the private sector can support and encourage business growth in Tasmania.
The Small Business Growth Strategy 2026 centres around four key themes:
- People and connections
- Place
- Enabling business; and
- Technology.
These themes identify the key opportunities and challenges for running a business in Tasmania and where further efforts will support business growth.
This strategy was informed by consultations with businesses across Tasmania and developed by the Department of State Growth in partnership with the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Tasmanian Small Business Council.
You can view the strategy online on the Business Tasmania website.
Small Business Growth Strategy Grant Program
Following the launch of the Tasmanian Government’s Small Business Growth Strategy 2026, applications are now open for the Small Business Growth Strategy Grant program.
Grants of between $10,000 and $50,000 are available to fund the delivery of new projects that relate to the themes of the Small Business Growth Strategy 2026. Projects must also align with one of the following streams:
- Stream 1: Research and feasibility studies
- Stream 2: Workplace capability
- Stream 3: Scaling up/business growth
Applications are open to both Tasmanian small businesses and Tasmanian organisations such as chambers of commerce and/or peak industry bodies.
This is a competitive grant program and successful applicants must commence their project/s by 30 May 2023 and complete the project/s on or before 30 May 2024.
Applications close at 2:00 pm on Tuesday 4 April 2023
For more information and to apply, refer to the Business Tasmania website.
"While this is a Small Business Growth Strategy, we do understand that the word “growth” means different things to different people. Growth can mean starting a business, growing market share, or building resilience to maintain the Tasmanian way of life and enjoy the lifestyle benefits that Tasmania has to offer.
This strategy aims to create a productive, connected and sustainable business environment for all Tasmanian businesses, one that enables all members of Tasmania’s business community to grow their business in the way they choose."
Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (TCCI) Upcoming Online Training Courses
As a Member of FIBI, your local chamber of commerce, you have access to a number of benefits including TCCI training courses.
Online
28 March - TCCI Hot Topic - Managing workplace conflict
28 March - Staying safe behind the wheel at work
29 March - Risky Business - Building the Basics
29 March - ME Masterclass Series - Position Descriptions for Managing Performance
19 April - Psychosocial injury: Mitigating risk in your workplace
Five issues that you need to avoid when employing someone
Sometimes a business may need to employ someone to help them expand or cater for the extra workload. If the business has never employed someone in the past there are a few things that it needs to consider or avoid.
Here are some of these things to look out for.
Amplify your Off Season offer - toolkit and digital coaching
It's time to get ready to promote your Off Season offer!
The Amplify Your Offer industry toolkit has been developed by Tourism Tas to help you consider and plan the ways you can promote your offer through your own digital channels.
It is important that your Off Season offer is displayed on your website/booking platform. This will make it easy for customers to book the offer direct with you.
If you require assistance with this, Digital Ready is offering free 1 hour coaching sessions.
Book your online coaching session here.
Haven't created an Off Season offer yet?
There's still time to get involved and leverage the Off Season marketing campaign. You can add an offer to your ATDW profile anytime until the end of the Off Season (August). Visit the Tourism Tasmania website to find out how.
*Photo credit: Jesse Hunniford, Oscura by Bar Stelo
Minister for Small Business visit to Flinders island
Madeleine Ogilvie visited Flinders Island over the last weekend to attend the opening of the Tomb of History and met with the FIBI Board. As well the Minister took the opportunity to tour a cross section of businesses and sites including both the Furneaux and Maritime Museums.
The Board raised several issues impacting on Island businesses which included freight, TasPorts, tourism, the need for sewerage in the townships of Whitemark and Lady Barron, planning, Telstra service to name a few. These issues will be followed up by the Minister in the coming week. The Minister indicated that some issues could be potentially fixed quickly, others will take time. It was also agreed that there was a need for a long-term place plan for the Islands.
In addition, Minister Ogilvie raised the issues of the availability of both crayfish and scale fish on the Island. As a result of FIBI Board concerns the Minister has agreed to research how this problem can be fixed for the Island. The availability of crayfish has been made more difficult with the retirement of Jack Wheatley from the industry.
* Hon Madeleine Ogilvie with Ben Backhaus on a tour of Flinders Island Bush Pharmacy. Photo credit - Michael Buck.
Share your skills!
Help support our local businesses
Flinders Island Business Inc. (FIBI) is creating a register of business advisors & mentors.
The aim is to provide direct on-Island support for business owners and trainees.
If you are interested and would like to register, please call Michael Buck FIBI Executive Officer 0408 351 599 for further information.
Looking for Employees?
FIBI in partnership with the Northern Employment & Business Hub (NEBHUB) will soon be offering a service to assist your business with workforce and training needs, including finding your star employee.
The program is a cooperative project with the Northern Employment & Business Hub based in Launceston. NEBHub is funded by a $2M commitment by the State Government at the 2021 Tasmanian election and facilitated through Jobs Tasmania.
The NEBHub office provides a walk-in service to job seekers and businesses and is continually working directly with business to understand their requirements and to match local jobs with local people.
Heidi (centre photo), joined the NEBHub team in the Launceston office this week prior to relocating to Flinders Island. Heidi joins the team as the Workforce Development Facilitator supporting job seekers and businesses on Flinders Island with workforce and training needs as well as taking the position of Business Development Officer with FIBI.
Read the latest Islander Way blog...
A regenerative approach to hosting visitors: Pathway to social licence?
"...for the visitor economy of the future to address social licence, it requires that every stakeholder, business, and tourism operator take responsibility for operating in good faith, participating in open, constructive dialogue, and in addressing issues in a timely and transparent manner. When communities perceive that the decisions being made about the visitor economy are addressing mutual interests, then social licence - as an expression of consent - might be closer to being achieved."
Read the blog in full here.
Sharp Flights to Flinders
Managing Director Malcolm Sharp joined the February FIBI Board meeting via zoom to report on activities over the current visitor period.
Malcom indicated that the Hobart flights would end at the 30 April 2023. This will be followed by a review to ascertain whether the Hobart flights are viable long term. The Melbourne flights are likely to increase over winter due to increase passenger demand. The Board will pursue this matter with both Tourism Tasmania and Sharp. Thank you to Sharp Airlines for their ongoing support.
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FIBI acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we reside today, the palawa people of the trawulwai Nation, and recognise their continuing connection to the land, waters and culture of the islands. We pay our respect to Elders past, present and emerging.
