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Coffs Coast Business News - June 2024
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 the newsletter valuable - please feel free to forward it to colleagues and your team. They can also subscribe to receive a copy directly.
IN THIS ISSUE:
Business events and training
- Linking and understanding your social media platforms - Tuesday 11 June
- Staying ahead in business during tough economic times - Wednesday 12 June
- Business NSW Mid North Coast Business Forum - Wednesday 12 June
- Keep your business thriving: find the skills your business needs - Thursday 13 June
- BWN Coffee and Connect - Tuesday 18 June
- Reel Basics Social Media Content Creation Workshop - Tuesday 18 June
- Regional Innovation Program - Thursday 20 & Friday 21 June
- Angel Investor Information Session - Thursday 20 June
- Sawtell Local Luminaries: Search & Disrupt - Thursday 20 June
Local news and opportunities
- Coffs Coast Marketing
- North Coast Tourism Awards Finalists
- City of Coffs Harbour digital magazine: Hinterland, Harbour, Home
- Local Government elections
- Coffs Harbour Bypass photo book
- Coffs Harbour construction jobs expo and recruitment day
Grant funding and business support
- Coffs Harbour Grant Finder
NSW Rural Assistance Authority - Engine and Emerging Industries Loan pilot program
Ecotourism Australia and Destination NSW - Free Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecards
NSW Business Conditions - May report
- National Sustainability Framework and Toolkit for the Visitor Economy
What's On Coffs Coast and major event calendar
BUSINESS EVENTS & TRAINING
Linking and understanding your social media platforms - FREE
In this workshop, we delve into the backend of social media platforms, uncovering the significance of linking your accounts for enhanced visibility and reach.
Learn the ins and outs of cross-platform integration and how it can streamline your marketing efforts, boost engagement, and maximise your online presence.
Tuesday 11 June, 9.30am - 11.30am
Business@Yarrila, 27 Gordon St, Coffs Harbour
Staying Ahead in Business during Tough Economic Times
The Coffs Harbour Chamber of Commerce has teamed up with Anthony McNab, business coach and principal of Prosperity Business.
Over the course of breakfast, Anthony will guide you through the Five Strategies That Will Ensure Your Business Is UP - When The Economy Is Heading Down.
Wednesday 12 June, 7.00am - 9.00am
Coffs Harbour Golf Club, Earl St, Coffs Harbour
Mid North Coast Business Forum
Federal MP for Cowper Pat Conaghan will join Business NSW's Chief Economist Sherman Chan to provide an economic overview of the state and discuss the emerging issues that are impacting our small and medium businesses. This is your opportunity to have your economic and government questions answered and to provide feedback to your Federal Member of Parliament to take to Canberra.
Wednesday 12 June, 12.00pm - 2.30pm
Pacific Bay Resort, Cnr Pacific Hwy and Bay Dr, Coffs Harbour
Keep your business thriving: find the skills your business needs - FREE
Do you need to outsource some tasks in your business?
Or do you need to make your first employee hire?
Join us for a panel discussion aimed at providing insights, success stories, and present alternative ways to find the right people so you can focus on what you do best.
Thursday 13 June, 9.30am - 11.30am
Sawtell Success Hub, 69 First Ave, Sawtell
BWN Coffee and Connect - FREE
Join the BWN for a walk and talk coffee and connect with other Coffs Coast women in business. This is a free, buy your own drink event.
Meet outside Daze Coffee at the beginning of the Jetty, order a coffee and sit or wander and sip on the Jetty while you catch up with some lovely local ladies!
Tuesday 18 June, 7.30am - 9.00am
Daze Coffee, Kiosk 1/75 Jordan Esplanade, Coffs Harbour
Reel Basics - Social Media Content Creation Workshop - FREE
Learn how to create amazing videos for your business using just your phone! In this fun and interactive workshop, Alicia Smith from Reel Social Haus, will show you quick tips and tricks that are simple and easy to implement. You'll discover how to capture engaging content that will drive people through the doors of your business.
Tuesday 18 June, 5.00pm - 7.00pm
Coffs Central - Food Court Level 1
Regional Innovation Program
Got a million dollar business idea floating around in there? Bring it to life with the 2024 Regional Innovation Program, supporting local innovators to get their innovation to market.
Thursday 20 and Friday 21 June. 10.00am - 4.00pm
Sawtell Success Hub, 16/69 First Ave, Sawtell
Angel Investor Information Session
Find out what it takes to become an angel investor and build a regional investment network. Work with a group of fellow investors in supporting the local start-up scene.
Thursday 20 June.
4.30pm - 5.30pm
Sawtell Success Hub, 16/69 First Ave, Sawtell
Sawtell Local Luminaries
Local Luminaries is back & we're talking Disruption & how local Entrepreneurs are taking it to the World through innovation! Join Simon O'Dell and Prem Chand over drinks + nibbles.
Thursday 20 June.
6.00pm - 8.00pm
Sawtell Success Hub, 16/69 First Ave, Sawtell
LOCAL NEWS & OPPORTUNITIES
DESTINATION COFFS COAST MARKETING
Check out this monthly snapshot of Destination Coffs Coast's current and upcoming marketing activities, campaigns, and news stories. These are created and managed by our team, in collaboration with local businesses and partners including Coffs Harbour Airport. Here's what's happening:
- Sydney Weekender: Episodes 16, 17, and 18 have already aired and are available from the attached link. Make sure you tune into Channel 7 at 5.30pm Sunday June 16 for episode 20, as the four-week feature on the Coffs Coast concludes.
- Getaway TV crew are in region this week filming for an upcoming feature.
- The Guardian: A local’s guide to Coffs Harbour: ‘The culture here is being outside’
- Today Show: Coffs Coast long weekend holiday feature
- Australian Traveller articles and social media campaign:
13 game-changing things to do in Coffs Harbour
7 things to do on the Coffs Coast that connect you to the land
7 hidden-gem villages and towns to explore on the Coffs Coast
ALL COFFS COAST BUSINESSES are invited to share these campaigns 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!
13 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FROM THE COFFS COAST
The 2024 North Coast Tourism Awards recognises growth, entrepreneurship and celebrates tourism businesses success across the North Coast region. In breaking news, the Coffs Coast has 13 finalists vying for contention in this year's awards! Winners will be announced on Thursday 1 August.
- Pacific Bay Resort Coffs Harbour
- The Hoey Moey
- Giingan Gumbaynggirr Cultural Experience
- Gumbaynggirr ECO immersive stand up paddle tours
- Yarrawarra Aboriginal Cultural Centre
- Shearwater Restaurant
- Coffs Harbour Trike and Private Tours
- Yarrila Arts and Museum (YAM)
- Coffs Coast Tickets by Paradox Media
- The Big Banana Fun Park
- Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary
- Tiga Cross - Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary
- Lindsay Russell - Broken Open Productions
HINTERLAND, HARBOUR, HOME
The City of Coffs Harbour has launched a new digital magazine: Hinterland, Harbour, Home.
Released quarterly, this magazine aims to inform the community on recent achievements, current projects, and future plans to remain connected, sustainable, and thriving.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS
Are you passionate about making a difference in the community? If you've ever considered becoming a Councillor, now is your chance to learn more.
The City of Coffs Harbour will host two informative candidate sessions:
- Online session was held 5 June at 6pm. Recording is available here
- In-person session: 22 July at 6pm
Explore what it takes to become a Councillor and how you can shape the future of our community. Local Government elections take place on Saturday 14 September.
COFFS HARBOUR BYPASS PHOTO BOOK - MAY 2024
In November 2023, the Coffs Harbour bypass project team asked the Coffs Harbour community what additional engagement they would like to see. Respondents overwhelmingly said they would like more regular photos and videos to update them on construction progress.
Transport for NSW have produced a photo book to share images of the 14-kilometre bypass being built. The photo book is a great way to keep the community informed and showcase some of the work in progress and the people who are building this important project.
COFFS HARBOUR CONSTRUCTION JOBS EXPO AND RECRUITMENT DAY
The upcoming Recruitment Career Day is the ultimate gathering for employers eager to fill positions with local, job ready candidates from the Construction sector and related industries.
This is a golden opportunity to meet face-to-face with job seekers ready to bring their enthusiasm and freshly acquired skills straight into your business.
Tuesday 25 June, 9.30am - 1.00pm,
C.ex Coffs Harbour, Vernon Street
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.
The NSW Rural Assistance Authority is administering the Engine and Emerging Industries Loan pilot program on behalf of the NSW Government.
The pilot program is designed to support regionally based businesses in food and beverage manufacturing industries to adopt advanced manufacturing capabilities.
Low interest loans of between $100,000 and $1 million are now available to eligible regional enterprises to fund activities that support investment in new technologies and equipment that will increase efficiency and productivity.
Tourism businesses across the Coffs Coast can register for a complimentary Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard thanks to ongoing support from Ecotourism Australia and Destination NSW.
Taking less than 1 day to complete, it measures where your business is at on your sustainability journey. Through the quick and simple assessment, businesses can receive recognition for their existing efforts as well as practical tips to improve.
The program is due to close Sunday 30 June, register your EOI today before it runs out!
The latest Business NSW Conditions Survey results for May are now available. The three cost categories that businesses are most concerned about are insurance cost; taxes, levies and other government charges; and energy cost.
NATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY FRAMEWORK AND TOOLKIT FOR VISITOR ECONOMY BUSINESSES
Last month we learned that incorporating and demonstrating your values of diversity, inclusion, well-being, recognition, and respect for people of all backgrounds is an important part of your social licence to operate. This month we focus on the fourth pillar: Creating positive social impact.
WHY CREATE POSITIVE SOCIAL IMPACT?
Regardless of the size of your business, your impact can stretch much further than your employees and customers. Creating positive social impact can:
- Strengthen the reputation and brand of your business in your community.
- Increase staff retention and appeal of the business when recruiting new team members.
- Reduce stress and absenteeism among team members.
- Enhance efficiencies.
- Create a competitive advantage.
- Increase customer willingness to choose your business, due to shared values and ethical practices.
WHAT'S THIS
MEAN?
The goal for visitor economy businesses is to create positive social and economic impacts through creating jobs, purchasing from local suppliers, and supporting community development.
HOW IS THIS ACHIEVED?
Below are five priorities to help businesses achieve the goals outlined above. See pages 42 - 50 in the toolkit for further details.
- Creating economic opportunity
- Purchasing from and promoting local suppliers
- Delivering an inclusive and equitable workplace
- Providing accessible experiences and services
- Maintaining a social licence
To complement the priorities in the Toolkit, the Create social impact in tourism webpage has additional information that can be used by all Coffs Coast businesses.
IN SUMMARY
You can create trust, well-being and community support ('social licence') for your business by actively working with and contributing to your local community.
WHAT'S ON @ COFFS COAST
The Circus
6 - 16 June
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
27 + 28 June
NRL Premiership Round: Sharks V Titans
5 July
Sawtell Chilli Festival
6 July
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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