Business on Redlands Coast

July 2022

Supporting your business

Redland City Council’s Economic Development and Investment team understand the challenges your business may be facing due to the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 and recent weather events.

The past year has seen our local business community embrace the opportunities to innovate, survive and some to even thrive in these challenging times. We are here to provide support and answer any of your business or economic development questions. Please contact the team on (07) 3829 8999 or email economicdevelopment@redland.qld.gov.au.

Economic Development welcomes Chris Isles

Redland City Council Economic Development and Investment Group is now part of a new Advocacy, Major Projects & Economic Development (AMPED) Department, with Chris Isles coming on board as General Manager. Chris, previously held a role with Brisbane City Council (BCC) as Economic Development Manager, managing economists, economic delivery, and business liaison officer teams, as well as having oversight of the City’s mall precincts. He established a new City Analytics program that proved to be a key source of city intelligence throughout COVID, and more recently the 2022 floods.

Chris expanded Brisbane City Council’s economic insights program and developed tailored business support and training programs, as well as an extensive local centre revitalisation program.

Chris's experience also includes a role as the Executive Director of Planning at Place Design Group. In this role, Chris oversaw the advisory and strategic planning functions of the business across eight offices throughout Australia, China, and Southeast Asia. Chris also led major consultant and development teams through the planning approval process for several large strategic planning projects, including more than a decade worth of projects in and around the Redlands Coast.

Across his career, Chris has been recognised for his work exploring and facilitating the relationships between commercial feasibility, economics, data, Smart Cities, and new technology uses, and their intersection with planning, economics, and cities.

With more than 20 years’ experience in the planning, economic and development industry, Chris was awarded Australian Planner of the Year in 2015, and in 2019 was awarded the Smart Cities Industry Leader award by the Smart City Council of Australia and New Zealand. Chris is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Queensland Government Budget 2022-23

Queensland Treasury prepares the Queensland Budget for the Queensland Government every financial year. The budget outlines the government’s revenue and expenses for the coming year, provides an overview of the state economy, and details the priorities the government will deliver.

Queensland is leveraging the benefit of its strong health response to drive recovery and a growing economy through three priorities: more jobs in more industries; delivering better services; and protecting the Queensland lifestyle.

Read more about highlights from the budget and a copy of the full budget.

Key initiatives that are funded on the Redlands Coast under the Queensland Budget 2022-23 remain largely unchanged when compared with the 2021-22 budget.

Queensland Budget 2022-23 Redlands Coast Snapshot of Funded Projects

Expression of Interest for Export Ready Training

Redland City Council in partnership with the Export Council of Australia (ECA) is offering an expression of interest to participate in a comprehensive two day training program to make your business export ready.

Nominate yourself or a team member for this exciting free training opportunity and submit your expression of interest (EOI). Please only register if you are interested in attending, and you are available to attend a two-day in person training event on 6 and 7 October 2022. Location of the training will be based locally (Redland City), and will be advised as part of the confirmation. Confirmation of the training event will be provided if enough interest is secured from the expression of interest.

The training program delivered by the Export Council of Australia will support businesses who are looking to grow through exports. You will gain practical knowledge about the fundamentals of selling your goods or services in overseas markets. You will also learn how to think indicatively with alternative business models and how to deliver an effective business pitch.

Training topics include:

International marketing
Protecting your intellectual property
Trade finance
Logistics.

Learn more about the Export Ready Training.

Looking for a grant or support program?

This guided search will help you find grants, funding and support programs from across government. Answer a few questions about your business to find grants and programs you may be eligible for. Currently, there are 700+ grants and opportunities nationwide.

Learn more about grant opportunities.

Ready to take your business to the world?

Applications now open: Export Market Development Grant

Applications are now open for the Export Market Development Grant (EMDG) – a federal government financial assistance program for aspiring and current exporters.

Administered by Austrade, the grant covers a range of export development and promotional activities. Recent reforms to the scheme have seen it reoriented from its traditional reimbursement model to an upfront grant agreement payable to eligible recipients over multi-year grants. The program provides eligible SMEs with funding across three tiers to grow their exports in international markets.

Applications can be submitted online through the MyGov Portal. Austrade has created a series of EMDG publications to support companies in preparing and submitting an application. These include a step-by-step application guide which can be accessed via the EMDG web page.

More Information:

Australian Trusted Trader Program

The Australian Trusted Trader (ATT) initiative is administered by the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Border Force (ABF). The program accredits Australian businesses that demonstrate both secure supply chains and compliant trade practices, and rewards them with trade facilitation benefits.

The ATT program reduces red tape for businesses with secure supply chains, as accredited Trusted Traders at the border, and expedites the flow of their cargo in and out of Australia which means faster access to market. ATT is part of an internationally recognised network of Authorised Economic Operator programs and provides a mark of trust with customs administrations globally.

The program is free to join with no ongoing membership fees.

Benefits of the ATT initiative include:

Simplified access to market, such as priority treatment of goods at the border, or access to Mutual Recognition Arrangements with other economies;
Streamlining red tape, including duty deferral, streamlined cargo reporting, and simpler access to the Temporary Skills Shortage visa; and
Opportunities to work in partnership with Government.

Apply online and learn more about the application process.

Capability Development Workshops

The Queensland Government Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, SEQ South Regional Office will be delivering two capability development online workshops to help suppliers enhance their chances of winning government contracts. The online workshops are free and participants must register online.

Tendering Top 10 Tips Webinar

Thursday, 1 September 2022, 11am to 12pm

This workshops will help Improve your chances of tendering success. From planning your response to submitting your tender, this webinar will give you the top ten tips to tendering. Our tips will help you improve your approach to tendering and how to address the non-price criteria in tender documents.

Register online or learn more.

Capability Statement Webinar

Thursday, 24 November 2022, 11am to 12pm

This workshops will help building capability statements that help your business thrive. Help your business stand out from the crowd and improve your chance of securing contracts by attending the capability statement webinar. A capability statement is a tool that allows procurement teams to assess your expertise and achievements, as well as your potential to deliver goods and services. It outlines the capabilities and skills of your business. A capability statement is essential for applying for and securing tendering opportunities in government and private sector projects.

Register online or learn more.

AusIndustry

AusIndustry will partner with you in the next step of your business growth. AusIndustry support businesses to innovate, invest and commercialise. You may be eligible for funding and AusIndustry's national outreach network is ready to start working with you now.

The network helps to guide local businesses with the right advice, networks, opportunities and information about programs, grants, and services available from all levels of government. AusIndustry's Regional Managers will listen to your business needs and take a holistic approach to address your individual goals and challenges.

Your Greater Brisbane Regional Manager is:

Nikki Gallagher

Contact Nikki on (07) 3227 4725 or 0473 826 061 or email nikki.gallagher@industry.gov.au

If your business has been affected by the 2022 floods, you may be eligible to access Strengthening Business a service under the AusIndustry Entrepreneurs' Programme.

The programme connects you with experts to make your business stronger, more resilient, and better prepared for the future. You can reach out to your local Strengthening Business Facilitator Liliana Montague to discuss if you may be eligible for this service by sending an email to Liliana.Montague@ep.industry.gov.au

Small Business Financial Counselling Service

The Small Business Financial Counselling Service (SBFCS) Southern Queensland provides free, impartial and confidential planning and support services to businesses located in the Southern Queensland Service Area.

Their local small business specialists can come to your business and help you:

Improve your understanding of your business's financial position;
Analyse the benefits and drawbacks of different options to manage financial issues;
Develop of budgets and cash flow forecasts;
Assist you with creditor negotiations;
Access dispute resolution services;
Understand your rights and accessing broader professional advice and support, and access government and community grants, programs and assistance schemes.

Their team of qualified small business specialists provide discreet support when challenges arise. By engaging with them early, such as when cash flow first starts to get tight, they can help you get the best results. However, they can also help you at later stages of your business journey. For further information, or for a confidential introductory chat, please contact your local Small Business Financial Counsellor.