A new advisory service will provide Redlands City businesses with invaluable guidance and complement Council’s strategic and proactive support for the local business sector.
Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said the Business Enterprise Centre had won a Federal Government AusIndustry contract to provide services to the Redlands under the Commonwealth’s Australian Small Business Advisory Services program.
“This service will provide important support for local businesses, particularly small businesses that make up about 96 per cent of the local sector,” she said.
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“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and deserve our support. I was happy to provide the Business Enterprise Centre a letter of support in November and I was delighted to receive the news this week that Redlands businesses will soon be able to access this service.
“I will meet with the Centre soon to discuss the services that will be offered under the Australian Small Business Advisory Services program and how Council might assist in the delivery of these services.”
Cr Williams said Council already provides significant assistance for business through a range of workshops and other support mechanisms.
“Ensuring small businesses – whatever their stage of start-up or expansion – have access to professional advice is an important way to ensure success,” she said.
“The Business Enterprise Centre will provide another level of support and advice relating to funding avenues and financial analysis; building the business; making the most of talent and team; management capabilities; and digital engagement implementation.
“The new service will enable Council to invest more heavily in supporting local business.
“This Business Enterprise Centre replaces former Council-funded programs, meaning the budget allocated to these discontinued programs can now be used more strategically to drive our investment into business support further, and deliver more benefits to businesses and the Redlands’ economy.”
Cr Williams said Council’s Open for Business approach included its recent adoption of an Economic Development Framework designed for business and driven by business to help shape the economic future of Redland City.
“The framework will be driven by an Economic Development Advisory Board and is about delivering real and achievable outcomes through action plans designed and delivered by business leaders,” she said.
“The best people to drive business growth in the Redlands are the business owners themselves and we are committed to providing the tools to facilitate that.
“Past programs had an ad hoc approach, whereas now we have a framework that drives the overall direction, which is then delivered by the business community, for the Redlands community.”
