Economic Update

1. Bundaberg Advantage

2. A Better Climate for Living

3. Emerging Opportunities

4. Industry Profiles

5. Infrastructure & Services

The Australian Industry Group, Bundaberg Regional Council and the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation have connected with Australia’s leading trade-show and exhibition trainer to help Bundaberg businesses make the most of their exhibition outreach. Ron McDermott will draw on decades of industry experience to deliver a fast-paced and stimulating learning experience – exploring 10 essential SMART Exhibiting subjects. Trade and consumer show exhibitors, festival and market operators will all benefit from this high-intensity half-day workshop.

Learn how to:
• Effectively plan and prepare during the critical weeks and months leading up to your event and hit the ground running straight after
• Understand what is required to bring your show to life and maximise your immediate and longer-term sales objectives
• Make the most of your space, select the right product mix, connect with your customers and build profitable relationships

Advanced Leadership Program 2012 Queensland

Funding is available through the Workplace Training Advisory Australia to assist high potential female leaders to undertake the Queensland WLA Advanced Leadership Program.

Backed by a consortium of educational bodies and industry experts, the Advanced Leadership Program is part of a national initiative to increase Australia’s pool of executive level female leaders. View the course Prospectus here

Designed in sympathy with the challenges of full-time employment, the program focuses on applied learning outcomes to quickly optimise the performance of senior level female leaders. During a career-defining 12-month journey, WLA’s expert trainers work one-on-one with students to assist them to achieve real-time personal and organisational goals.

Interested parties in Queensland are encouraged to apply now for Scholarships of up to $11,000, view Prospectus

A targeted program for driving innovation in business

The Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation has implemented the Productivity Hubs Business Innovation Program to provide a pathway for Queensland businesses to structure their growth, plug into new supply chains, and to compete more effectively on the world stage.

The Productivity Hubs program has been designed to assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within targeted sectors to review key aspects of their business, and adopt processes to help drive innovation, productivity and improved performance.  Industry sectors eligible for focused assistance include tourism, food processing, transport and logistics and information and communication technology.

For further information on the program download the Productivity Hubs Flyer..
If you have any questions about Productivity Hubs or application forms please call Amber Clancy on 07 3405 4123.

Turning Manufacturing Waste into Profit

QLD Water and Energy Sustainable Technologies Networkis is hosting an open forum to help businesses eliminate waste costs and focus on sustainable manufacturing processes and technologies, with presentations on manufacturing design for less waste, waste reduction and reuse, waste to energy technologies, Cleantech solutions, support programs and local case studies. Click here to view full Flyer

Bundaberg & District Chamber of Commerce

Coral Coast  Chamber of Commerce & Tourism

Gin Gin Chamber of Commerce

Isis Chamber of Commerce

Funding Opportunity - ClimateSmart Business Clusters

The Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) is excited to call for Expressions of Interest from Leaders to establish new ClimateSmart Business Clusters. Funding of $11,000 (GST inclusive) will be provided to a Leader to recruit a Cluster of 20 businesses and progress them through a 6 month efficiency improvement process.

Requirements -
•    Form a Cluster of 20 businesses linked through industry type or location.
•    Lead the businesses through a 6 month eco-efficiency program.
•    Motivate, improve knowledge and assist businesses to reduce costs.

Further Details -
Cluster Overview Fact Sheet or request an application pack from DERM.
Continuing on from the success of previous business clusters, this funding opportunity closes 9am Friday 27 January 2012.

If you are interested, please request an application pack from DERM:
Email:  The Clusters Team business.clusters@derm.qld.gov.au

Phone: 13 QGOV (13 74 68)

The December Quarter Facts & Figures have been released with some positive results. It is widely accepted that we have a diversified and resilient regional economy and the latest results are testament to this. Gross Regional Product growth of 2.4% has outperformed the state which was 0.2% for the same period. The participation rate has also improved by 1% in contrast to Queensland’s 0.4% and despite an increase in unemployment. Informed readers will see the latest Facts & Figures publication to be a positive reflection of growth for our local business and industry amongst tough global economic conditions. Please follow the link for the full publication.

Bundaberg North Burnett Tourism has done it again with a seven page feature in the Qantas Spirit Magazine, for the second time this year. With support from the Business Flood Fundraising Appeal and sponsors, the feature highlights the quality lifestyle of the region and the variety of tourist attractions. The turtle season has got off to a great start and the Qantas Spirit feature is a timely reminder to celebrate the region’s beauty. For the full feature click here

Under the Centres of Enterprise initiative, the Queensland Government has committed to maximising the regional business won by Wide Bay Burnett firms from major projects and new markets.  This Cluster Development and Business Matching Project undertakes key activities contained in the Wide Bay Burnett Engineering Machinery & Equipment Manufacturing Centre of Enterprise Action Plan, and this project was endorsed and approved by the Associate Director General, Mark Bermingham, in July 2011.           

A flood recovery project, funded through Priority Skills Development, has provided much needed business support to more than 150 Queensland tourism businesses after what has been a difficult year for the tourism industry.

To combat and assist impacted tourism businesses, the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC), with the assistance of Skills Queensland, is providing practical business development skills to assist with recovery and long-term sustainability.