Discussion open for small businesses

Future small business growth and job creation is in the spotlight as the Palaszczuk Government calls on small businesses to have their say.

Minister for Employment and Small Business Shannon Fentiman released the Queensland Small Business Strategy Discussion Paper following the Queensland Small Business Advisory Council (QSBAC) meeting in Townsville today.

“The Queensland Government is asking what else can be done to make sure small businesses continue to grow, create local jobs and support our regions,” Ms Fentiman said.

“We have just finished our final QSBAC meeting for the year and I’m pleased to launch this discussion paper so we can hear first hand from businesses about how we can help them take hold of opportunities and overcome challenges.”

“We are asking small business operators to have their say on ways we can make it easier to do business, grow their business in the city and our regions and how we can ensure small business has a clear voice.”

“We are committed to ensuring Queensland is the best place for small businesses to start, grow and create more jobs.”

“Small businesses are economically and socially vital to our regions, they provide local jobs and reinvest back into their local communities.”

“We are consulting with small business and stakeholders to develop a new strategy to follow on from our, four-year Advancing Small Business Queensland Strategy 2016-20.

“Under the existing strategy $26.2 million has been invested to support Queensland small businesses, we have awarded more than $14 million to more than 2300 Queensland small businesses through the Small Business Grants program with an estimated 4600 new jobs created as a result.”

Queensland Government small business grants enabled Brisbane designer Jessy Cameron to take her jewellery business, Molten Store, from pop-up stalls to a permanent store in the heart of Fortitude Valley.

“With the help of a digital grant in 2017, Jessy redeveloped her online store and enhanced her in-store business, increasing sales and employing more staff,” Ms Fentiman said.

“This is one of the key grants that are empowering small business operators to plan for sustainable financial growth and a brighter future.

Some key statistics of the Queensland small business sector:

  • Small businesses employ more than 970,000 people, and around 45 per cent of the private sector workforce in 2017-18.
  • 27 per cent of small businesses are outside South east Queensland.
  • 35 per cent of small businesses are owned or run by women, the second highest rate in the country behind the Northern Territory.
  • Between 2011 and 2016, the number of small business owners identifying as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander increased by 44 per cent.
  • The top five small business industries are construction; retail, hiring and real estate; professional, scientific and technical services; agriculture, forestry and fishing and financial and insurance services.

“Our popular small business grants are in addition to our $885 million Payroll Tax Package, the hugely successful Back to Work program and our free Mentoring for Growth program – this is all part of our commitment to backing local businesses to succeed and grow.

“And our free apprenticeships initiative is supporting businesses to take on young apprentices and trainees across Queensland by removing the cost of training.”

“We want to continue to assist our local Queensland small businesses.

“This is your opportunity to have your say on what can be done to make sure small business continues to grow, create local jobs and support our regions.”

The Department of Employment, Small Business and Training is undertaking public consultation from until 13 December 2019 with small business stakeholders across Queensland.

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