Business in Brisbane - July-September 2020

BUSINESSINBRISBANE EDITION 26: JULY TO SEPTEMBER 2020 PAGE 2

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Investing in our city’s growth Backing business recovery

Back-to-basics business advice Free Q&A with local experts

Your guide to Council support Home-based business help

LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT READ MORE ON THE BACK

BUDGET 2020-21 $3.1 billion

A MESSAGE FROM LORD MAYOR ADRIAN SCHRINNER

$15.7 million

We’re giving businesses a financial breather by freezing rates until the end of the year and will continue to waive a range of fees, charges and rents for local businesses. For those suffering financial hardship, we have offered rates deferrals for the next six months.

$840 million

Our Economic Recovery Taskforce has been formed to drive initiatives that will oversee the $9.2 million program to revitalise suburban precincts and upgrades across the city. An investment of $21.7 million will also go toward projects across every ward in the city, including $7 million for a COVID-19 Suburban Priority Projects fund.

$7.9 million

We’re cutting red tape to boost economic activity and have changed payment terms to seven days for businesses that supply goods and services to Council.

We’ve created grants for not-for-profits, we are extending our Buy Local campaign and established a new Business Resource Hub at The Capital.

Economic Recovery Taskforce initiatives

Fully funded capital works infrastructure program

Business fee waiver on a range of charges, rents and permit fees, until December 2020

Rates freeze Six-month rates freeze for all ratepayers

133 BNE

This year’s Budget has been one of the most challenging in history to craft, given the economic devastation, but it is one that will drive our recovery, help businesses thrive again, get people back into jobs and bring the city back to its vibrant best.

Adrian Schrinner LORD MAYOR

@brisbanecityqld

BrisbaneCityCouncil

BrisbaneCityCouncil

BUDGET 2020-21 BACKING LOCAL BUSINESSES As our city rebuilds, we’re looking to the future by backing local businesses and encouraging everyone to buy local by: • investing $9.2 million to revitalise local shopping strips and $21.7 million for projects across Brisbane to create jobs and boost local economic activity • providing a $7.9 million relief package for businesses to waive a range of charges, rents and permit fees until December 2020

GETTING BUSINESSES BACK ON THEIR FEET Coronavirus has hit our city hard and businesses are doing it tough.

That’s why our $3.1 billion Budget is all about taking immediate action to protect jobs and get Brisbane open for business again.

• continuing our seven-day payment terms for Council’s small business suppliers • supporting ‘buy local’ by investing 80% of procurement spend with local businesses • establishing a Business Resource Hub at The Capital offering business mentoring and professional business service advice.

Our Business Hotline 133 BNE (133 263), which has connected with more than 5800 businesses since March, also remains open 24/7 and our Business Liaison Officers are available for one-on-one sessions.

Together we can get Brisbane businesses thriving again, people back in jobs and the city back to its vibrant best.

Our dedicated Economic Recovery Taskforce will work with small businesses to deliver support where it’s needed most.

This includes $7 million for a COVID-19 Suburban Priority Projects fund, with each ward receiving $270,000 to support their local community.

A further $3 million will assist community groups and Council leaseholders cover bills and maintenance works that have piled up as a result of forced closures during the coronavirus pandemic.

We’re helping to reduce the cost of living with a six-month rates freeze for all ratepayers and a one-off owner-occupier $250 rebate for JobSeeker recipients.

The 50% rates rebate for first home owners will continue, while from 1 October 2020, eligible first home buyers who build new homes or buy off the plan will receive a rates rebate of 100% (both rebates apply for the first 12 months of ownership). This initiative supports buyers and the thousands of builders and tradies that rely on construction activity in the housing sector.

INVESTING IN OUR CITY’S GROWTH Fast-tracking major projects and delivering vital infrastructure upgrades means a stronger economy with more local jobs and supplier opportunities.

That’s why we’re investing $840 million to progress city-shaping projects such as our Victoria Park Vision and the turn-up-and-go Brisbane Metro, which will create 2600 jobs during design and construction.

In 2020-21, we’re fast-tracking green bridges at Kangaroo Point and Breakfast Creek with $23.2 million in funding to start work and create new job opportunities sooner.

The Budget also includes $14.6 million for new and upgraded ferry terminals and $11 million to continue building double-decker CityCats in Brisbane.

These projects are not only crucial to getting people moving across Brisbane but create thousands of jobs and benefits for local businesses supplying materials and services.

LOCAL EXPERTS SAY IT’S BACK TO BASICS Owning a small business in the current climate is tough, which is why business owners need to lean on the expertise, experience and support of our local business community more than ever.

BRISBANE BUSINESS LEADERS SHARE THEIR SECRETS TO SUCCESS Don’t miss the lineup of local business experts offering free advice in our Business in Brisbane Facebook group.

Founder of World’s Biggest Garage Sale, Yasmin Grigaliunas, social media specialist Kate VanderVoort, and co-founder of activewear label Active Truth, Nadia Tucker, are among the trailblazers set to chat all things business in July and August.

Group members have already had a slice of advice from entrepreneur and founder of pizza chain Eagle Boys, Tom Potter (top left), who started his new venture, Pizza Guardians during the pandemic.

“It’s critical to ask yourself if you’re focusing on what matters as far as the success of the business, as opposed to getting bogged down on the small stuff,” Tom said when asked about business resilience.

Local digital innovator Llew Jury (top right) also spoke with the group last month about his experiences as the founder and chair of Reload Media, and member of the Lord Mayor’s Creative Brisbane Advisory Board.

Get your questions ready and join our Business in Brisbane Facebook group for this great opportunity to learn from local business experts.

UPCOMING EVENTS

To help, we’ve gathered the advice of business experts from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ), Brisbane-based global business advisory group EarthCheck and Council’s Business Liaison team.

“In times like this, we need to go back to basic business fundamentals,” said EarthCheck CEO, Stewart Moore.

“Know your financial standing,” said Stephen Tait, CEO of CCIQ. “Plan and forecast for various scenarios and, importantly, talk to your bank early. The sooner you do, the more options you’ll have.”

Council’s Economic Recovery Taskforce is working with local experts and the business community to bolster and rebuild Brisbane’s economy in the wake of coronavirus.

Our Business Liaison Officers are also available for one-on-one sessions to talk about resources and programs to support your business.

9 July Nadia Tucker, Active Truth

23 July Yasmin Grigaliunas, World’s Biggest Garage Sale

4 August Kate VanderVoort, Social Mediology and Social Media Success Academy

Check the Business in Brisbane Facebook group for updates and event times.

Read the full story including advice from Michael Kava, director of Little Marketing, and tips on staying connected with customers. Visit brisbane. qld.gov.au/businessarticles

Get inspiration, news and local events direct to your inbox.

Subscribe to Business in Brisbane brisbane.qld.gov.au/business-in-brisbane

COULD YOU BE A LOCAL COUNCIL SUPPLIER?

CONNECTION WITH YOUR STAFF IS KEY TO SUCCESS Brisbane business leaders are offering their insights to help start, run and grow local businesses at the Lord Mayor’s Business Excellence workshops and Skills Shot workshops.

Career transition specialist, CEO and founder of Trevor Roberts, Dr. Edwin Trevor-Roberts recently shared his tips to motivate staff when working remotely.

“Research shows the best motivation is intrinsic. Autonomy, competence and connectedness are key to job satisfaction,” Edwin offered as a team’s markers of success.

“Now is the time to be able to come up with new ideas and think in different ways.”

Read a full wrap up on our website, along with details of upcoming business events and workshops.

This year, Council’s buy local initiative, which aims to invest 80% of procurement spend with Brisbane and South East Queensland businesses, will inject close to $1 billion into the local economy by working with more than 2000 local businesses. And there’s still more to come.

From road upgrades and installing new park equipment to professional services and utilities, businesses from all industries can become a Council supplier and tender for work as part of our commitment to grow Brisbane’s economy and keep it strong.

Improve your chances of working with us by visiting Council’s website to read our tender guidelines and register for our Supplier Portal to receive email alerts on upcoming tenders.

YOUR GUIDE TO COUNCIL BUSINESS SUPPORT 24-HR BUSINESS HOTLINE

FREE ACCESS TO DATA

Got a business question?

Call Council’s dedicated business hotline 24/7 on 133 BNE (133 263).

Use Council’s Community Profiles online tool to research different areas of Brisbane and better understand your market.

133 BNE

BUSINESS COMMUNITY Join Council’s Business in Brisbane Facebook group if you’re a local business needing support or connection.

BUSINESS CONCIERGE Get one-on-one support from a Business Liaison Officer.

Call Council on 3403 8888 to arrange.

TENDERS Register at brisbane.qld.gov.au to be a potential supplier and see current Council tenders.

FEE WAIVER Council is waiving a range of charges, rents and permit fees for businesses until December 2020.

LICENSING Not sure if you need a licence? Call 133 BNE (133 263) or visit brisbane.qld. gov.au and search ‘laws and permits for businesses’.

RATES RELIEF Council is offering a rates freeze to residential and business rates for the remainder of 2020.

HOME-BASED BUSINESS SUPPORT If you’ve swapped your leased space for a home office or taken a leap to start your own gig, we’ve made it easier to begin trading as an official home business.

We understand that navigating liability and risk in line with the home-based business code in Brisbane City Plan 2014 may be confusing.

Council has information to help, including an online checklist to see if your business qualifies to operate from home, community profiles to help identify new areas to grow your business and guides for seeking additional licensing or Council approval.

REVITALISING BRISBANE’S SHOPPING PRECINCTS Council is helping to support local businesses by breathing life into Brisbane’s suburbs and enhancing village precincts as enticing places to work, shop and unwind.

To find out more, visit our website and search ‘operating a home business’ or call our Business Hotline 133 BNE (133 263).

New garden beds and leafy trees, bespoke seating, art, murals, upgraded footpaths and safer pedestrian crossing are some of the improvements underway at shopping precincts in Darra, Sunnybank, Seven Hills, Wilston Village and Paddington Terraces.

This year we’re investing $9.2 million to renew suburban centres like Manly Harbour and West Ashgrove. For a taste of what’s to come, check out the new and improved village precincts in Aspley and Carina, which have already received their fresh new looks through our Village Precinct Projects.

OUR CITY’S ENTREPRENEURS LAUNCH ONLINE MENTORING This year, 40 local entrepreneurs overcame the challenges of a global pandemic to grow their idea or take their business to the next level with Council’s popular business training programs online.

The Elevate+ Social Enterprise Accelerator Program, delivered by Impact Boom, and Maker Entrepreneurship Program, delivered by BrisStyle Inc, continued their programs with video calls and online lessons.

SAVE THE DATE Join us at the Elevate+ 2020 Showcase for a fun-filled evening online, hearing pitches from the 14 impact-led teams who were selected as part of the 2020 Elevate+ Social Enterprise Accelerator Program.

“Being a part of this program has given me the time to spend on my idea and be inspired by 20 other innovators,” said 2020 Elevate+ participant Robert Pekin, owner of Food Connect.

Tune in to celebrate Brisbane’s social enterprise community and find inspiration to fuel your projects.

Embroiderer Imogen White said the Maker program had given her confidence to evolve her hobby.

Date: Tuesday 14 July Time: 5.45-8pm

“I’ve learnt about the practical aspects of running a business. I know how to make things, that doesn’t mean I know how to sell them,” she said.

For more information, visit brisbane.qld.gov.au

BRISBANE BUSINESSES SHARE HOW THEY’VE ADAPTED TO THE COVID-19 CRISIS Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, most business owners and industries across Brisbane have had to adapt how they operate. For many local business owners and operators, what could have been the end of the line has instead become an opportunity to pivot.

Here is a snapshot of some of our local businesses who have diversified their products and services to reach new customers and levels of success.

A handy solution

Takeaway tipples

Influencer marketing agency Scrunch shifted focus to create a hand sanitiser brand, The Answer.

Popular West End bar, The End, adapted quickly after a green light for takeaway saw it reopen as a bottle shop.

“Coronavirus threw us into a spin, so we took matters into our own hands and designed our campaigns and products to suit the new world,” founder Danielle Lewis said.

“Being allowed to diversify and offer takeaway has saved our business from closing down,” co-owner Nick Goding said.

Namaste, online

A changing market

Embracing flexibility, Movement Vitality founder Virginia CorpusMcDermott took her yoga classes online for students to practice from the comfort of home.

Brisbane creative market operators BrisStyle said their community rallied around those doing it tough after scheduled markets were postponed.

“Switching to live streaming classes saved my business and meant our community stayed strong – we even welcomed a few new members!”

“Our members quickly adapted when we knew we wouldn’t be able to host face-to-face events for the time being,” said Operations Manager, Belinda Harris.

Home style

Feeding the need

Styling coach Majella McMahon switched to offering online shopping and professional styling sessions through her business The Stylery Co.

After supplying Brisbane’s hospitality sector for more than 35 years, family business The Wholesale Fruit Company shifted to providing fresh produce boxes to the public.

“More people are working from home, so the focus really has shifted to virtual style and how to communicate successfully and confidently in the digital space.”

“We are an essential service based out of Brisbane Markets and we thought, what can we do with the fruit and vegetables? And, really it was a no brainer.” said Customer Relations Manager, Natasha Bensted.

Visit our website to read more stories of local business resilience and inspiration, access support and resources and find out how we’re providing immediate fee relief for local businesses.

Brisbane City Council GPO Box 1434, Brisbane Qld 4001

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CA18-1150156-08-5012 ©2020 Brisbane City Council

133 BNE (133 263) Council Business Hotline 3403 8888 Council Contact Centre economic_development@brisbane.qld.gov.au brisbane.qld.gov.au