The Victorian Government is encouraging innovative practices among Geelong businesses with more than $40,000 invested in local business groups to run development activities on best practice for day-to-day business.
The month-long Geelong Small Business Festival in August 2019 and the Deakin University Geelong Business Excellence Awards are two examples of major local events that are being supported by the Victorian Government.
Both events, run by Enterprise Geelong and the Geelong Chamber of Commerce respectively, will offer local businesses opportunities to network with their peers and learn from industry-leading experts how to be more productive.
The events are part of a wider initiative to help local businesses be more competitive and responsive to changing economic conditions.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there are more than 17,000 small businesses in Geelong which equates to around 98 per cent of all businesses in the region.
The Government worked with the City of Greater Geelong on the Better Approvals Project in 2018, successfully reducing business permit approval times.
Council has also created a dedicated Business Concierge role. The Concierge advises businesses when they submit multiple permit applications and ensures the process supports work between council departments, reducing the length of application time and providing a better customer experience.
By reducing red tape and funding local business events in Geelong, the Government is helping create a fairer and more supportive business environment for small businesses in the region.
Source: Vic Government