Small business - Big results for Queensland

Queensland Small Business Week (2017 QSBW) will celebrate the importance of the state’s small business operators.

In partnership with Vodafone Australia and Australia Post, the statewide event (15 to 20 May) will highlight the importance of technology, promote a culture of entrepreneurship and reinforce to small business owners it’s their time to thrive.

Minister for Small Business Leeanne Enoch said the week’s theme, Time to Thrive, sought to re-ignite enthusiasm and celebrate the small business sector’s significant contribution to the state.

“The week will give business owners, managers and small business advocates access to the tools and resources they need to make their businesses thrive,” Ms Enoch said.

More than 414,000 small businesses are based in Queensland. Collectively the sector employees 43 per cent of Queensland’s private sector workforce and injects $100 billion into the state’s economy.

The Brisbane region is the small business capital of the state, with 146,541 small businesses calling the city home. The majority (62.7 per cent) are sole operators and focused on construction, professional and scientific and technical services.

The Sunshine Coast region is home to 60,918 small businesses, followed by the Gold Coast region (59,939), the Ipswich region (17,364), Townsville (9417) and Cairns (6658). Collectively more than 10,000 small businesses are also based in the regional centres of Mackay (3704), Redcliffe (3345) and Logan (3335).

The largest industry sector by number of businesses throughout Queensland is construction, with rental, hiring and real estate services, professional and scientific and technical services businesses also playing a key role.

More than 5000 people are expected to participate in more than 100 QSBW events, with key events in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Cairns, Townsville, Bundaberg and Mackay already scheduled.

“The week is a celebration of small business, but we actively support the sector every day through the information and services available via Business Queensland www.business.qld.gov.au and through programs such as Mentoring for Growth which offers insights and option on business challenges,” Ms Enoch said.

One of the week’s highlights will be a $10,000 social media challenge sponsored by Australia Post and open to Queenslanders, small business owners and current small business operators aged 16 years and above.

Entries (up to 60 seconds in length and no more than 4GB in size) must be uploaded to Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and include two hashtags: #QLDsmallbiz #Time2thriveQLD.

People who enter must also follow the Business Queensland Facebook page (@businessqldgov), the Business Queensland Instagram account (@businessqld) or the Business Queensland Twitter account (@businessqldgov).

Entries close Friday 5 May. The winning entrant will be announced on 19 May in Brisbane.

To discover more about 2017 QSBW or to register your interest in hosting a 2017 QSBW event, visit www.business.qld.gov.au/smallbusinessweek or download the 2017 QSBW app.

ENDS