Games help advance small businesses on Gold Coast

Gold Coast Chambers of Commerce and business leaders today heard how small business can make the most of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones addressed more than 100 business representatives at the Gold Coast Convention Centre.

The Premier said more than 55,000 Gold Coast small businesses were set to benefit from the Commonwealth Games.

“We are committed to supporting businesses on the Gold Coast and right across the state to embrace the short and long-term benefits of the Games,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“This will be a game changer for Queensland business with legacy outcomes set to flow on long after the Games.

“Our Trade 2018 program will capitalise on a long term economic legacy and we are helping business be games ready in the build up to the event as well as during Games time when 1.5 million spectators will be attending sporting events.

“I encourage small business owners to look at our programs to assist small businesses such as Be Games Ready and Be My Guest.”

Ms Jones said the Palaszczuk Government was also determined to maximise the Games’ benefits for tourism businesses on the Gold Coast.

“The Games are a once in a generation opportunity for tourism businesses to put their best foot forward,” she said.

“There is no greater opportunity to drive tourism, create jobs and drive economic growth than through the Games in 2018.

“To do this they need to be Games ready and plan ahead around key issues such as building the capability and skills of their staff.”

Small Business Minister Leeanne Enoch said small business owners needed to position themselves now to understand the GC2018 opportunities and to plan and assess what they can offer.

“Our Be Games Ready webpage, hosted on the Business Queensland website, is the go to site for small businesses with content to help take advantage of all Games-related opportunities,” Ms Enoch said.

“There’s also advice around marketing and social media messaging as well as simple but vital steps such as business planning.

"I would advise small businesses to also make the most of programs such as our successful Mentoring for Growth, that can give them a pre-Games business boost.”

Ms Enoch said small businesses can also apply for targeted grant programs such as the Accelerate Small Business Grants Program, Small Business Digital Grants Program and the Small Business Entrepreneur Grants Program.

For further information on the opportunities available to small business, visit www.business.qld.gov.au

Media contacts: 

Premier’s Office: Kirby Anderson 0417 263 791

Minister Jones’ Offie: Matt Jutsum 0408 998 940