Giving businesses a technology boost

Published Monday, 11 November, 2019 at 05:50 PM

Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development
The Honourable Shannon Fentiman

Applications are open for the latest round of small business digital grants to help Queensland businesses work smarter.

Minister for Employment and Small Business Shannon Fentiman said businesses have the opportunity to tap into the Palaszczuk Government’s latest small business grant which has assisted more than 1400 businesses so far.

“We want to ensure local businesses have the support to stay up to date with technologies and embrace online opportunities,” Ms Fentiman said.

“These grants are by far our most popular amongst small businesses and a federal parliamentary inquiry into internet competition has recommended that something similar be offered to small businesses across the nation.”

“Small businesses can apply for funding of up to $10,000 to buy equipment such as workflow automation, mobile devices for ecommerce, digital upgrades, employ new staff and update the skills of existing employees.

“Empowering small businesses to be digitally savvy is a key driver of our Advancing Small Business Queensland Strategy to strengthen small business and help them to keep up in the expanding digital economy.”

Past grant recipient Mareeba Heritage Museum and Visitor Information Centre manager Janet Greenwood said the organisation used its $1700 Small Business Digital Grant to bring their operation into the 21st century.

“We put the matching grant to good use by buying a new digital point of sale system for our Heritage Shop that sells local crafts and produce, souvenirs and books on the region’s history,” Ms Greenwood said.

“The new system of two Ipads and a cash register, which links to a printer and scanner and a retail app subscription, is fantastic.

“It makes stock take and accounting much easier and more efficient with much less room for error, which is really important for a community organisation that relies on donations and funding to survive.

“Without the grant we would not have gone down the track of updating to a digital system.

“Although our 42 elderly volunteers were very nervous at first about the new system, after a few months of on-the-job training almost everyone is using it.”

To be eligible for Small Business Digital Grant program funding, small businesses must have fewer than 20 employees, have an Australian Business Number (ABN) and be registered for GST, have a turnover of $2 million or less in the last financial year and be based in Queensland.

Applications close on 10 December 2018. For more information including application forms, guidelines, terms and conditions, visit www.business.qld.gov.au/digital.

ENDS

Media Contact:          Inga Williams              0439 949 719