Unleashing Qld’s 'small business tigers'

SOUTH-EAST Queensland business owners learned how to unleash ‘the small business tiger within’ as part of the 2014 Queensland Small Business Week celebrations.

The Queensland Government hosted a panel discussion in Brisbane with some of the nation’s best business minds on how to join the ranks of Queensland’s small business tigers on Monday, September 1.

Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games Jann Stuckey MP, said the panel discussion was the first of over 100 events across the state celebrating the 2014 Queensland Small Business Week from September 1-6. 

“The panel discussion focuses on small business tigers, which are small businesses that expect to grow their revenue substantially in the next 12 months,” Ms Stuckey said.

“Research has shown that Queensland has 50 percent more small business tigers than any other state.

“The discussion will also be streamed live across Queensland, allowing interested business owners outside Brisbane to learn how to grow their business.”

Participants heardr from a Queensland company taking on the world with their products, the managing partner of a new crowd-sourced equity firm, and from an authority on how entrepreneurs start, develop and harvest their ventures.

Media personality Adam Spencer compered.

“The 2014 Queensland Small Business Week celebrates the important role small business plays in the Queensland economy,” Ms Stuckey said.

“Small business employs about one million Queenslanders and accounts for around 95 percent of all business in the state.

“I encourage all Queensland business, industry, government and community to get involved. Last year we saw 4500 people engage in this great event and this year will be even bigger.”

Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland Brisbane West president Ian Kilpatrick said he encouraged small business owners to take the opportunity to network and “look out for each other”, and that he fully supported 2014 Queensland Small Business Week.

“Our mantra has always been: businesses helping businesses to do better business,” Mr Kilpatrick said.

“Small businesses have to be flexible, nimble and brave in embracing the digital economy and technology to realise their true potential and be successfully regionally, nationally and internationally, and this Queensland Government initiative as part of Queensland Small Business Week will help educate and hone small business operators’ skills to be more competitive.

“This is a great opportunity for our small business sector to partner with the Queensland Government to bring focus on policy and issues affecting small business operators, to help create a better business environment, grow profitability for small business and power our state’s economy.”

To register and live-stream this event go to: www.business.qld.gov.au/smallbusinessweek

 

QUEENSLAND BUSINESS QUICK FACTS

• Small business employs about one million people
• Brisbane has about 115,826 businesses and start-ups
• There are over 403,000 small businesses in Queensland
• Small business accounts for around 95 percent of all Queensland business.

 

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