WHO is leading the way when it comes to business innovation and growth in Australia? Many would be led to believe it’s tech-savvy, Gen-Y with all their mobile apps, while others suggest it’s the Baby Boomer generation, driven by the need to fund their retirement.

Robert Gerrish, Founder of Flying Solo; an online solo and micro business community, and Michael McQueen, social researcher, author and international speaker are set to reveal the real role that both generations actually play in business today at the National Small Business Summit (NSBS) in Melbourne on 7 -8 August.

Robert Gerrish will deliver his presentation, titled: Productivity in Baby Boomers, aiming to debunk the perceptions of today's start-up entrepreneurs and change views of the worn out, Aussie-battler who works night and day from the third bedroom.

“Today’s small business entrepreneurs are not all mac book wielding, bearded, single-speed cyclists! My presentation is filled with tales of nudity and mischief, giving a new perspective on today's over 50s as well as a fresh new way to measure productivity,” Mr Gerrish said.

Meanwhile, Michael McQueen’s keynote presentation will explore the lies that we have been told about Gen Y and some of the key challenges that the older generation face in communicating with, leading and working with today’s youth.

“Summit attendees will leave my presentation with powerful insights into what’s really shaping Gen Y, along with practical strategies for engaging, motivating and equipping them in meaningful ways,” Mr McQueen commented.

The 12th annual NSBS hosted by the Council of Small Business Australia (COSBOA) provides a platform for small business representatives, senior politicians, bureaucrats and big business representatives to exchange ideas, opinions and experiences aimed to drive change and build productivity across the small business sector.

This year, the Summit has attracted yet another great line-up of high-profile speakers and attendees, also including Yasmin King, CEO of Service Skills Australia, Dr Cassandra Goldie, CEO of Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) and David Bates, Managing Director of Workforce Guardian.

While COSBOA is focussed on key issues such as workplace relations; the collection of superannuation; contract law and competition policies, these exciting and passionate speakers provide specialist insights and information covering a diverse and comprehensive range of small business subjects.  

About the speakers:

Robert Gerrish is the founder of Flying Solo, an online solo and micro business community, boasting a membership of over 65,000 Australian businesses. Each day their site, online forums and social networks welcome over 5,000 visitors, and around the country Flying Solo meet-up groups gather to share ideas and strategies.

Robert is a business commentator and author of bestselling book, Flying Solo: How to go it alone in business. Flying Solo’s biannual audience survey explores trends, challenges and activities of the Australian micro business sector. Flying Solo works closely with State and Federal Government in support of their small business activities and programs.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertgerrish 

Michael McQueen is a leading specialist in demographic shifts, change management and future trends. In 2004 Michael founded a consultancy specializing in demographic shifts and social trends called The Nexgen Group.

A social researcher and bestselling author, Michael’s first book The ‘New’ Rules of Engagement was the culmination of a 3-year study of the key drivers of youth culture around the world, with an emphasis on the values and attitudes of Generation Y.

Michael’s latest book Winning the Battle for Relevance explores why even the greatest businesses and institutions become obsolete and how others can avoid their fate.

As a speaker, Michael has shared the stage with some of the biggest names including Bill Gates, Whoopi Goldberg and Larry King.

http://michaelmcqueen.net/about/profile.html

About COSBOA & the National Small Business Summit:

1. The Council of Small Business Australia (COSBOA) was founded in 1979 and was incorporated in 1985.
2. COSBOA is Australia’s peak body exclusively representing the interests of small businesses.
3. The 2014 National Small Business Summit will be held at the Crown Conference Centre Melbourne on August 7th and 8th.
4. The National Small Business Summit provides the small business sector with the opportunity to discuss and identify relevant issues, promote innovation and generate ideas to stimulate growth within the industry.
5. For more information about the summit visit: www.nationalsmallbusinesssummit.com.au
6. For more information on COSBOA visit: http://www.cosboa.org.au/
7. Interviews with Peter Strong, Chief Executive are available upon request.
8. COSBOA is a long-time advocate of small business on issues from taxation and workplace relations, through to competition law and retail tenancy.
9. The goals of COSBOA are to promote and support the development of small businesses in Australia and the council recognises that it is a national imperative for Australia that the needs of small business are on the national policy agenda.
10. Connect and follow via social media:

• Facebook: /COSBOA
• Twitter: @COSBOA
• Hashtag: #NSBS14
• LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/cosboa

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 PEAK retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) said the seasonally adjusted rise (0.6 percent increase) in monthly retail trade figures (month-on-month) reported today by the ABS followed a -0.5 percent fall in April 2014.

Year on year retail growth also rose 5.5 percent in June 2014, seasonally adjusted, compared to June 2013.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said that after an unseasonably warm autumn and post-Federal Budget drop in consumer confidence, retailers breathed a sigh of relief in June as the winter chill slowly started to settle in.

“Although retailers reported sales to be patchy, consumers finally started to stock up on their winter wardrobes and household items. Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing experienced an increase during June (1.4% increase) and household goods retailing also got boost from the change of season (1.7%).

“This increased activity also coincided with the launch of the mid-year stocktake sales period, with many retailers launching major sales mid-June.

“According to the Australian Retail Index (delivered by BDO and Retail Express), the retail sector finished the 2013-14 financial year on a relatively strong note, recovering somewhat in June from the post-Federal Budget downturn. The Index warned, however, that retailers should expect activity to be short lived over the remaining cooler months with historic consumer confidence showing a dip in sales between August and October.

“Overall, turnover rose in New South Wales (0.9%), Victoria (0.6%), Western Australia (1.1%), South Australia (0.5%), Tasmania (1.3%) and the Northern Territory (0.3%). Queensland was relatively unchanged (0.0%). There was a fall in the Australian Capital Territory (-0.5%).

“The Federal Government must now do all that it can to ensure that retail trade does not suffer as we gear up toward the spring/summer racing season and also the Christmas trading period.

“On this note, the ARA also strongly urges the RBA to cut interest rates when they meet tomorrow,” Mr Zimmerman said. 

MONTHLY RETAIL GROWTH (May 2014 – June 2014 seasonally adjusted)

Household goods retailing (1.7%), Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (1.4%), Other retailing (0.9%), Food retailing (0.5%), Department stores (-0.5%) and Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (-0.6%). Total sales (0.6%). 

Tasmania (1.3), Western Australia (1.1%), New South Wales (0.9%), Victoria (0.6%), South Australia (0.5%), Northern Territory (0.3%), Queensland (0.0%) and Australian Capital Territory (-0.5%). Total sales (0.6%).

YEAR-ON-YEAR RETAIL GROWTH (June  2013 – June 2014 seasonally adjusted)

Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (9.6%), Household goods retailing (7.3%), Food retailing (5.7%), Other retailing (4.2%) Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (3.5%) and Department stores (-3.2%). Total sales (5.5%).

Tasmania (10.6%), New South Wales (8.7%), Northern Territory (7.7%), Victoria (6.1%), Queensland (3.3%), South Australia (2.7%), Western Australia (1.6%) and Australian Capital Territory (-2.2%). Total sales (5.5%).

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Since 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has been the peak industry body representing Australia’s $265 billion retail sector, which employs over 1.2 million people. The ARA ensures retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 5,000 independent and national retail members throughout Australia.

Visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

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PEAK retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) said the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) decision to keep the cash rate on hold at 2.5 percent does little to support the current upswing in retail sales.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said that despite an uplift in the previous months retail sales figures, consumer confidence remains extremely fragile.

“Lowering interest rates today would have been a supportive step in the right direction for the retail sector but unfortunately this wasn’t the reality.

“Given the government still needs to pull money out of the economy to balance the budget, retailers believe the RBA will need to continue to support the economy via low interest rates for some time.

“We’re also aware that Australians are struggling to save at present. According to the latest Banking Day Report, only 46 percent of households said they were able to save each month – down from 49 percent in December and the lowest level since ME Bank started the survey in 2011.

“Although the retail sector finished the 2013-14 financial year on a relatively strong note, (recovering somewhat in June from the post-Federal Budget downturn), the reality is that this activity will be short lived.

“Consumer confidence often shows a dip in sales between August and October and it is now imperative that the Federal Government do all that it can to ensure that retail trade does not suffer as we gear up toward the spring/summer racing season and also the Christmas trading period.

“The ARA urges the RBA to lower interest rates at their next meeting in September in order to aid retail growth, especially for the SME sector,” Mr Zimmerman said.

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Since 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has been the peak industry body representing Australia’s $265 billion retail sector, which employs over 1.2 million people. The ARA ensures retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 5,000 independent and national retail members throughout Australia.

Visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

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THE Queensland Government has set the stage today for development of a multi-billion dollar, world-class uranium mining industry in North Queensland. 

Queensland Resources Council Chief Executive Michael Roche said Mines Minister Andrew Cripps’ release of a strictly regulated framework for the resumption of uranium mining would support economic and jobs growth into the future. 

‘Essentially the state government has invited prospective uranium developers to make their case,’ Mr Roche said. 

‘The framework released today is the product of two years of meticulous review and provides a solid framework for assessing and regulating uranium mining.’

Estimates value current known uranium resources in Queensland at $18 billion.

A potential bonus from the framework’s development is a new lease of life for Queensland’s last uranium producing mine, Mary Kathleen (near Cloncurry). 

‘The Geological Survey of Queensland has appraisal studies at Mary Kathleen confirming its potential as a source of rare earths, which are critical to the development of digital and low emission power technologies,’ Mr Roche said. 

‘The new data will be closely scrutinised by investors as companies develop tenders to win the right to develop Mary Kathleen’s potential.’

Mr Roche said despite the good news for North and North West Queensland in terms of jobs, economic growth and government royalty revenues, he expected an hysterical backlash to the announcement from anti-industry activists.

‘Despite the years of work that have gone into developing a Queensland framework reflecting the experience of South Australia, West Australia and the Northern Territory, activists will claim that the nuclear power industry is shrinking and unsafe,’ Mr Roche said.

‘Yet the International Energy Agency has forecast electricity demand to grow by more than two-thirds from 2011-2035 with nuclear energy making up 12 percent of the mix (link below).

‘Contrary to activist propaganda, the state government and industry have worked together with other major stakeholders to deliver world’s best environmental protection and safety standards.’

On the transport and export of uranium, QRC supports the recommendation of the independent (Queensland) Uranium Mining Implementation Committee: ‘Uranium oxide mined in Queensland is to be exported via existing ports and shipping lanes for the export of uranium oxide. Queensland ports should be encouraged to seek additional business from the activity uranium mining will present in terms of materials supplied for construction, maintenance and mining operations. If a future request is made to export uranium oxide from a Queensland port, this request should be assessed by the Coordinator-General and the existing regulation for the transport.’ 

www.qrc.org.au