Business in Brisbane (Edition 22) by Brisbane City Council

BUSINESSINBRISBANE EDITION 22: JULY TO SEPTEMBER 2019 PAGE 2

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Nurturing small business Planning for the future

Access free business support Moorooka’s business partnership

Enhancing suburban precincts Brisbane’s quality office market

THIS MONTH’S CASE STUD Y

STARTS AT 60 READ MORE ON THE BACK

BUDGET AT A GLANCE $1.6 BILLION

A MESSAGE FROM LORD MAYOR ADRIAN SCHRINNER It is an honour for me to present the 2019-20 Budget. Brisbane is a great place to live, work and relax, and I know that together we can make it even better. Every day, we’re working to grow your Brisbane lifestyle and get you home quicker and safer.

GETTING YOU HOME QUICKER & SAFER

$1 BILLION

This financial year, we’re tackling traffic congestion while creating more travel options, committing more than $818 million to progress major road corridor upgrades and planning for the city’s five new green bridges. We’re also committing $240 million to create more for locals and visitors to see and do across the city.

GROWING YOUR BRISBANE LIFESTYLE

$466.6 MILLION PIZZA.PASTA.SALAD. MENU.

B E EFB U R G ERS

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Carefully planning for a growing city means stronger communities, more local jobs and affordable housing in a Brisbane that’s sustainable for future generations. We’re investing $17.2 million to bring new life to suburban retail precincts, with new initiatives to reinvigorate shopfronts and encourage start-ups, and discounts on a range of Council business fees and charges. I want the Brisbane of tomorrow to be even better than the Brisbane of today, and that’s what the Budget is all about. Adrian Schrinner

PLANNING FOR BRISBANE'S FUTURE

133 BNE

LORD MAYOR

@brisbanecityqld

BrisbaneCityCouncil

KEEPING BRISBANE AFFORDABLE We’re ensuring Brisbane remains a great place to live, work and relax by minimising business, living and household expenses, so you can spend more money on doing the things you love. Businesses are set to benefit from the 2019-20 Budget with more support, free business consultations and networking events, as well as discounts on a range of business fees and charges. We’re making it easier for first home buyers to plan for the future with a 50 per cent reduction on Council rates in their first 12 months of home ownership. Free off-peak travel for seniors means more opportunities for older residents to move around the city and connect with family and friends, with $3.1 million set to subsidise travel on buses, CityCats and ferries.

GETTING YOU HOME QUICKER AND SAFER Council is committing more than $818 million towards tackling traffic congestion and creating more travel options, making it easier to get around the city and to suburban business centres. Planning is underway for Brisbane’s five new green bridges and contracts will be awarded to begin detailed design for the high-capacity and high-frequency Brisbane Metro service. Major congestion busting projects such as Kingsford Smith Drive and the Wynnum Road upgrade will continue, along with a $72.2 million package of works to reduce congestion in the suburbs. Commuters and businesses alike will benefit from Council’s record $134.2 million public transport subsidy and continuation of the free City Hopper ferry and city bus loops, meaning better access to the CBD business centre and more travel options.

NURTURING SMALL BUSINESS Council is backing small business with a $17.2 million Budget commitment to bring new life to retail precincts in the suburbs, rejuvenating local shopfronts and connecting social enterprises and creative industry businesses access to vacant spaces. A $2 million investment will deliver discounts on a range of Council fees and charges relating to footpath dining applications, advertising and licensing, encouraging a feast of new outdoor dining options, food trucks and market stalls in suburban areas. Council’s small business package also offers more support for start-ups and local businesses to start, run or grow, and two dedicated Small Business Liaison Managers.

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L O R D M AY O R ’ S

Multicultural Business DINNER AND AWAR DS 2019

Friday 4 October, 6.30pm, Main Auditorium, Brisbane City Hall Visit brisbane.qld.gov.au/multicultural for more information

PIZZA. PASTA. SALAD.

BUSINESS SUPPORT IS JUST A PHONE CALL AWAY Council’s dedicated 24-hour Business Hotline 133 BNE (133 263) is a one-stop shop for businesses of all sizes seeking information on Council services. Our hotline staff have extensive business backgrounds and can answer queries on licensing, permits, development applications, and more. Need help to start, run or grow your business? Book in for a free consultation with Council’s Small Business Liaison Managers, Terri Cooper (pictured below, right) and Natalie Scalisi. Take the opportunity to discuss your business challenges and growth opportunities, and identify the Council resources, programs or events that meet your needs. (Email smallbiz@brisbanemarketing.com.au) For more about Council’s business support, visit brisbane.qld.gov.au

Book a one-on-one consultation

BRISBANE START-UPS GET A BOOST Council is supporting small business and nurturing innovation through the 2019 Lord Mayor’s Global Entrepreneur Program. The program, which helps businesses to scale, globalise and grow, recently awarded funding of up to $5000 to 11 local start-ups and emerging businesses.

TALK TO INDUSTRY AND BUSINESS EXPERTS Council’s free Lord Mayor’s Small Business Forums and workshops give business operators the opportunity to network and learn from industry leaders. Director of the World Food Markets, Julian D’Souza has attended at least 10 of Council’s business events and says the support he’s received from Council programs and the Business Hotline 133 BNE (133 263) has been invaluable. “The events, in particular, have been great for connecting with business owners and realising you are not alone in your small business journey,” he explains. “Every time I attend, I learn something new and make new contacts.” Head to brisbane.qld.gov.au and search ‘business events calendar’ for information on upcoming forums and workshops, and to register your interest.

Winners included Vald Performance, a company producing lab-standard testing technology for elite sporting teams, and Commsync, a developer of wearable devices that connect domestic violence victims to their support network. The program received 190 submissions – the highest recorded since it began in 2012. Over the past seven years, more than 75 early-stage and scaling entrepreneurs have received funding to take their businesses to the next level.

Moorooka precinct

Get expert industry advice

SPOTLIGHT – MOOROOKA MARKETPLACE Moorooka Marketplace is a destination experience that boasts great food, boutique stores, specialised food products, creative and cultural experiences and activities. As part of Council’s Local Business Partnership Initiative (LBPI), Council has collaborated with business operators in Moorooka Marketplace shopping precinct on Beaudesert Road to identify opportunities to enhance the local economy and promote Moorooka as a cultural, creative and culinary destination. The Moorooka LBPI follows previous initiatives in Sandgate, Wynnum and Stones Corner. For more information, visit brisbane.qld.gov.au and search ‘LBPI’.

Bud lighting enhancing Racecourse Road

HELP YOUR BUSINESS BE GREENER Celebrate Plastic Free July by learning how Council can help your business reduce costs and its impact on our environment to keep Brisbane clean and green.

REVITALISING LOCAL SHOPPING PRECINCTS Council is creating a city of neighbourhoods by partnering with local business to bring unused space to life, while improving the amenity of local retail hubs, through Village Precinct Projects. Aimed at enhancing an area’s attractiveness, safety, accessibility and identity, improvements include new street furniture, public art and accessibility ramps, footpath upgrades and tree planting. Village Precinct Projects also promote local businesses through activations such as the Jindalee Laneway Festival. In the last financial year, projects have been undertaken in Aspley, Inala, Gaythorne, Wavell Heights and Jindalee. Recently, the program supported the installation of energy-efficient bud lighting along Racecourse Road, from Hamilton to Ascot. Local businesses and the community worked together on the project, which sees the tree lighting extend from the Brisbane River to Eagle Farm Racecourse, encouraging visitors to shop, dine and enjoy the area after dark.

Accessing free Wi-Fi

Council’s Business Recycling Support Program offers waste minimisation and recycling solutions to business operators, with expert advice on how to manage this part of your business more efficiently. Get advice on how to run a waste audit, access waste consultation services, seek help with staff education programs and developing induction packs for new staff, as well as gain insights into your day-to-day business activities with the Business Waste Assessment Tool. For more information, visit brisbane.qld.gov.au

BRISBANE’S TOURISM TRADE IS BOOMING Record numbers of tourists are spending big in Brisbane, boosting our city’s hospitality, retail and service industries. The latest International and National Visitor Survey from Tourism Research Australia (year ending December 2018) saw the number of international and domestic visitors reach an all-time high of 8.9 million, with a record spending of $7.3 billion.

CONNECT @ SPRING HILL Shoppers and visitors to Spring Hill can now enjoy Council’s free Wi-Fi service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Free instant online access allows customers to use the complimentary service to catch up on work, keep in touch with friends or browse the internet while they shop or explore an area. Free Wi-Fi is one way Council is creating a more connected and accessible city.

Upcoming events including the Asia Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors’ Forum (July), Ekka (August), Riverfire (September), Australian Property Expo and INAS Global Games (both in October), and the Australian Tourism Export Council Meeting Place (November) are set to draw more visitors, filling hotel rooms and delivering flow-on economic benefits to local businesses. Council continues to enhance Brisbane’s reputation as a lifestyle city that attracts visitors by creating more to see and do with vibrant festivals, exhibitions and events.

Tourists are spending more in Brisbane

BRISBANE ECONOMIC SNAPSHOT KEY FACT HIGHLIGHTS

$171 BILLION GREATER BRISBANE ECONOMY

205,747 GREATER BRISBANE BUSINESSES

2,462,637 GREATER BRISBANE POPULATION

1,252,726 GREATER BRISBANE EMPLOYMENT

BRISBANE’S OFFICE MARKET – OPEN FOR BUSINESS Office spaces are an integral part of cities around the world, taking various forms, from high-rise buildings to suburban offices, and servicing a range of businesses. With office designs continually evolving to meet changing workplace patterns (e.g. hot-desking, job-sharing) and a growing emphasis on workplace wellness (e.g. standing meetings, gym access), access to quality office space that meets modern-day needs remains an important factor for many businesses. Brisbane’s central business district (CBD) continues to deliver new quality office space, with more than 800,000 m² of Premium and A grade office stock added since January 2000. The CBD office market is made up of more than 2.2 million m² of stock, more than half of it Premium and A grade, giving businesses the opportunity to locate in quality spaces in the heart of the city. The mix of office space and quality in the Brisbane CBD promotes business diversity, allowing multinational corporations to operate alongside smaller businesses. Vacancy rates are an important indicator of an office market’s performance, with a good balance between supply and demand being key. Figures from the Property Council of Australia show Brisbane recorded the largest drop in vacancy to any other state capital, reaching 13% (288,999 m²) in January 2019. The high tenant demand is an indicator of positive activity in the local economy, while the healthy vacancy rate gives existing businesses the opportunity to upgrade their premises and enhances prospects for new businesses. Brisbane CBD office market 2.5 M

1,622,626

Vacant stock 2M

BRISBANE CBD OFFICE VACANCY RATE

Office stock (m²)

GREATER BRISBANE EMPLOYMENT FORECAST 2041

13%

Occupied stock

1.5 M

500,000

For the full Brisbane Economic Snapshot, visit brisbane.qld.gov.au/business and search ‘Economic Snapshot’. SOURCES Brisbane City Council uses a range of sources (available at time of print) to compile this information, including Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Queensland Treasury.

Jan 00 Jul 00 Jan 01 Jul 01 Jan 02 Jul 02 Jan 03 Jul 03 Jan 04 Jul 04 Jan 05 Jul 05 Jan 06 Jul 06 Jan 07 Jul 07 Jan 08 Jul 08 Jan 09 Jul 09 Jan 10 Jul 10 Jan 11 Jul 11 Jan 12 Jul 12 Jan 13 Jul 13 Jan 14 Jul 15 Jan 16 Jul 16 Jan 17 Jan 17 Jan 18 Jul 18 Jan 19

Source: Property Council of Australia, Office Market Report, January 2019

With 47,700 m² of new office space expected to come onto the market later this year, Brisbane’s CBD is well equipped to continue to cater for a growing diverse mix of businesses. For more information on how Council can assist with your business needs, visit the ‘Business in Brisbane’ web page at brisbane.qld.gov.au or call the Business Hotline 133 BNE (133 263).

EVENTS

Starts at 60 – At a glance Industry Media and travel Headquarters West End Years of operation 6 No. of employees (Brisbane) 25 Monthly users 1.4 million

25 July – Business Symposium: Indigenous Start-up Businesses Explore the essentials of starting a business, taxation, digital marketing, Indigenous procurement and more with interactive workshops, panel discussions, round tables and presentations, 9am-2.30pm, Brisbane Square Library, free, eventbrite.com.au 27 July – It’s time! Turn Your Skills or Passion into a Business Communications expert Irena Bee shares her marketing tips for using traditional media and social media to attract customers, 9.30-11.30am, Wynnum Library, free, brisbane.qld.gov.au 31 July – Lord Mayor’s Small Business Forum Hear from industry leaders and bring your questions for the Lord Mayor, guest speakers and Council officers, and network, 5.45pm, Kedron-Wavell Services Club, Chermside, free, brisbane.qld.gov.au 21 August – Lord Mayor’s Small Business Forum Hear from industry leaders and bring your questions for the Lord Mayor, guest speakers and Council officers, and network, 5.30pm, Easts Leagues Club, Coorparoo, free, brisbane.qld.gov.au 4 September – Lord Mayor’s Small Business Forum Hear from industry leaders and bring your questions for the Lord Mayor, guest speakers and Council officers, and network, 5.30pm, Doomben Racecourse, Ascot, free, brisbane.qld.gov.au

Brisbane City Council GPO Box 1434, Brisbane Qld 4001

CASE STUDY

STARTS AT 60 Rebecca Wilson is the founder and CEO of Starts at 60, an online community for seniors that shares news, inspiration, real-life stories, events and special product offers. “Providing Baby Boomers with interesting digital content every day is what we do,” says Rebecca. “We also coordinate in-person meet-up groups for our readers around Australia, which have been received really well.” From its humble beginnings at Rebecca’s home office in 2013, Starts at 60 has grown to a team of 25 journalists, developers and operations experts based at the company’s head office in West End. Last year, the company launched an online/offline travel agency, Travel at 60, and earlier this year it won the Australian finals of the Startup World Cup. HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA TO START YOUR BUSINESS? My inspiration was my parents. Baby Boomers needed an online space where they could see other people their age and connect with the community. WHAT’S YOUR PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND? I studied politics at university, then branched out to finance after

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graduation. I had a corporate career as a marketing manager before running my own business consultancy for 10 years. HOW DID YOU RAISE THE CAPITAL TO START YOUR VENTURE? For the first two years I used a lot of my own money, then the start-up network introduced me to valuable key investors. Our first investor was Seven West Media, other investors now include QUT Bluebox and the Queensland Government’s Advance Queensland program. HOW DO YOU MARKET YOUR BUSINESS? We have a business-to-business strategy where we market to 10 target markets. As we are driving a media platform, content marketing is key to everything we do. WHAT’S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN RUNNING THIS TYPE OF BUSINESS? Both the biggest challenge and opportunity is people. You can grow very fast, but it is important to have processes in place to support your people. Having your people on the same page with a well-managed team is the constant responsibility of a CEO. Visit startsat60.com

133 BNE (133 263) Council Business Hotline 3403 8888 Council Contact Centre economic_development@brisbane.qld.gov.au brisbane.qld.gov.au