AND ADAPTABLE INNOVATIVE

Savvy Sunshine Coast Businesses continue to lead the way, as Jennifer Swaine reveals.

the brainchild of Ted O’Brien as he sat on the beach that day pondering his future but it’s now much bigger than him.

As a first of its kind in the world, it is preventing some of our youth from falling through the cracks by giving them a platform and tools that will help them unleash their innovative genius.

Importantly, the program is building resilience and economic independence and it is all funded from our ever-generous business community who understand the importance and value of supporting young people to succeed.

“We put a lot of effort into showcasing the stories of these young local legends and what we’ll never know is the extent to which their stories have, in turn, inspired other young locals to have a go at pursuing their own dreams,” Ted said.

It doesn’t really matter which way you look at it, GI has become a movement that continues to inspire and support our youth as they navigate the pathway to entrepreneurial success which in itself is a solution to youth unemployment.

While Ted will be the first to say this program was never meant to be about him, without his leadership, commitment and determination this program may have never seen the light of day.

However, the kudos must also go to every young person who has bravely allowed themselves to be vulnerable and open to the process. They are our leaders of tomorrow and, going on what I have seen so far, I am pleased to say we are in very, very good hands.

For details on how to get involved visit www.generationinnovation.com.au

Business people on the Sunshine Coast are a resilient bunch. We are also creative, dynamic, innovative, determined and successful. And we are damn good at collaborating and pulling together as #teamsunshinecoast –especially when the chips are down. We have evolved this way possibly because we had to. If job opportunities weren’t there, many of us decided to hang out our own shingle and simply get on with it. People turned side hacks and passions into thriving businesses and while many are still small, others have carved out their own niche identifying opportunities that has allowed them to play on the national and world stage.

Recognising the proportionately high number of small business owners across the region, leading social commentator Bernard Salt recently dubbed the Sunshine Coast the ‘entrepreneurial capital’ of Australia.

There are close to 40,000 businesses across the Sunshine Coast creating more than 175,000 jobs across a wide range of industries and underpinning this is an ecosystem that is founded on connectivity and collaboration.

So why is it that the region has earnt itself this reputation and leads the rest of Australia in terms of fostering a culture where entrepreneurialism, innovation and collaboration go hand-in-hand?

Personally, I put it down to the culture we have created. Our business community is warm, welcoming and supportive and we are not afraid to innovate.

In fact, the 2019-2020 Regional Innovation Benchmark Report produced by the University of the Sunshine Coast, reported that 52% of firms across the region had implemented innovations, up from 48% on the previous year.

The study also reported that 34.5% of innovators are now collaborating to achieve greater success. Impressively, this was higher than the rest of Australia.

What makes the Sunshine Coast unique is our sense of community and willingness to succeed together. And while we might be growing, the welcome mat will always be out for others wanting to play in our sandpit.