The spotlight shone brightly on local small businesses last week when more than 20 state, federal and local government agencies converged on Goolwa’s Centenary Hall and Business Hub for the ‘Gov to You’ showcase.
Brought to the region by the South Australian Small Business Commissioner, in partnership with Business Alexandrina, City of Victor Harbor and City of Onkaparinga, ‘Gov to You’ was all about cutting through red tape for small businesses.
Attendees included South Australia’s Small Business Commissioner, Nerissa Kilvert; Alexandrina Mayor Keith Parkes; Alexandrina Council Chief Executive Nigel Morris and the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, who travelled from Canberra.
Mr Morris said Alexandrina loved being a Council of firsts and was pleased to support the South Australian Small Business Commissioner new ‘Gov to You’ initiative by hosting the inaugural event.
“Alexandrina Council is an accredited Small Business Friendly Council, so we made it a priority to help facilitate this event,” Mr Morris said.
Small Business Commissioner, Nerissa Kilvert said: “It was rewarding to see so many small business owners being directly assisted by government agencies, helping them on the path to solving their small business matter. It was also positive to hear from representatives from council and government agencies about the value they experienced through relationship building and connections made at the event, all in support of improving engagement with small businesses into the future.”
In Goolwa, a full day ‘trade show’, plus workshops and Services Speed Dating on Thursday, 31 August, gave local businesses the chance to connect with the government agencies present.
The event served to break down the barriers between business and government and enabled local business to have their questions answered in person, without having to travel to Adelaide.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our regional economy, and our Business Alexandrina team are committed to assisting local businesses and providing ongoing support initiatives”, Mr Morris said.
“By coming out to the region, the Small Business Commissioner’s Gov to You initiative has provided a ground-breaking service to local businesses.”
The day was also an important chance for the different government services to interact with each other, exchanging ideas as to how they can better serve small businesses in the region.
Government agencies in attendance included:
- Australian Taxation Office
- Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman
- City of Victor Harbor
- Consumer and Business Services
- Department for Infrastructure and Transport
- Department for Trade and Investment
- District Council of Yankalilla
- Environment Protection Authority
- Equal Opportunity SA
- Green Industries SA
- Office of the Industry Advocate
- Office of the SA Chief Entrepreneur
- Office for Small and Family Business
- Primary Industries and Regions South Australia
- Procurement and Supply Chain Management, SA Health
- SA Health
- Office of Rebekha Sharkie MP
- Office of David Basham MP
- RevenueSA
- SafeWork SA
- Office of the South Australian Small Business Commission
- South Australian Tourism Commission
- Alexandrina Council
For further information about Gov to You, see www.sasbc.sa.gov.au/gov-to-you