February Newsletter

Message from the CEO

Connecting Business
The Sunshine Coast economy is growing at record pace and there are numerous projects valued at over $10bn being delivered over the next 5-10 years. The challenge for SME’s is how to capitalise on this growth. Sunshine Coast Chamber Alliance and RDA Sunshine Coast are teaming up with Spotless and Wishlist for an information session on how to capitalise on these opportunities; and connect you to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH) supply chain, and the 6000+ health employees across the region. Keep an eye out for event details and SCUH tour in April.

Lean Start up
I have been contacted by many people (start ups and existing business owners) in recent months who have fantastic business ideas, but are not sure where to start. RDA Sunshine Coast is pleased to support an interactive lean start up session with Tim Eldridge at SPARK Bureau - How to Turn Your Idea into a Business: Launching A Company Using Lean Principles. The session will cover contemporary methods of launching new businesses and how ‘lean start-up’ principles lower the cost and risk of becoming an entrepreneur. The talk (open to any business owner or entrepreneur) will also help established businesses identify more affordable ways to innovate products and services.

Digital Business Workshop
Have you completed your Digital Scorecard? If not, do it now and be eligible for the upcoming Digital Business Workshop being run by Queensland Government. During the workshop, you’ll discover:

current digital trends and how they impact your business
how to use data for better business decision-making
tips for using online analytics to track your business performance
how to improve your online presence and customer experience

Darrell Edwards
CEO
Regional Development Australia (RDA) Sunshine Coast

eMentoring

The eMentoring platform is an online program designed to facilitate the connection of aspiring Indigenous professionals and entrepreneurs with mentors experienced in their field of interest.

eMentoring is an initiative of Barayamal, Australia's Indigenous Business Accelerator - now know as a world leader in Indigenous Entrepreneurship.

go explore Card

Explore breathtaking beaches, wildlife, theme parks and award winning dining on the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast. The Translink go explore card offers visitors and tourists freedom, flexibility and value for money!

It is only $10 a day for unlimited travel - you can reload up to eight day passes on your go explore card travel on non-consecutive days.

Buderim Foundation taking it to the next level

One small community on the Sunshine Coast is making BIG inroads to building the capacity of their area and they’ve found an innovative way to generate their own funds in order to give grants back out to their community.

The purpose of the Buderim Foundation is to build a stronger community by harnessing the power of giving.

Business Events Assistance Program

Business Events Sunshine Coast (BESC) in partnership with Sunshine Coast Council offers support for eligible corporate and association conferences, meetings, incentives or exhibitions that have the potential to be held on the Sunshine Coast. Applications close 1 March 2018.

Australian Small Business Advisory Services (ASBAS) – Digital Solutions

The $18.02 million ASBAS funding round will run over three years from 2 July 2018 to 30 June 2021. It will support service providers to offer low cost, high quality digital advisory services to Australian small businesses in metropolitan and regional parts of selected areas.

Buderim Foundation Grants

Donations to the Buderim Foundation are pooled and carefully invested and income from the investments is used to make grants available to not-for-profit community organisations that provide a service to residents in the 4556 postcode area.

#SCRIPT Advance Regional Innovation Program (ARIP)
The Advance Regional Innovation Program (ARIP) will provide $1 million over 3 years to develop innovation and entrepreneurial activities across the Sunshine Coast region.

Skilling Queenslanders for Work (SQW)

SQW funding is available to provide direct assistance to those Queenslanders that need support to gain the qualifications and skills needed to enter and stay in the workforce. Community-based not-for-profit organisations can apply for funding to start projects in local communities across Queensland.

Visit our Grants & Funding page for a complete list of available grants.

Grants Information Sessions

If you assist a local Community Group to find and apply for grants funding then attending a Sunshine Coast Council Grants Information Session will help provide you with the tools and tips for success. Sessions are FREE and places are limited.

Two Hours of Power

Your digital future is bright with the right information! This 2-hour course will cover: why having a good online presence is key to your future business success, our options for establishing and improving your online presence, 5 things every website should have on it, and how to measure your return on investment from your digital marketing. Presented by The Training Collective / The Creative Collective.

Thursday, 15 Feb 2018 - 5.30pm

SPARK Bureau, Maroochydore

Details

How to Turn Your Idea into a Business: Launching A Company Using Lean Principles.

Launching a new business – or innovating and evolving an established firm – involves risk. Many new ventures fail. What can be done to increase your chances of success and to reduce the possibility of spending your precious time and money building a product or service that no-one wants?

Monday, 19 Feb 2018 - 6.00pm

SPARK Bureau, Maroochydore

Details

Create Compelling Copy

Join accomplished journalist, Peter Owen as he takes you through this fun and interactive 10 week course on creating compelling copy.

Tuesdays, 20 Feb to 24 Apr 2018 - 5.00pm

SPARK Bureau, Maroochydore

Details

Asset Protection & Succession Planning for Business

It’ll never happen to me! Hear some of the stories that highlight why you need to act now to protect the assets that you have assembled in your lifetime. We are all busy people, but attending this session is a must to prepare for the unexpected. Presented by BDO & Sajen Legal.

Wednesday, 21 Feb 2018 - 5.00pm

SPARK Bureau, Maroochydore

Details

Introduction to Defence Market seminars

The Centre for Defence Industry Capability's (CDIC) is delivering a nationwide series of seminars for businesses that are seeking to learn about opportunities in the defence market. The seminars will provide valuable information to help aspiring businesses assess the defence market and understand how to pursue opportunities.

Mooloolaba Beach Festival | Mooloolaba Mile Ocean Swim

Welcome to the new Mooloolaba Beach Festival! The new-look weekend of events is a celebration of sand, surf and beach culture on the Sunshine Coast.

17 to 18 February 2018

Mooloolaba Beach

Details

Women's Week Events

Women and girls are invited to join in Queensland Women's Week on March 3-11 and attend a range of inspirational events aligned to the Celebrate wellbeing – everyone wins theme. This week is an opportunity for females to be inspired and celebrate their achievements.

1 to 10 March 2018

Various locations

Details

Noosa Festival of Surfing

The Noosa Festival of Surfing, the world's largest surfing event by competitor numbers, returns to Noosa's First Point and Main Beach for 8 Days of Pure Stoke.

10 to 17 March 2018

First Point and Noosa Main Beach, Noosa Heads

Details

Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

The Sunshine Coast has a unique Entrepreneurial Ecosystem - the aim of mapping the Sunshine Coast’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem is to encourage closer partnerships that will cement the Sunshine Coast’s position as a leading region for innovation and business development.

The Digital Work Hub Project

The Digital Work Hub project (DWH) examined opportunities and challenges for establishing a
network of digital work hubs / coworking spaces across the SEQ area - read the activation plan and find the locations of coworking spaces and hubs across Queensland.

Have your say!

We welcome your feedback about any of our projects or news items featured in our monthly newsletter.

If you have regional news stories or economic development events relevant for the Sunshine Coast community (or even awesome images of this great place we call home that you would like to share!) - please contact us at media@rdasunshinecoast.org.au

Editorial deadline is by the 28th of each month.

Contact us

RDA Sunshine Coast
17 Ocean Street
Maroochydore Q 4558

Regional Development Australia Sunshine Coast is an Australian Government initiative that works in collaboration with the Queensland Government, Sunshine Coast and Noosa Councils to support economic development within the region.

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