Business in Cockburn - 2021 wrap up

December 2021 | View this in your browser

Staff from Henderson based business First Graphene, with CEO Tony Brun and His Worship the Mayor Logan K. Howlett JP.

2021: a big year of supporting you!

2021 has been a huge year for the City of Cockburn, with the commencement of our new CEO Tony Brun, who hosted a fantastic business breakfast and shared his vision for the City earlier this year. We've reached hundreds of businesses, distributed thousands of dollars of grants and run a number of fantastic events to support our local business community, heres a run down of how we supported you:

Highlights of the year

Helping you network
At the annual Show Off Business Networking event in April, we brought together businesses and local artists to catch up and view an amazing exhibition of local artists.

Helping your business grow
We distributed 20 grants to support local economic development valued at over $80,000 to local businesses to support their digital presence, improve their street presence, and support innovation. We also linked businesses with a range of training and development opportunities around Cockburn.

Encouraging our residents to shop with you
Our second #ShopLocalCockburn campaign in November resulted in entries from over 130 local businesses. Two lucky winners received a prize pack worth over $1,000, and two lucky businesses - Tony Ales and Second Harvest won a photo shoot worth $500 for encouraging their customers to enter.

Encouraging female entrepreneurs
We ran a successful Women in Business Program and encouraged local women to pursue their leadership goals at the International Women's Day event.

Supporting our Chamber
Providing the Melville Cockburn Chamber of Commerce with a fantastic new office and training space.

Sponsoring businesses to scale up and grow
Two local businesses received a scholarship for the Curtin Ignition Program - One Tide Modular Systems and Kerry Street Pear Tree - supporting them to invest time into their businesses to help them scale and grow.

Planning for our future
We spent a considerable amount of the year finalising the Economic Development Framework, which will determine where our activities will be focused in 2022 and beyond. The City's key focus areas are:

Place Based Local Economic Development: supporting our local centres to attract investment
The Blue Economy: building on our competitive advantage and position on the Indian Ocean
Our Visitor Economy: development of a strong destination brand for Cockburn
Capacity building & innovation support: building on our business support programs and helping our business community to thrive and grow.

Getting involved in key discussions
The City was involved in the Blue Growth Investment Forum, and the Blue Economy Forum at West Tech Fest, where we witnessed a range of local businesses celebrating their contribution to the emerging Blue Economy.

Making it easier for you
We led the City of Cockburn's Building, Planning and Environmental Health teams in an incredibly transformative journey to reduce red tape with the Small Business Friendly Approvals Project, with thanks to the Small Business Development Corporation. We spent over 600 hours developing a range of reforms that will ensure the City is easy to do business with. Keep an eye out for these as they are implemented from 2022 onwards

Hearing what you had to say
We received a record response to the Business Scorecard survey - we will share the results and insights with you in the new year.

In 2022 we will keep you informed and involved in what's happening around the City of Cockburn. Thanks for your support and allowing us to celebrate the many varied achievements of our local businesses in 2021.

Are you ready to THRIVE in 2022?

The City of Cockburn has partnered with Business Station to deliver the Thrive Program, a program aimed at building and growing your business in 2022.

Thrive is a six month business builder’s program for small business. The Thrive program exists to enable local small business owners create an unbreakable, resilient business. You will be guided by an expert business facilitator to develop a marketing and strategic plan specific to your individual business needs.

Businesses receive 9 hours of workshops facilitated by an expert business advisor
Fortnightly check-ins are conducted for the length of the program to ensure members are on track
Business owners who graduate from Thrive leave with a 90-day action plan to grow their business.

If you are a Cockburn-based small business looking to improve your business processes and take things to the next level in 2022, register your interest below. Eligible businesses will be contacted directly by Business Station in the New Year.

COVID-19 UPDATE

Help for small business

With the borders set to open on 5 February 2022, it's important for your business to be prepared. Contact tracing and social distancing will again be an important part of keeping you, your staff and customers safe. You also may wish to think about other protective equipment, your staffing plans, and potentially how your business will operate in the case of a lockdown.

The City is here to help, and will be distributing social distancing floor stickers in the new year. If you wish to order some complete the form below:

Pre-order floor stickers here

Vaccinations and your business

It's important you know how and when your customers and employees need to show you proof of COVID-19 vaccination. The Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) has created a Frequently Asked Questions page to help employers navigate this challenging time. This will be updated as further information is received.

You can read the full announcement as well as and further COVID announcements from the State Government here.

For advice on mandatory vaccinations in the workplace please visit WA.gov.au and Fair Work Ombudsman for the latest updates.

Can you help strengthen Australia’s manufacturing capability?

The Australian Government recently announced that Round 2 of their Modern Manufacturing Initiative’s (MMI) Translation and Integration streams are now open and the deadline for applications is 14 January 2022.
The MMI’s overall objective is to support projects that could help strengthen Australia’s manufacturing capability. New guidelines have been released for Round 2 applications clarifying the objective of each of the streams. Details of the new round and the guidelines can be found below:

Access the guidelines and apply

Forward

If you have any queries or would like to get in touch with Sarah Kahle, Business Engagement Officer please email business@cockburn.wa.gov.au or call 08 9411 3444.

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