2022 Sunshine Coast Business Woman of the Year Awards night – highlights
Last Thursday night was an inspirational gathering of local female entrepreneurs who had their time to shine at the 2022 Business Network Gala Awards night. The awards are held annually to recognise the women behind the scenes of these outstanding local businesses. Sunshine Coast Council is a proud sponsor of the Sustainable Business Woman of the year award category. Category winners include:
Outstanding Businesswoman of the year – Kate Ogg from Oggy Scooters Professional Business Woman of the Year – Dr Tanya Bell of YouTurn Young Business Woman of the Year – Bronte Cresswell of Dash Of Milk Agency Corporate Business Woman of the Year – Susan Toft of The Laundry Lady Micro Small Business Woman of the Year – Kellie Simkin of Sundaise Group Sustainable Business Woman of the Year – Paula Gowland of Sunshine Coast Art and Framing Gallery.
Congratulations to these local business leaders!
If you haven't started your Awards application yet for the Sunshine Coast Business Awards - now is the time, and here's a little tip to help.
We are always on the lookout for local business stories that inspire confidence and showcase the great businesses within our region.
This year, the Local Business Champion series showcases businesses that have demonstrated incredible support to local industries through sourcing, partnerships, collaborations, recruitment and more. Over the next few months we will start profiling our Local Businesses Champions.
LOCAL BUSINESS CHAMPION: Meet Steve Bridges.
Steve is the Managing Director of Saltair Modular in Coolum.
Saltair Modular has been recognised as a Local Business Champion in this year’s series that recognises businesses in our community that support local.
The business provides modular home and accommodation options across the Sunshine Coast and beyond. Their local network of suppliers has helped the business become well known for quality.
Mega expo will help local businesses thrive
Sunshine Coast Council, the Qld Government Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (DESBT) and the Sunshine Coast Chamber Alliance are inviting all 33,000 businesses from across the region to participate in the second annual Thriving Through Change Business Expo.
Among the speakers is Jetts Fitness Australia CEO Elaine Jobson, who will provide an inspirational and practical keynote address.
Meta (Facebook/Instagram) Community Trainer Dante St James will deliver a Facebook, Instagram and Messenger masterclass to help businesses adapt to change and continue to grow online.
A business growth masterclass will be presented by Groei Founder Tara Jacobsen, who will share tools to help businesses make strategic decisions, forward plan the next 90 days, take advantage of opportunities, reduce stress and stay in control in uncertain times.
Calling all Sunshine Coast innovators! 28 September 2022 at the UniSQ Innovations Centre
Are you a local business with an innovative product or service looking to connect with business decision makers?
The Sunshine Innovations Showcase offers a free opportunity for ten local businesses to pitch their innovation to invited local businesses, including public and private organisations, looking for operational improvement solutions as part of Forward Festival 2022.
Not only will you get your solution in front of business decision makers, you will also walk away with a professionally scripted and filmed pitch video to use in marketing campaigns and proposals.
Expression of interest closes August 19 - to find out more and submit an EOI.
Managing workforce priorities
In today’s labour and skills market shortages, finding and retaining the right people, with the right skills, at the right time, has never been more critical.
Jobs Queensland’s Workforce Planning Connect tools can help you prioritise your workforce priorities and guide you through the process of planning for the future of your business, which can deliver vital and positive outcomes including:
building your current workforce skills
reduced employee turnover to retain skills
attraction and retention of staff to key positions
improved productivity and job satisfaction
planning for new and emerging skills or roles and
linking workforce priorities to financial and business planning objectives
Business Boost Grants Program
The next round of the Business Boost grants will open August 12. Businesses wanting to take their business to the next level may be eligible to receive a grant payment of $15,000 (ex GST) upon completing your proposed project.
To help reduce the time and complexity involved in applying, there is now a new two-stage application process as follows:
Stage 1: businesses complete a simple online form to register your interest in this grant Stage 2: through a random ballot process, businesses will be selected and invited to complete and submit a full application
Invited businesses will have two weeks to prepare and complete their application.
More information including guidelines, FAQs, and eligibility criteria are now available here.
Pictured: Rohan O'Neil, Jerome Joseph, Jonathan Burns and Councillor Jason O'Pray
Tenpin Bowling Australia has announced Suncity Bowl on the Sunshine Coast will be the host of the 2022 International Bowling Federation (IBF) World Cup.
The biennial event, presented by QubicaAMF, will see the best tenpin bowlers in the world descend on Australia to compete for the most prestigious individual and team awards in world bowling.
In partnership with the Queensland Government and Sunshine Coast Council, the IBF World Cup will run from 11-23 November and will be proceeding after the Para Bowling World Cup from 3-10 November.
With 750 competitors from a minimum of 48 teams (24 men’s and 24 women’s) set to descend on the Sunshine Coast for the World Cup, Tenpin Bowling Australia CEO Rohan O’Neill said he was looking forward to hosting the first edition of the revamped event. Read More.
Pictured: Pat Drew, Geoff Dymock, Bruce Worthington, Alan Bougoure, Rod Rice, Nicola Brown
Sunshine Coast to Host Over60s Cricket World Cup
After little more than a decade of growth from regional foundations to interstate then international competition, Veterans Cricket Australia will host the inaugural O60s Cricket World Cup on the Sunshine Coast this spring.
Delayed for 2 years after Covid-19 restrictions, the tournament will run from 2-15 September 2022. Twelve teams have entered, with England the only absence from the major cricket nations, though the rest of the world representatives will have an English flavour.
Three coast venues are to host matches, which start on Saturday, 3rd of September, following the official opening at the Alexandra Headlands Surf Club the previous afternoon. Maroochydore, Caloundra and Yandina venues will provide our visitors with a range of Coast experiences, leading to the Grand Final at Maroochydore’s John Blanck Oval on the 14th of September, with the presentation and closing ceremonies the following day. Read More.