Blogs

In our 2021-22 ACT Budget Submission the Canberra Business Chamber called on the ACT Government to fund critical research and deliver a detailed strategic plan for business growth. Chamber CEO Graham Catt noted the high rate of business closures in the ACT and said the lack of data around the underlying issues threatening the long-term survival of the Territory’s small to medium-sized businesses presented a barrier to economic recovery and growth in the ACT. “During the peak of COVID, it was to be expected that business closures would occur,” Mr Catt said. “But even before the pandemic, we had a trend of unusually high failure rates compared with the rest ...

End of financial year can be a stressful time for executives and business owners. But think of it this way—you’re running a marathon, it’s not far from the finish line, you just need to push through to achieve your personal and business goals. Here’s a quick checklist to help you get your financial affairs in order before the 30 June deadline. Undertake analysis - To see if you will achieve your budget in the last quarter. If you haven’t made budget, consider what you can do? Cut costs? Improve sales? Or lower your expectations? Review your financial performance from July to end of financial year - The best report in any accounting software is ...

Over the past fortnight I've done some media to help promote the need for Covid Vaccination , and particularly to ask ACT businesses to lead and support their staff. Over that time: Canberrans aged 40 – 49 join ed the list of those eligible for a COVID vaccine. the estimated cost of the Melbourne lockdown over 2 weeks to the economy hit $1.4 billion. there were contract tracing alerts as close to home as Goulburn and Jervis Bay. There are many ways that Canberra businesses can support their people, including : Making it clear that booking and attending a COVID vaccination appointment is a priority that will be supported ...

Dear Members Hope you all are doing well and taking care of each other... This is my first post here and I am extremely excited to start with something very close to our brand-Daana. The Karma Kitchen @ Daana, one of it's kind a unique concept . Please see and share the link on our website Daana.com.au GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY Proud to present our 14th Karma Kitchen at Daana on 11th May 2021. Supporting fund-raising for Mental Health Research with Rotary Woden Daybreak. Karma Kitchen @ Daana. Please come and support the cause. Details are on the link and bookings are essential, please use Daana.com.au for the reservations. ​​​

Networking is an important part of doing business. It is how we generate new business through referrals, build su p ply chains and identify new opportunities . L ast April, however, any size or type of gathering was banned . We had no idea when or if they would recommenc e . Even when small gathe r ings did slowly resume , strict rules about social distancin g and food and beverag e ser v ice made them challenging. While the Chamber was able to recommenc e Covid Safe networking events in Ju l y 2020, many others are only now starting to hold larger gatherings. Like so many of your businesses, ...

There are many facets when it comes to growing your business, and one of the key components to building success is mastering your elevator pitch. It’s a simple concept: that one-off chance you walk into an elevator occupied by a person who can provide a lifechanging opportunity for you. The catch is, you’ve only got the duration of that elevator ride to get them onboard. So, what do you say? Many entrepreneurs have achieved the height of success from their ability to make a good pitch, being charismatic and knowing how their innovation solves their customers’ problem. On the other hand, there have been many missed opportunities due to people being unprepared, ...

The Innovation Connect (ICON) Grant provides matched funding grants of between $10,000 and $30,000 to businesses with innovative products in the pre-market-ready or pre-investment stage that demonstrate high-growth potential. The grant will fund innovative ideas, products, and services, primarily to develop a prototype or prove their technical or commercial viability, and secondarily to assist with market testing and developing a go-to-market plan, software, hardware, and professional services. What could a strong application look like? You should be demonstrating how your business achieves the following: A deeply innovative product Has high growth ...

“The most valuable assets of a 20th-century company were its production equipment,” said management guru Peter Drucker way back in 1999. “The most valuable asset of any 21st-century institution, whether business or non-business, will be its knowledge workers and their productivity.” As a member-based organisation, we support a broad range of private businesses, the ACT’s key industry associations and many not for profit and community organisations. An important part of the Chamber’s work is helping these smaller employers, who don’t have their own HR or WR specialist, to manage their people and navigate what can be a challenging legal landscape. For example, ...

Canberra Business Chamber membership soars during COVID The Canberra Business Chamber has seen its membership grow by about 20% since January, in a year that has proved tough for many local businesses. After numerous industries were affected with the bushfires and smoke pollution, the hailstorm and then COVID-19, Chamber CEO Graham Catt said many businesses were turning to the organisation. “In March and April our focus was providing information about government assistance that was available and health information,” he said. “That information was coming out daily and sometimes more regularly. It was important for businesses to receive that information ...

A story of resilience and ingenuity – celebrating Canberra and region Exporters Did you know that one of the world ’s lead ing companies in the delivery of healthcare solutions in any setting is based here in Canberra ? Aspen Medical, the 2018 Australian Exporter of the year , rolled out over 150 respiratory clinics around Australia in response to the Covid pandemic along and significant volumes of Australia’s PPE for the National Medical Stockpile. They have delivered online training courses on behalf of the Department of Health to 2.6 million people around the country and have managed quarantine for thousands of people in Australia, ...

Getting down to Business The ACT election results are in. What will business be looking for from their newly elected representatives? Throughout the election campaign both Chief Minister Andrew Barr and ACT Liberals leader Alistair Coe emphasised how critical the private sector is to the ACT economy. Over 30,000 businesses provide over two thirds of Canberra’s jobs. The economy, recovery, jobs, and business recovery are critical issues, and it was pleasing to see them feature extensively in media coverage. The ACT government entered the election with an economic recovery plan, presented along with the fiscal update, in late August. Businesses are keen ...