Enterprise fuels optimism
THERE’S something happening in Geelong right now.
There’s a vibrancy and energy that is intoxicating — marking a fresh and exciting new era for this great city we call home.
For generations our city has been a melting pot of innovation, invention, creativity and industry.
The great names that drove change and set the scene for the city that we know today would, I’m sure, be proud of Geelong’s evolution and development.
Right now it feels like Geelong is on the cusp of a steep change — a change that’s so palpable it’s taking shape in not just our physical environment, but in our psychological state of being.
For the past four years the Geelong Chamber of Commerce has conducted the annual Geelong Survey of Business Trends in collaboration with Deakin Business School.
Interestingly, over that time surveys have revealed a marked shift in perceptions that people have about Geelong and its future prospects.
There is a strong element of optimism that is shining through in a city that has had its fair share of knocks in the past.
While there is still much work to do to bring all in our community along on the journey, it’s strikingly apparent that there has never been a better time to invest in our city-region and to take the time to celebrate all that has been — and all that will be — into the future.
Geelong has many voices — and that’s cause for celebration. In a region that is vastly diverse, with many differing prospects and opportunities, we need to encourage and embrace those voices to ensure that all in our community are heard and that our great cityregion is the ultimate beneficiary.
Right now is also a time of nervous anticipation and excitement in our city for the many businesses and individuals that have put themselves forward for scrutiny by an independent panel of judges in the 2018 Deakin University Geelong Business Excellence Awards.
The awards are core to the mission of the Geelong Chamber of Commerce, providing a means to publicly celebrate and recognise those businesses, leaders and entrepreneurs making a difference in our community.
Our “unsung heroes” is an expression we hear all too often associated with many different fields of endeavour.
While the term may seem trite to some, it is fitting to take a moment in our quest for the summit to consider the many homegrown businesses and leaders within our community that quietly go about their work each day while building the foundations for tomorrow — for they are truly worthy of the title “unsung heroes”.
But there’s a divisive element emerging in Australia at the moment that is diverting attention and muddying the waters.
The national debate about reforms to the banking industry and corporate tax cuts has created division and tension in the community and demonised business owners as antiworker and anti-fair play.
In Geelong about 96 per cent of all businesses are small businesses with fewer than 10 employees.
These small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They are the ones providing our young people with their first job and first pay packet.
They are the ones supporting our local footy and netball teams.
They are the ones that give back to the community in spades through their volunteer work and practical support for local initiatives.
On July 26 dozens of businesses, leaders and entrepreneurs in our region will be recognised and their contributions celebrated publicly at a gala presentation dinner for the Deakin University Geelong Business Excellence Awards.
With about 600 people expected to attend, it will be a night to remember as we showcase our hardworking business community — the ones that are making an indelible mark on Geelong’s future and shaping our history right now. Bernadette Uzelac is Geelong Chamber of Commerce CEO. Twitter: @GeelongChamber