The Malinauskas Labor Government has released South Australia’s Small Business Strategy 2023 – 2030, a plan to future-proof and grow the state’s small business sector as a driving force of our economy.
Small businesses in South Australia contribute $49 billion to our economy, employ almost 40 per cent of our workforce and account for more than a quarter of the state’s wages and salaries.
As outlined in last month’s State Budget, the Strategy will be supported by an additional $6.5 million investment over the next four years.
In total, the Strategy represents a $14.25 million investment by the Malinauskas Government, funding practical initiatives to support small businesses.
It was informed by the most comprehensive and intensive engagement program with small businesses this state has ever seen.
We sought feedback through 21 round table sessions across the state, 19 in-depth interviews, and an online survey which yielded more than one thousand responses.
Approximately 500 small business owners and representative bodies attended a breakfast event at Adelaide Oval this morning to celebrate the launch.
Attendees were told of 20 new small business support initiatives to be rolled out through the Strategy in the coming weeks and months, addressing the following themes:
*Strengthening business capability
*Building skills and workforce
*Navigating the digital environment
*Boosting business sustainability
*Embracing diversity
*Improving access to government services.
Small business owners are now able to seek advice from a team of dedicated Business Support Officers – travelling throughout metropolitan and regional South Australia – and will soon be able to participate in capability-building programs addressing financial management, marketing, cyber security, strategic planning and more.
Small businesses will also receive support to attract and retain employees, more mental health resources, assistance to pursue sustainable business practices and access to networking and mentoring opportunities.
Aligned with the South Australian Economic Statement, South Australia’s Small Business Strategy aims to increase the capability and productivity of our small businesses by ensuring business owners have access to the right training, technologies and government support to grow and evolve.
To view South Australia’s Small Business Strategy 2023 – 2030, visit https://business.sa.gov.au/strategy.
Click here to view Minister Michaels discussing the Strategy.
Quotes
Attributable to Peter Malinauskas
The Malinauskas Government is committed to supporting small and family businesses to succeed.
Our state’s small businesses contribute an extraordinary $49 billion to South Australia’s economy each year and employ 40 per cent of our workforce. They are the lifeblood of our economy and our community.
Our Small Business Strategy will support this critical sector to grow and in turn, create jobs and boost our state’s economy for the future.
Attributable to Andrea Michaels
The Malinauskas Government’s Small Business Strategy is a landmark initiative designed to support South Australia’s small business sector as the driving force of our economy.
We undertook the most comprehensive and intensive engagement program with small and family businesses this state has ever seen and the Small Business Strategy is a direct reflection of the feedback we received.
We are delivering more than 20 measures designed to support small businesses to succeed and each of these was developed to provide the practical and targeted support requested.
The South Australian Small Business Strategy will guide our policies and programs to support and empower small businesses. It will help to create jobs, build our economy and build the capability of our 150,000 small businesses for the future.
