Kaya,
The first quarter of 2022 has certainly been jam-packed!
The cost of doing business continues to rise with ongoing supply chain pressures, continued labour shortages as well as the rising cost of fuel, and rework forcing prices up. The revised forecast from the RBA is due to be released on Friday 6 May. BGCCI will circulate to our members an update on the revised inflation rate forecast for year end.
The Government has made two recent announcements reducing COVID-19 restrictions. This will certainly put a number of business owners at ease with the high number of vacancies from their workforce set to reduce with the removal of close contact non-symptomatic isolations. This in effect should start to limit the high rates of absenteeism and improve business continuity.
The events industry and supplementary businesses to this industry have experienced severe peaks and troughs over the last 2 years. The last 6-8 weeks have only added to their tumultuous times. The relaxation of restrictions should hopefully see there turn of more stability to this sector.
Local businesses are reporting continued high levels of demand and activity. While retail and hospitality sectors are reporting low traffic numbers the reverse is true for revenue rates per transaction and total revenue year on year.
Conversations across our regional Chambers indicates that low application levels for available grant funding, is largely due to COVID fatigue and the organisational cost of continually rescheduling (rework). There have been extensions applied to a number of grants. If you are a SME there are government grants available from SBDC and Tourism WA. The Tourism WA Grants are closing Friday 29 April, but if you are interested in further information, please visit https://www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au/coronavirus/grants
The SW Leaders Program launched on Wednesday 13 April, with a MOU Signing Ceremony at the Dolphin Discovery Centre for all participating organisations to the 2022/23 program. All our members will now have access to monthly leadership online forums and recorded webinars, keynote speaker events and a dedicated monthly Leadership newsletter. As part of the program, we will also be calling for expressions of interest for up and coming leaders in the community who may want to participate in the Mentor:Mentee Program. This will provide a 1:1 support to develop our local leadership potential. This is open to those interested in being a mentor as well as those who may be seeking to be mentored. The Chamber will be sending out Expressions of Interest at the beginning of May.
Following on from the SW Future Jobs and Skills Forum in 2021, BGCCI in partnership with the Bunbury Geographe Economic Alliance are presenting a virtual environment entitled – Innovation and Technology – The Future of Work in the SW on Thursday, 23 June 2022.
The event consists of a full day of keynote speakers plus a panel conversation. The growing list of high-profile keynotes will present quite a drawcard to attendees. Some of the speakers presenting include Dr David Ireland from Think place Global, Bruce Needham from Department of Education, Skills and Employment, Lynnette Bluett from Alcoa and Professor Hui Tong Chua from the University of Western Australia. If you are interested in the future of this region and what that means for jobs, skills, and education, this is a must attend event. More information will be provided in the coming weeks on how you can book your tickets to this exciting line-up of keynote speakers.
In a commitment to continually expand our reach and impact, the BGCCI has established key partnerships with four of the Local Governments within our Bunbury Geographe Region. The purpose of these relationships is to ensure that BGCCI can be a voice of our business community and work collaboratively with the local government authorities to share learnings and enhance the voice of business in resolving challenges to better our community.
As the budgeting process starts for many within our community this month for the beginning of the new financial year, April also marks the start of Djeran the Aboriginal season of Adulthood characterised by cooler weather and a change of colours on our landscape. For some this comes as a welcome change. For our CEO the cooler weather is her favourite time of year. It’s a fabulous time to escape to this part of the world for some R&R and enjoy all that this region has to offer with decadent food and fabulous vineyards. The Ferguson Valley is right on our doorstep and we can pop out there any time we like!
In other news we have received some updates this month from CCIWA focusing on the following legislation changes:
- Changes to the Long Service Leave Act
- Parental Leave Changes: for both Paid and Unpaid Leave
To find out more, call the Employee Relations Advice Centre at CCIWA on 08 9365 7660 or email advice@cciwa.com Please note you will need your CCIWA membership number, if you need help with it, please give us a call 9791 2292.
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