Business NSW

Securing good staff can be incredibly tough the average business – especially in regional NSW. Bennetts Steel general manger Shiree Bennett talks about the importance of treating staff “like family” to ensure the long-term viability of the Mid-North Coast based business. Later this week Business NSW will release its State of Skills 2024 report, which offers unique insights into the sectors under stress and our key asks of the NSW and federal governments. Shiree Bennett #Skilledworkers #BusinessNSW #supportingbusinesses

Gain valuable insights into how Black Friday and other key sales events shape the retail industry. Business NSW Chief Economist Dr Sherman Chan discusses the vital role Black Friday and Christmas play for retailers. She explains that both events are equally important, with Black Friday in 2023 being the busiest week of the year and December contributing 10.3% of total retail sales. Leading up to Black Friday last year, both online and in-store sales saw a 37% boost, with in-store shopping seeing a 54% increase the week before Christmas. Dr Chan also highlights the growing importance of online retailing, urging local businesses to embrace digital transformation. With more consumers shopping online, having a strong digital platform is essential for retailers to capitalise on these busy periods. She also encourages shoppers to support local businesses during these peak times. Read the report: https://lnkd.in/g9UZvctY (link in bio) #BlackFridayNSW #Buylocal #BusinessNSW

Yesterday we welcomed 140 attendees to the inaugural Business NSW Sydney Drone Summit. This event was hosted by Business NSW, bringing together global experts and key Australian, UK and Latvian industry players in drone technology, defence and space. As the leading business association in New South Wales, Business NSW is committed to providing its members with the knowledge, experience, and capability they need to succeed in specialised topics and emerging industry areas.  The event focused on the critical role of drones in defence industry development and how Australian innovators can contribute to the International Drone Coalition, established by the Latvian and UK governments in early 2024 to support the Ukraine war effort - which Australia has joined. The Summit gathered defence industry experts, government representatives, and business leaders from Australia, Latvia and Ukraine to discuss the needs and opportunities for Australian industry to participate in this important initiative.  We are honoured to have expert presenters from around Australia, Latvia, Ukraine, the UK and the USA sharing their insights and knowledge on this subject. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Ambassador Margers Krams and the Latvian government for their invaluable support in making this event possible. Their commitment to the Ukraine war effort and their willingness to share their experiences are commendable. We would like to thank the Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko for providing experts to deliver knowledge and important insights from the Ukraine industry and the battlefield. We also had a heartwarming presentation from Katerina Argyrou Co-Chair of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations on her recent trip to Ukraine provide Australian private aid to the frontline troops operating in the Sumy Oblast.  We would like to acknowledge the contribution of the UK government represented by Edward Kitt Deputy Consul General of the British Consulate in Sydney.   We recognise the contributions of Investment NSW for bringing together its network of Defence and Space specialists and innovators, as well as the visiting Latvian business and industry efforts who have travelled a long distance to share their firsthand experiences and explore opportunities for cooperation. Finally we were inspired by the sixteen innovation companies sharing their ingenuity in this important, rapidly emerging sector.   Thank you to all the presenters for generously sharing their time and knowledge on this very important topic. Mick Ryan, AM David Harding Grame Barty, GAICD Nick Ryan Ramanpreet Wadhwa Edward Kitt Mai Le Dr Oleksandra Molloy

Celebrating 40 Years of Partnership between Investment NSW & ICN NSW! On Monday, we gathered at Business NSW to mark ICN NSW’s 40th Anniversary, a milestone celebrating four decades of empowering NSW businesses! Over 100 attendees joined us, including distinguished VIPs from government, industry leaders, and local SMEs to reflect on ICN’s remarkable journey of connecting businesses to opportunities and driving local growth. We were honoured to hear from esteemed speakers, including: The Hon. Minister Chanthivong, Minister for Industry and Trade, Helen Waldron, Chair of ICN NSW / NSW Head, AiGroup, Ian Hudson, Executive Director from ICN NSW and a tremendous panel session led by Rebecca McPhee from Investment NSW, with insights from Alexandra H. (EnergyCo), Martin Baker (LiteCorp), John Smith (Smith’s Cooking Systems) and Andrea Forbes (NSW Treasury). Their reflections celebrated ICN NSW's contribution over the years. In the past 40 years, ICN has helped NSW local businesses access new projects and growth opportunities through Gateway by ICN and our experienced industry consultants. We have worked with project buyers and introduced opportunities to local business to Government or private projects including Sydney Metro, Western Sydney Airport, Tweed Valley Hospital Redevelopment, Snowy 2.0, Inland Rail and the NSW Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) and Transmission Infrastructure Projects. Contact us at 02 9927 3100 or visit Gateway by ICN: gateway.icn.org.au to discover more projects. Let’s help you to access new suppliers or new opportunities and win! #NSWBusiness #NSWGovernment #Manufacturing #construction #infrastructure #defence #cleanenergy #renewableenergy #smes

Black Friday: The Biggest Shopping Week of the Year! Did you know? Black Friday has overtaken the week before Christmas as the busiest shopping period of the year, giving NSW’s small and medium businesses a huge opportunity to shine both in-store and online. In 2023, the week leading up to Black Friday saw transactions soar 49% above average, with NSW’s online retail trade hitting an impressive $4.9 billion in November. Are you ready to seize the moment? With online shopping growing rapidly, investing in your digital presence is key to staying competitive and expanding your reach. Dive into the numbers and insights with our comprehensive Black Friday Retail Trade Analysis. Download the full report now to learn more. Let’s make this Black Friday a win for local businesses across NSW! Kings Of Neon Stephen Pastor https://lnkd.in/gwc2x6Rg

Business NSW members were yesterday given a unique opportunity to engage with European businesses following a visit from Czech Republic President Petr Pavel. The President was accompanied by Czech Republic Ambassador Jana Tyrer and a Czech Business Mission of 17 advanced companies and institutions from the engineering, defence, aviation and space industry, and cybersecurity sectors. Nanotechnology, biotechnology and high-power laser sector representatives were in attendance. President Pavel, in his keynote address, spoke of his ambitions of the Czech Republic to strengthen and deepen trading relations between NSW and Europe's manufacturing powerhouse nation. NSW Industry and Trade Minister The Hon. Anoulack Chanthivong MP discussed opportunities for trade and investment between the Czech Republic and NSW industries. Business NSW CEO Daniel Hunter and Executive Director David Harding joined these discussions. Business NSW looks forward to continuing to bring these high-value opportunities to our members. Grame Barty, GAICD Ramanpreet Wadhwa

Join us for a pivotal event bringing together leaders from defence, industry, academia, and diplomacy to explore the latest developments in drone technology and its strategic applications. Key Focus Areas: Australia's Role in the International Drone Coalition (IDC): Discover how Australia is supporting Ukraine’s war effort through advanced drone technology. Emerging Australian Innovation: Gain insights into Australia’s growing drone capabilities and its role in shaping global defence solutions. Collaborative Roundtables: Engage in discussions with industry experts and explore opportunities for innovation and partnerships. Event Schedule: Session 1 (09:00 am - 1:00 pm): The Role of the Latvia-UK Led IDC in Supporting Ukraine and Australia’s Contribution Session 2 (1:30 pm - 4:30 pm): Industry Roundtables – In-depth conversations on the future of drone technology. Networking & Technology Showcase: Opportunities to connect one-on-one and explore the latest drone innovations in the technology showcase area. 🔗 Don’t miss this chance to engage with industry leaders and shape the future of defence technology! Register using the link: https://lnkd.in/gG8hngsK