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Best of the Best Businesses Celebrate
✨ 205 businesses entered ✨ 137 finalists ✨ 38 winners ✨ 5 Hall of Fame inductees
We are currently one of the strongest regional economies in Australia and are well on track to achieving our economic growth target of $33 billion in 2033. Our wonderful small businesses – as we all know are the lifeblood of our local economy, and their success is integral to our overall prosperity.
The Sunshine Coast Business Awards celebration on November 11 was something special, with 900 members of our business community, including finalists and sponsors, gathering to celebrate another year of business achievements and talent. The winners represented the best of the best of our region, across 17 different categories.
Hall of Fame inductees included Becker Constructions, Coast2Bay Housing Group, Travis Schultz & Partners, Waste Free Systems, and Wildings Forest School.
Congratulations to the Sunshine Coast Business Awards management committee for organising a fantastic Gala event, and of course to the many winners!
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Team honoured for going 'above and beyond'
We are also excited to share this news about our very own Sunshine Coast Council Customer Response team, who won Customer Service Team of the Year at the Australian Service Excellence Awards.
If your dog is missing, your bin needs replacing, or a storm has left a pothole that’s driving you crazy, these are the people who are ready to listen and help. It’s Sunshine Coast Council’s Customer Response team and it responds to 260,000 contacts a year, including calls, emails, texts and counter enquiries.
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Free 20 minute development info sessions
Our Development Information Counter service provides free in person information on the ground floor foyer of City Hall, Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 4:30pm. The new online booking system enables you to book a free 20 min development information session in advance, which provides certainty to customers of their appointment time and length. The process will also enable Council’s Development Information Officers the ability to research queries in advance, providing a more effective and efficient service delivery with a focus on a positive customer experience.
These development information sessions are intended as an initial service for general advice enquiries. It is suitable for simple enquiries or for customers who are new to the development assessment process and have some general questions.
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Screen Industry Report
Our screen industry is going from strength to strength, collaborating and innovating to further the opportunities for screen practitioners on the Sunshine Coast. There are exciting times ahead so if you want to get involved, link up with the Sunshine Coast Screen Collective.
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The Pantry doors are open!
Our food and drink brand, Queensland's Sunshine Pantry, was launched on November 8 to shine a light on the regions incredible agritourism experiences. The media sure had a huge appetite for the concept, with coverage flowing from it across TV news, radio, magazines and online.
The VSC and FAN teams have been out and about since to share details on the new brand. This included a trip down the Bruce Hwy to visit TEQ. Of course, the team took along plenty of local produce to share what we are all about and highlight why we are Queensland's Sunshine Pantry.
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Summer Jobs Campaign launched
The summer months on the Sunshine Coast bring some red-hot opportunities to earn, learn and support our region over the busy holiday period. It’s really important to make sure the region has a solid workforce in place to deliver the best possible experience in our retail, tourism and hospitality sectors during peak tourism times and through VSC, a digital marketing campaign is now live.
More than 170 employers across a range of industries have registered and are using the site to find local workers. There currently are almost 1000 positions available on the Jobs Hub, including more than 190 in hospitality and tourism.
Sunshine Coast Jobs Hub is FREE for businesses to advertise their job opportunities, search the CVs of job seekers and it also aggregates employment opportunities from other job sites to showcase roles specifically located on the Sunshine Coast.
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Diversifying Your Talent Pool with Skilled Migrant Talent
Study and Migration Queensland invites you to attend the Diversifying your Talent Pools with Skilled Migrant Talent event on Thursday 23 November 2023 from 10.30am-1pm at Maroochy RSL. Learn more about building a rich, diversified talent pool for your business during this pilot session hosted by Study Queensland and Migration Queensland. This session will show you how to access skilled migrant talent pools by de-mystifying the student graduate, and skilled visa process, help you connect to new talent through local education providers and explore the benefits of hiring diverse teams. Free to attend (light lunch and beverages provided).
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Access Ignites: Panel Event
Join us at Council’s newest venue-for-hire in Maroochydore, Altitude Nine, for a panel discussion to explore how accessibility can spark possibilities for your business. Join special guest panellists Brendan Somerville from Spinal Life, Stephane Whelan from Equity Works, Murray Boyton from Rhythm Café and Melva Elvy from the Maleny Botanic Garden and Bird World for an engaging discussion around how to become a more accessible and inclusive tourism destination and employment for people with disabilities. Ticket includes free drink on arrival, canapes and entertainment.
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Accessible Tourism Elevate Fund
The $5 million Accessible Tourism Elevate Fund will support Queensland’s tourism industry to enhance their accessible tourism experiences.
The Fund is an initiative as part of the 2023 Year of Accessible Tourism, and will support activities like improved communication and information sharing, digital and website accessibility, staff training and education, adaptive equipment, technology and infrastructure. The Fund provides two grants for eligible applicants to apply for what they need, depending on where they are in their accessibility journey.
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Trade Ready 2024 VSC Program | EOI now open
Want to get more international visitors to your business but not sure how?
VSC is running a trade ready 'New to International' training program delivered by the Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC). It's designed specifically for tourism businesses that are keen to explore opportunities in the inbound international tourism markets, grow their business capabilities, and take part in key events to support business growth. Sound good? Please express your interest to emily.zinowki@visitsunshinecoast.com by November 22. Participation is $250 per person.
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Nambour CBD Christmas Decoration Competition 2023
Nambour Chamber of Commerce, Nambour Tramway Company and Nambour Retailers Group have also joined forces under their I Am Nambour brand with working partner Sunshine Coast Council to hold the 2023 Nambour Christmas Decoration Competition. Bring your shopfront ALIVE with Christmas spirit and WIN
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Exciting new chapter begins for Caloundra community
A new creative and community heart that will transform a prominent coastal centre has taken a huge step forward. This follows the selection of leading local construction company, Hutchinson Builders (Hutchies), as the successful bidder to repurpose the Caloundra administration building into an integrated community facility with a district library and community meeting spaces.
Construction is expected to start this month, with completion scheduled for 2025.
Read what Hutchies Team Leader Rob Morrison had to say
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Caloundra Christmas Street Party
In 2022 the party attracted 10,000 people to the CBD area.
Want to spill your Bulcock Street business out onto the street for the Christmas Street Party on 1/12/2023?
Bulcock Street businesses can opt in to part take
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Christmas Tree Lane
Strand Caloundra will have a Christmas Wonderland of festive trees and lights galore on display from now through to Christmas.
Make sure you pop in to see the trees setup by businesses.
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Caloundra CBD Christmas Shopfront Competition
The Caloundra Christmas Storefront Competition is back! If you are a Caloundra CBD business register now!
It's a great opportunity to showcase products and services in a creative and festive manner and be in the running to take the win for your business.
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Join the conversation #SunshineCoast #ThrivingThroughChange
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