10 October 2018
- Small Business represents 97% of all businesses in WA in 2017
- In 2014-15 small business contributed $39.7BN to the economy; accounting for 19.7 per cent of WA's gross state product (GSP). If WA's small business sector was considered an industry, it would rank second only to mining ($64.4M) in terms of industry gross value added.
ABS Counts of Australian Businesses
More than 100 small businesses will unite to officially launch the 2018 WA Small Business Day at a dedicated conference held by the City of Subiaco on Thursday 11 October.
Opened by the Small Business Commissioner, Mr David Eaton, the Subiaco Business Conference has been specifically organised for businesses to examine modern challenges and provide inspiration and practical skills in equal measure.
The event will feature presentations and discussion with business leaders such as Amanda Stevens (winner of the 2018 Keynote Speaker of the Year award) and the home-grown success story that is Michael Malone, founder and former CEO of iiNet. Joining them will be Subiaco Mayor Penny Taylor, local financial technology innovator Jack Quigley (CrowdfundUp), marketing and board professional Nicolle Jenkins (The Hub) and financial business advisor Dean Hemmingsen (NKH).
There is nothing small about small business. More than 120 Western Australian peak industry associations representing thousands of small business will unite to celebrate WA's fourth Small Business Day on Saturday 27th October.
According to the latest ABS Counts of Australian Business (June 2017) there are 221,837 small businesses in Western Australia, representing approximately 97 per cent of all business in WA. Small Business Matters cofounder and small business owner Nicolle Jenkins said that small businesses are a huge part of our life.
“Small businesses are the lifeblood of Western Australia. As at 2015, WA small businesses employ more than 512,000 people which represents 44 per cent of private sector employment. That is nearly half of all jobs in WA are provided by small businesses,” Jenkins said.
“When industries go up and down, it is the small business sector that continues to be the driver of our economy. We identified that we need to do more to recognise small business and the role they play in our economy and in job creation. The WA Small Business Day is an important step in the right direction,” Jenkins added.
Small Business Day is an initiative of Small Business Matters; a movement created to celebrate and recognise WA small business and entrepreneurship. It is supported by peak industry bodies and organisations including the Small Business Development Corporation, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA, Real Estate Institute of WA, Motor Traders Association of WA, Housing Institute Association WA, Family Business Association of WA, and Regional Chambers of Commerce and Industry of WA - with all 42 regional CCI's representing the diverse regional small businesses backing the initiative.
"Small businesses constantly fly under the radar, because we are spread across WA, operate across all industries and are out there getting the job done. Due to this diversity we often don't have a united voice. Small Business Day is a great way to let people know of the importance their local small business plays in the WA economy,” Jenkins said.
CEO of the Regional Chambers of Commerce and Industry of WA, and Cofounder of Small Business Matters, Ms Kitty Prodonovich encourages all regional communities to support their local small businesses by always thinking small first (#thinksmallfirst) particularly on WA Small Business Day.
“When a small business disappears you have reduced competition, less product diversity, less money going back into WA, less support for your community and fewer jobs," Prodonovich said.
“We have more than 20 events planned in regional WA from Esperance, throughout the south-west, in the Goldfields and as far north as Port Hedland in support of Small Business Day. Social media competitions, business awards, workshop events and market stalls show the variety of ways we are celebrating local small businesses,” she continued.
“What’s great about all these events is they are creating a way to celebrate, recognise and connect small business owners across WA. It’s a way of saying you are awesome and you are doing a great job!” Prodonovich concluded.
On Saturday 27 October, Small Business Matters asks shoppers to Think Small First by shopping at their local small business.