By BERNADETTE UZELAC, GEELONG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Geelong Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business in the Geelong region.
It is one of the largest business groups in Australia with nearly 900 business members ranging from micro-businesses right through to the largest organisations in Geelong such as Deakin University and Barwon Health.
Key to the chamber’s mission is strategic advocacy to support business growth and foster economic development within the Geelong region.
In Geelong, about 96 per cent of businesses are small to medium sized, so many of the chamber’s programs are designed to support small business growth and provide opportunities for small business operators to connect and expand their reach.
This year the chamber expanded its highly successful federally-funded business support program, Small Business Smart Business, to deliver even more low cost services to help regional businesses grow.
This popular program now offers a wide range of assistance to small businesses throughout the Greater Geelong region, including the hugely popular business mentoring service.
Also this year, the chamber formed an alliance with the Victorian Chamber to provide an expanded range of benefits to chamber members. The alliance means that business issues in Geelong will now benefit from a stronger advocacy voice at both state and federal levels.
The chamber has forged many other key partnerships to strengthen its role in business advocacy, including a successful collaboration with Deakin Business School to conduct the Geelong Survey of Business Trends.
The survey, conducted annually, provides important data that is used to develop advocacy frameworks and to inform public policy in relation to issues affecting businesses in the Geelong region.
Results of this research show that businesses in Geelong are optimistic about the future and implementing plans for growth.
The chamber’s signature event is its monthly After 5 business networking event for members, with over 300 members gathering each month to network and socialise.
The chamber is also widely known for delivering the annual Powercor Geelong Business Excellence Awards. Now in their 31st year, the business awards each year recognise and celebrate outstanding local businesses, culminating in a glittering gala awards dinner in August.
