Ensuring a constantly shifting economy meets the needs of the local community is among the biggest challenges of population growth.
Geelong’s modern economy has been one of the country’s success stories, with both the number of jobs (125,000) and annual output ($39 billion) soaring in recent years.
But with more people moving to the region over the coming years, we need to ensure the right jobs, the necessary infrastructure and services, and a skilled workforce are in place.
Council is continually working with a range of partners to leverage and promote our competitive strengths, and to prepare residents to find local jobs in a changing economy.
It is about identifying the current opportunities, and looking ahead to help realise the potential of emerging and diversifying industries.
And it is about bringing through the next generation of workers, and linking them to existing employers.
As part of this work, the City of Greater Geelong recently partnered with The Gordon to host an Apprenticeship and Traineeship Support Forum.
The forum aimed to maximise apprenticeship and traineeship participation, increasing retention rates, and assist in meeting labour shortages in the region.
Young jobseekers and their families were able to meet apprenticeship providers, group training organisations and employers to learn about the state of the jobs market.
Small to medium-sized businesses learnt about the benefits, responsibilities, and process of taking on an apprentice or trainee.
They also received an understanding of the ongoing support and incentives available.
The forum is part of the wide range of work the City does to support small business, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
For 12 years, the City has run the Geelong Small Business Festival.
In an exciting development for this region’s largest dedicated business festival, the Geelong Chamber of Commerce is taking the lead to deliver the event this year in August.
The partnership between the City and the Chamber has been formed based on the shared goal of cultivating economic prosperity and a thriving business community in Geelong.
The event remains open to operators and entrepreneurs from all industries, and for businesses of all sizes.
Attracting thousands of participants every year, the festival aims to provide insights, resources, and practical strategies for navigating the evolving business landscape.
Outside of this, the City’s Business and Industry Experience team is working to ensure businesses can take advantage of the wonderful potential of the upcoming 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The delivering a local supplier engagement program, to make sure local suppliers are up to date with the goods and services opportunities on offer for the Games.
There are now more than 1200 opportunities for local companies to secure contracts, with a number of major construction projects for competition venues already out.
Businesses should register at tenders.vic.gov.au to stay updated as new opportunities reach the market.
