Illawarra Business Chamber

2014/2015 - A year in review

1. Executive summary

2. Membership -

Massive member growth and

influence

3. Policy and advocacy –

Government listening to

business

4. Events –

B2B connections and

business growth

5. New & improved Illawarra

chamber movement

6. United chamber movement

Contents

Executive summary

Sue Baker-Finch

IBC President

Message from President Sue Baker-Finch

2014-15 has been a watershed year for the Illawarra Business Chamber – we’ve set a new vision and direction for the chamber’s future, shone the light squarely on the region’s pressing transport connectivity needs, seen two of IBC’s top 5 transport infrastructure priorities ticked off, and celebrated the impact of the Small Business – too Big to Ignore Campaign with small business front and centre of the federal budget.

The IBC and the NSW Business Chamber’s new shared vision for the business chamber in the Illawarra will better drive economic development, grow businesses and deliver more jobs in the region.

The new vision will enhance what we already do to support business with stronger thought leadership, greater knowledge and understanding of business in the region, and powerful and respected influence to put the region’s economy in a winning position – placing the Illawarra First.

It’s all about sharpening our focus and better utilising the collective strength of the many small, medium and large businesses, the local chambers of commerce in the region and the state chamber to have far greater influence in shaping our region’s future, while continuing to provide quality business support programs to members.

On behalf of the IBC I’d like to thank members for voting unanimously in August 2015 to join the state Chamber to advance a united chamber movement across the Illawarra region and beyond at the state, national and global levels.

In our 2015 member survey, 60% of you, our members, told us that you wanted IBC to be more active and visible advocating for businesses in the Illawarra (a 15 percentage point improvement since 2013). WINTV have put together video highlights of our 2014/2015 advocacy work in action.

In the membership space we’ve seen a massive 73% increase in our membership base in just 2 years.

In 2014/2015 we appointed two new Business Development Account Managers. If you haven't already met them I’m sure Bill or Termira will be in touch in the coming months.

According to the 2015 member survey B2B exposure & connections and networking are the top two IBC membership benefits. The team been busy delivering these benefits over the last year. In 2014/2015 we held 20 events that were attended by 2,530 local business people.

After two decades of regional business award celebrations, the 2014 Momentum Energy Illawarra Business Awards had a change of focus, format and venue. The Oscars style awards ceremony and the before & after parties gave the Illawarra business community the chance to celebrate and connect more widely.

We’re looking forward to an exciting year at the IBC implementing the changes set in motion in 2014/2015.

Debra Murphy

IBC CEO

Message from CEO Debra Murphy

These relationships play an important role in enabling the IBC to deliver a range of services to our members and the wider business community.

Thanks to our Promotional partners

Membership - Massive member growth and influence

“A bigger membership base means more businesses are supported

and a stronger collective voice for business in the region”

777 members (2013)

934 members (2014)

1,347 members (2015)

Membership growth: 73% increase in 2 years

Policy & advocacy

Educationalworkshops/seminars

Events & networking

Business exposure &connections

Main IBC membership benefit

IBC has experienced massive membership growth over the last 2 years - up 73%.

As at 30 June 2015

Dominant IBC member profile – small firms in Wollongong

100-199 employees

17 1%

1-4 employees 670 50%

200+ employees 30 2%

20-49 employees 93 7%

50-99 employees 39 3%

5-19 employees 389 29%

Non-employing 109 8%

Wollongong 564 42%

Shellharbour 106 8%

Kiama 76 6%

Shoalhaven 305 23%

Wingecarribee 238 18%

Other LGAs 35 3%

Local Government Areas

Business Size

Almost nine out of ten IBC members are small businesses (employ less than 20 people)

Industry sectors diverse, dominated by service sectors and profession & technical

14% 13% 13%

10%

8% 7%

6%

4% 4% 4% 4% 4% 3%

2% 1%

1% 1% 1%

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

Your Business Development Account Managers

You can’t miss Bill at IBC events –

he’s tall, loud and loves hearing the stories of our vibrant business community.

Bill lives in Kiama and his interests include AFL, real estate and friends.

Prior to joining the IBC most of Bill’s career was in the Greeting Card Industry.

In 1991, Bill moved to Australia from Hawaii and in 2001 he purchased

property in the Illawarra region and in 2011 made the area his home.

Career woman by day, mum by night. Termira is a local girl, born and bred in the Illawarra. She now lives in Mount Kembla

with her husband and two sons.

Growing up in a small business family ensures Termira understands how critical it is to grow and support small businesses. Termira’s passion for small business is the

reason she joined the chamber in 2015 after 6 years at Wave FM.

Termira Speer Bill Brock

Low risk and affordable entry into the Chinese market

The Chamber’s ground breaking Export Growth China is a low risk and affordable solution for SMEs wanting to crack the Chinese market. The program was officially launched in Shanghai at a gala event attended by Australian soccer great Tim Cahill and New South Wales Minister for Trade, the Hon. Stuart Ayres MP.

Export Growth China gives you the opportunity to export your quality goods and services to a willing and exciting market place. The program includes:

• A comprehensive Export Readiness Report

• Your product displayed in our Shanghai Showroom for a minimum of 6 months

• Mandarin product promotions

• Pro-active Buyer Matching

• Product Feedback Reporting.

Members interested in finding out more about Export Growth China should call 1800 505 529

Policy and advocacy – Government listening to business

“I strongly believe the IBC plays an important role in the development of business relationships in the Illawarra”

Policy 2014/2015 overview

Three campaigns were undertaken:

1) Unfinished Business NSW Election Campaign – July-March 2015

2) Rebuilding NSW/ Linking the Illawarra – August-October 2014

3) Too Big to Ignore Penalty Rates Campaign - Easter 2015

Five submissions were put to government:

1) Rebuilding NSW (infrastructure)

2) Draft Regional Growth and Infrastructure Plan (Planning)

3) Wollongong City Council’s Draft Annual Plan 2015-2016 (Local Government)

4) Future role and contribution of regional capitals (Economic Development)

5) NSW Government Agency Decentralisation to Wollongong (joint regional submission) (Economic Development)

One major research project was completed:

1) Linking the Illawarra.

Wins for business - Illawarra infrastructure

Small business given a long awaited turbo charge in the Federal Budget

In 2013, the Chamber movement across Australia united with its pre-election Small Business: Too Big To

Ignore campaign which was aimed at sending a clear message to decision

makers in our Federal Parliament that small business could not be taken for

granted.

The 2015 Federal Budget showed that the campaign was an

overwhelming success, with more than $5.5 billion allocated to

supporting small business and 96 per cent of all Australian businesses

eligible for a tax cut.

Gareth Ward Parliament House Function

13 May 2015

Events – B2B connections and business growth

“IBC is very useful for networking and meeting key decision makers of the region”

Events overview

20 events were held with 2,530 attendees

4 x Business Before Hours

5 x Business After Hours

2014 Momentum Energy Illawarra Business Awards

5 x Executive Functions

5 x Educational Seminars.

Excellence in Business

RMB Lawyers

Highly Commended: IRT Group

Excellence in Small Business

Fibre Optics Design and Construct

Highly Commended: Boab Boats

Business Leader

Debra Tozer - CareSouth

Young Business Executive

Toby Dawson – Cancer Council NSW

Highly Commended: Eleanor Hayman, Illawarra Flame Tree Coaching and Development

Young Entrepreneur

Paul Sassall, Nowra Farmers Market

Excellence in Business Ethics

G.J. Gardner Homes Shoalhaven

Employer of Choice

Greenacres Disability Services

2014 Momentum Energy Illawarra Business Awards Honour Roll

Excellence in Innovation

F1moto.com.au

Highly Commended: Droppoint Australia

Excellence in Workplace Health & Safety

Greenacres Disability Services

Excellence in Sustainability

Warrigal

Highly Commended: Wollongong Golf Club

Excellence in Export

Cherub Rubs

Local Chamber of Commerce

Corrimal Chamber of Commerce

Excellence in Age-Friendly Business

Highlands Drive Safe

Excellence in Customer Service

Cram Foundation & Pillar Administration

Outstanding New Illawarra Business

Andrew Webb Family & Business Accounting

2014 Momentum Energy Illawarra Business Awards

28 October 2014

New & improved Illawarra chamber movement

What the NSW Business Chamber merger means?

Continued membership growth

Fully integrated region-wide services & activities

Stronger, highly influential and respected business thought leadership through the Illawarra First

program

Sustainable & better resourced regional chamber

Building leadership and influence

Put the Illawarra‘s economy in a winning position – placing the Illawarra First

Drive economic development, grow businesses and deliver more jobs in the Illawarra through

insights-driven regional business leadership & influence

Vision

Mission

Strategic

capabilities

The Illawarra First program will be the chamber’s new

regional business thought leadership, policy research and advocacy program.

Collective strength, influence & insight of key business leaders Strong leader and advocate for regional advancement Research and technical capabilities

Special Strategic Research & Advocacy Fund ($1.073 million booster)

• New Illawarra First membership offering

• Strategic research projects supported by Illawarra First Fund

• New Exec Director role - sustained evidence-based advocacy & leadership

• Regional business data repository, knowledge bank and information portal

• Partnerships and relationships to deliver research, data management and analysis, and technology capabilities.

Special Strategic Project Fund

Additional NSWBC investment:

+ Establishment costs

+ Operating costs, overhead costs and additional staff (Exec Director, policy officer/economist, communications and administrative support roles)

ILLAWARRA FIRST FEATURES & FUNDING

Featu

res

Fu

nd

ing

IBC contribution

Matched $ for $

contribution from NSWBC

$1.073 million in Illawarra First Fund

Illawarra First Fund Custodians

Peter is a Wollongong local, having attended school and university in the

area.

Peter joined the firm that later became known as KPMG Wollongong in 1977. He became a partner in 1988 and in 1993 took on the Managing Partner

role until his 2015 retirement.

Brett is a director of an Australasian advisory firm PPB Advisory.

Brett joined the NSWBC as a councillor in 2009 before being elected to the Board in

2012.

Brett was a NSW Business Chamber appointed Director on the IBC Board

between 2012 and 2015.

Brett Manwaring NSWBC Representative

Peter Fitzgerald Illawarra Business Leader

Access law

United chamber movement

• Region-wide engagement and input into the policy agenda

• Geographically distributed education & networking events

• Expanded region-wide programs coordinated from the regional office

• Better resourced regional chamber office at IBC headquarters in Wollongong

Fully integrated region-wide programs

Illawarra Chamber movement: 15 Local Chambers of Commerce + the IBC + Illawarra First +NSWBC

Margot Griffiths Local Chamber

Relationship Manager

Local chamber update

The IBC continues to derive its strength and purpose from membership. Members provide us with the legitimacy to represent and support all businesses within the Illawarra Region.

The Local Chamber Alliance Program is founded on the idea that when businesses unite for the common good, they create a powerful voice that cannot be ignored. We are pleased to report that the Illawarra closed the 2014 -15 financial year with 817 Local Chamber members, these members are derived from 15 Local Chambers in the Illawarra.

The Local Chamber members are hard-working business people who provide a timely reminder that the private sector is the engine room of our region. Indeed, business creates the jobs and wealth that underpins all aspects of our society. More than ever, business collaboration and leadership are the key to unlocking the future prosperity of our region. Our Local Chambers have and continue to work hard to achieve tangible outcomes for their members. Thank you for assisting the chamber by being active members of your Local Chambers. We look forward to working with you all in the coming year.

Local chamber of the year 2014 Corrimal Chamber of Commerce

“Thanks for your ongoing support of the IBC. We look forward to another exciting year at the IBC”

Debra, Margot, Bill, Stephen, Isabelle, Sharon, Termira and Julia