Building Business Capacity and Employment

The Building Business Capacity and Employment in Central Queensland Project is funded by the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) and provides the opportunities for businesses in the Rockhampton and Central Queensland regions to maximise access and take up of projects resulting from the Federal Government’s stimulus package, as well as public and private infrastructure and business projects.

The project focuses on Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) with less than 100 employees in the Fitzroy and Central West Region (Central Queensland), particularly those in the mineral processing, mining services and agribusiness supply chains but also including the broad business base.

This will be achieved through the gathering and dissemination of detailed information to SMEs throughout Central Queensland on all projects planned in Central Queensland, including stimulus package projects, major infrastructure projects, private sector developments and local government capital works programs.

The proposed model is similar to that of the Industry Capability Network (ICN) but focused on smaller projects throughout the region that, cumulatively, will have similar impacts and skills demands as larger projects.

Reports will include all projects over the value of $200,000 and will include private construction, local government works programs, state and federal government infrastructure and stimulus projects as well as major projects.

The major benefits to SMEs in the region will be the provision of a ‘one stop shop’ providing detailed information on current and proposed projects allowing proper business, workflow and labour force planning to maximize business efficiency, business activity, project uptake, employment retention and job creation.

The project will also receive extensive intelligence and problem solving capability through regular industry reference group meetings that will provide valuable feedback to the CQ Rapid Response Team and other state and federal government agencies.

To facilitate and support increasing SME capacity and employment, the project will raise the awareness of, and participation by SMEs in industry support mechanisms such as the Local Industry Policy, Industry Capability Network and DEEDI programs. Additional information forums will be conducted in partnership with the Industry Capability Network, Master Builders Association and Housing Industry Association.

A key component of the project will be the development of a process to monitor business activity and employment levels, including apprenticeships and traineeships, of SMEs in Central Queensland over the project period with the view of ongoing monitoring post project completion. This information will be made available on a regular basis to the CQ Rapid Response Team as a key employment indicator for the Central Queensland region.

The anticipated outcomes from the project are:

• the retention and creation of jobs in Central Queensland;
• improved SME capacity to undertake stimulus package and participate in major infrastructure projects; and
• engagement of a range of key stakeholders and the provision of key local employment data to the CQ Rapid Response Team (RRT)

A Major Projects Status Report has been developed for the Fitzroy and Central West Regions and is updated monthly. Click here to access the latest reports.

The project commenced in July 2009 and is expected to be completed by 31 March 2010.

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