4. Supportive of business

As a prosperous city, Melbourne will help its businesses grow through identifying priority sectors and enterprises and ensuring they receive appropriate information, services and support. Melbourne will also facilitate business connections and access.

Today, our city businesses are supported by all three tiers of government (Australian, Victorian and local) and by many specialised, member-based organisations. Many different support programs are available for businesses offering facilitation, advice, training programs and export assistance. However, many businesses are unaware of these programs, do not know how to access or use them, or do not have the time to take advantage of them. In addition, many programs offer similar services with little coordination between them.

Bringing these different services and support programs together, promoting them to support business growth and keeping abreast of trends and changes will be a focus during the coming decade. Similarly business and institutional collaboration and connections will be encouraged.

Melbourne has a diverse and dynamic business profile. Flourishing business sectors now include: financial services, education, hospitality, health services (including biotechnology), sport, tourism, retail and fashion, computer games, and advanced manufacturing (including aerospace). The City of Melbourne considers these sectors as priorities and is supporting businesses in these sectors.

Nurturing and supporting growth in social enterprises (people-focused businesses that give back to the community) is also an important new direction for the City of Melbourne. These enterprises contribute significantly to the city's social and environmental fabric.

Goals	Indicators	Outcomes
Grow business and employment A growing business community and expanding employment opportunities including retention of the city's priority business sectors (such as the finance sector).	Net growth of office floor space in the city.¹ Target: Current: 6,808,763m2 (2006). Total employment in the municipality ² Target: 2020 - 400,000 Current: 2006 - 365,900	An increase in business activity, range and diversity of employment opportunities.
Business information and support Good information and support is provided to business and industry to address issues and facilitate change.	Business perception that they are supported. Current: indicator to be developed. ³ Significant business survival percentages. Current: indicator to be developed.	Gaps in priority business sector support are addressed, including help in attracting new business and investment. Rigorous research and diverse expertise inform and support new business trends (such as adopting more sustainable practices).
Access to information Business and industry develop an informed and proactive business community that has access to information, research and business support services.	Business community perception that they have access to information, research and business support service. Current: indicator to be developed.	An informed and growing business community and increased business start-ups and expansions in important knowledge growth areas such as green technologies and creative industries.
Business connections Improved physical connections between businesses in the municipality and those in surrounding suburbs and municipalities to facilitate face to face commercial dealings and better access to skilled workers.	Intra-city transport costs, including costs of delays, as a fraction of overall business costs. Current: Indicator to be developed. Personal commuting costs as a fraction of household income. Current: Indicator to be developed.	Increased efficiencies for business being able to access suppliers, collaborators, markets and workers with greater ease. Efficient and affordable intra-city transport for workers, supplies and products.
Growth in social enterprises Better support for the growth and development of social enterprises.	Current: indicator to be developed	Growth in social enterprises including 'not for profits' and a city community that nurtures social enterprise through a vibrant and supportive environment.
Collaboration between businesses Small businesses connect and collaborate with big business in providing goods and services.	Positive feedback in business-related consultations and surveys. Current: indicator to be developed.	Business growth (big and small) results from cooperation, collaborative opportunities, understanding and addressing emerging issues and adopting more sustainable practices.

Goals

Indicators

Outcomes

Grow business and employment

A growing business community and expanding employment opportunities including retention of the city's priority business sectors (such as the finance sector).

Net growth of office floor space in the city.¹

Target:

Current: 6,808,763m2 (2006).

Total employment in the municipality ²

Target: 2020 - 400,000

Current: 2006 - 365,900

An increase in business activity, range and diversity of employment opportunities.

Business information and support

Good information and support is provided to business and industry to address issues and facilitate change.

Business perception that they are supported.

Current: indicator to be developed. ³

Significant business survival percentages.

Current: indicator to be developed.

Gaps in priority business sector support are addressed, including help in attracting new business and investment.

Rigorous research and diverse expertise inform and support new business trends (such as adopting more sustainable practices).

Access to information

Business and industry develop an informed and proactive business community that has access to information, research and business support services.

Business community perception that they have access to information, research and business support service.

Current: indicator to be developed.

An informed and growing business community and increased business start-ups and expansions in important knowledge growth areas such as green technologies and creative industries.

Business connections

Improved physical connections between businesses in the municipality and those in surrounding suburbs and municipalities to facilitate face to face commercial dealings and better access to skilled workers.

Intra-city transport costs, including costs of delays, as a fraction of overall business costs.

Current: Indicator to be developed.

Personal commuting costs as a fraction of household income.

Current: Indicator to be developed.

Increased efficiencies for business being able to access suppliers, collaborators, markets and workers with greater ease.

Efficient and affordable intra-city transport for workers, supplies and products.

Growth in social enterprises

Better support for the growth and development of social enterprises.

Current: indicator to be developed

Growth in social enterprises including 'not for profits' and a city community that nurtures social enterprise through a vibrant and supportive environment.

Collaboration between businesses

Small businesses connect and collaborate with big business in providing goods and services.

Positive feedback in business-related consultations and surveys.

Current: indicator to be developed.

Business growth (big and small) results from cooperation, collaborative opportunities, understanding and addressing emerging issues and adopting more sustainable practices.