Brisbane 17 July 2013. A diverse calendar of more than 70 activities and events is now scheduled across the State, just one week from the start of Queensland Small Business Week (QSBW).

Minister for Small Business Jann Stuckey announced that the Government is working hard to ensure the State’s 412,000 small businesses are front-of-mind for all Queenslanders next week.

“With more than 70 events and activities locked in for this landmark week, we are demonstrating strong support for a sector that underpins our four pillar economy and breathes life every day into communities and towns from the Tweed to the Torres Strait,” Ms Stuckey said.

“The countdown is now on for the week’s first event on 24 July; the 2013 Mentors and Business Leaders Networking Breakfast at Mt Coot-tha to celebrate the Government’s Mentoring for Growth program and acknowledge the generous support of its mentors.

“I encourage small business operators and budding entrepreneurs to check our online calendar of events and get involved and Queenslanders in every community to support their local small businesses.

“For those who cannot physically make it to a local QSBW event, Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) and the State Government are also coordinating 16 webinars to provide useful tools and insights for those in the sector.”

Premier Campbell Newman and Ms Stuckey will attend the Council of Small Business of Australia (COSBOA) National Small Business Summit at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on 24 and 25 July, an event that officially opens QSBW from 24 to 31 July.

Ms Stuckey said Brisbane alone was home to more than 116,000 small businesses, making up 95.5 per cent of all business in the region.

Professional, scientific and technical services businesses made up almost 16 per cent of these, followed closely by those in the construction (14.6 per cent), and rental, hiring and real estate services (12.6 per cent) sectors.

She said the Mentoring for Growth program was provided at no cost to businesses and connects eligible firms to a panel of up to ten mentors.

“Over the past year, more than 800 business mentors provided their time voluntarily to help 93 businesses with growth opportunities and commercial challenges,” she said.

“It is estimated that the commercial value of the time spent by those mentors in 2012-13 was worth around $633,000.”

Another significant QSBW activity in Brisbane is a live streamed panel event Becoming a high-growth start-up on 26 July at The Edge, Queensland State Library.

It will be streamed as a webinar in front of a live audience, giving participants an opportunity to pose questions to the speakers in person and via social media.

ABC news presenter Karina Carvalho will be its master of ceremonies, with panellists including:

·         Leigh Angus, Program Director, ilab Accelerator

·         Stephen Tait, CEO, CCIQ

·         Rick Chen, Co-founder, Pozible Pty Ltd

·         Jacinta Caithness, Partner, PWC

Attendees will be able to network and meet experts from several Queensland business incubators.

“Small business really provides the backbone of many local economies across the State and it is great to see the Government recognising this contribution through Queensland Small Business Week,” CCIQ CEO Stephen Tait said.

“Small business currently contributes 46 per cent to the Gross State Product and this week will only emphasise the importance of the sector within our communities.”

All Queensland Small Business Week activities aim to help people start, grow or succeed in business.

Saturday 27 July will become Buy Locally Saturday, which aims to encourage people to make their purchases from local small businesses.

Buy Locally Saturday also encourages business owners to get involved by offering special promotions or other incentives to attract more local customers.

Visit www.business.qld.gov.au/smallbusinessweek to find out more about the week.

Go to www.business.qld.gov.au/events to register for an event.