Festival to educate and inspire

FROM education to inspiration, Geelong Small Business Festival is helping small businesses in our region.

The City of Greater Geelong is thrilled to be hosting the Geelong Small Business Festival (GSBF). Now in its 12th year, our region’s largest dedicated business festival has helped hundreds of local businesses and thousands of people looking to start, grow or improve their business.

This year’s festival features an exciting program of more than 50 low-cost and free events designed to connect, inspire, grow and support our local business community.

Whether you’re experienced in business, a budding entrepreneur or looking to start your own business, the festival provides opportunities to hear from industry experts, upskill, gain knowledge across all areas of business and make new business connections.

This is a great opportunity to use this education for inspiration in your business.

Events, workshops, and presentations held during August will cover:

Marketing, social media and promoting your business online – branding, social media, digital marketing, new digital technologies, and e-commerce

Business essentials – finance, accounting, tax and legal

Starting a business – business/marketing plans, obtaining permits, home-based business, and co-working spaces

Growing your business, sales and expanding your networks – networking, business mentoring and tips for success

Career development, leading and managing people – HR, leadership, staff employment, managing and motivating a team, culture, and diversity

Health and wellbeing – staying connected, resilience in the workplace, staff safety, OH&S, mental and physical health, and

Sustainability and social responsibility – giving back, reducing carbon footprint, engaging fair trade suppliers, adopting a circular economy approach.

Our more than 19,000 small businesses are a huge driver of Greater Geelong’s economy, and their success is important to our community and critical to the city’s vision for a Clever and Creative future.

Adventurer, award-winning documentary-maker, television presenter, and businessman, Todd Sampson, will headline the Geelong Small Business Festival with a packed event at The Pier Geelong, on August 3.

During the opening event, titled ‘Boost your Brain Power’, the business, advertising and marketing guru will reveal the practical tools and techniques you can use to improve your brain and meet the challenges and stresses of modern life.

Along with one of Australia’s best business minds, guests will also hear real life business tips and advice from a panel of Geelong’s leading business experts.

The festival will help to upskill prospective and current business owners, while creating networking opportunities to support our local business community.

The festival brings together some of our region’s best business experts, small business owners and managers, and leading industry organisations to share their knowledge and experiences.

Join in this August for an engaging and inspiring festival of business events, workshops and presentations to support our business community.

Explore the full program and book tickets at gsbf.com.au