BUMPY ROAD TO SUCCESS FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES

Business performance in the Central Highlands is generally heading in the right direction but costs and staff shortages are still major bumps in the road.

They’re among the key findings of the 2024 Central Highlands Business Survey, now available to read on chdc.com.au.

The Central Highlands Development Corporation (CHDC) conducts the annual survey to measure business conditions and tailor support and projects accordingly.

In this year’s survey, 78 percent of businesses reported maintaining or improving their overall performance in the past 12 months; and there’s an overall positive outlook for customer and revenue levels.

On the flip side, four in five businesses were hit with rising costs, and qualitative feedback suggests that recruiting and retaining skilled labour is a significant constraint to growth for many.

GT HOSES is one of these businesses. Director Rach McDowall lists housing scarcity in Emerald as the main stumbling block to filling the company’s three current vacancies.

“We’ve already had to purchase several homes over the years to accommodate staff from GT HOSES and other businesses, and it’s looking like we’re going to have to buy another one,” Ms McDowall says.

“But that’s not a viable business investment and unfortunately we’re better off looking at FIFO (fly-in-fly-out workers), even though I think it’s very important for employees to live locally.”

Installing solar power and going digital have provided GT HOSES with buffers against rising costs but Ms McDowall empathises with the plight of other minor players in the supply chain.

“The cost of doing business is going up because no one’s making the big organisations pay on time to small businesses,” she says.

“That’s still a big issue which keeps coming back again.”

CHDC Business Facilitator Ashleigh Vann encourages local businesses to book a time with her, via the Corporation’s website, to access free guidance and support.

“Overall, the survey paints a picture of a successful and hopeful business community but there’s clearly struggle and anxiety in there too,” Ms Vann says.

“That’s a strong motivator for us to keep up that face-to-face contact with local operators, through my one-on-one appointments, CHDC’s monthly networking sessions, and our other regular events throughout the year.

“It also gives us even more drive to implement the new Workforce Development and Accommodation Strategy (WDAS), which is about tackling the Central Highlands’ labour shortage and related barriers.”

The WDAS includes campaigns to stimulate housing construction activity and to attract workers to hard-to-fill roles.

The business who has won a professional photoshoot for completing the survey is Deepfeet Massage Therapy Emerald.