Armidale Regional Council, New South Wales, has been joined by New England’s brightest business minds, for a business symposium to generate a shared vision for the Region’s business ecosystem and to develop a collaborative framework for business success.
The event followed on from a highly successful first symposium held in July last year.
Key themes for discussion were identifying the region’s unique value and how to communicate what makes Armidale a leading regional economy.
Another major topic was the innovative business hub to be housed in the old Armidale library building in the heart of the central business district.
The hub will provide a place for business start-ups to grow, a collaboration and engagement space for the business community, and tenant space for business support services.
Co-location of Council’s economic, development and planning teams within the hub will put them on hand to advise prospective and existing businesses on establishing or growing their ventures.
Mayor, Simon Murray, said the symposiums were a vital link to fostering an open and honest discussion with the business community about shared aspirations, and to facilitate collaboration and action.
“The first symposium was over subscribed and again we have had huge interest from the business community to participate.
“Our region’s economic potential cannot be realised without the passion, enthusiasm and expertise of people in business.
“I am confident that with the level of interest shown and the innovation already bubbling away under the surface, we can achieve great things for our region.”
Anything and everything about breeding business success was discussed, from how to make grass roots community projects become commercial to what does living and doing business in the Armidale Region look like now and in 2030, and how that should look and feel and the huge potential of the region.
“Council is facilitating these discussions and providing the framework and support to shape our business future but this must be driven by our community with innovative ideas.
“These symposiums and the level of interest shown by the business community to be a part of this are inspirational.
“No one participating in the symposium was constrained or weighed down by the severe drought conditions we are experiencing.
“It was all about looking forward to when the drought breaks and our region’s untapped potential.”
