Facebook and PwC have done their research and it has been confirmed – the Gold Coast is Australia’s regional hot spot for small business and digitally innovative companies!
This morning, Facebook gathered some of the nation’s best international digital business people in their own backyard to release the findings of the ‘Connecting Benefits – How social networking supports Australian small business and communities’report – not in Sydney, or Melbourne, or even Brisbane – but at the QT hotel, Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast.
According to the report the Gold Coast stands out as the top regional area for digital business growth with nearly 3,200 employees hired in 2017, which is higher than the inner city areas of Perth and Brisbane. The Gold Coast is a hub of small business, with an average of 2,700 new businesses started each year, or around seven per day. Over 14,000 SMBs on the Gold Coast have a Facebook page – approximately 62% of all SMBs located within the area, making the Gold Coast one of the most digitally advanced regions too. The additional employees hired on the Gold Coast due to the growth of SMBs aided by their use of Facebook generated over $450 million in economic output in 2017.
The report launch event also featured a panel discussion facilitated by Kaylie Smith, Director of Small Business, Facebook Australia together with local success stories Evolve Skateboards, Mama Tribe and Take 3 for the Sea, showcasing the power of building connections and communities through Facebook and Instagram.
The Gold Coast Innovation Hub team were thrilled to have been part of the launch and our amazing volunteers and interns made the most of a day of free workshops afterwards!
You can learn more about the 3 great Gold Coast businesses showcased at the event and read the full findings of the research in the full report. Click here to download a copy.
