SA needs business heroes after COVID-19

It’s up to business owners to remember that they are now the heroes of the story in South Australia, the ones taking the risks.

Business SA CEO Martin Haese. Picture: Kelly Barnes/Kelly Barnes Photos

Just like your typical superheroes in action movies, businesses in the City of Adelaide will reign victorious in the end and live happily ever after … but there will be some trials along the way.

The villain is of course, COVID-19, beating CBDs around the world to within an inch of their lives.

In South Australia, we’ve been lucky to only be mildly affected by the health implications, but for the economy it has been a different story.

Through to the end of 2020, many of the regions reigned supreme, but the heart of SA’s economy lies between the terraces in the small 5.4 sq km that is the City of Adelaide.

Within these boundaries, including North Adelaide, is a gross regional product of $20.2bn a year, representing 18.2 per cent of the gross state product, according to the City of Adelaide’s Economic Profile in 2020. It represents a 26,177- strong residential population, with 15,251 businesses and employs 142,723 workers. During the battle of the past 12 months, the city business community has been materially affected.

With the support of both state and federal governments, businesses in the CBD – through measures such as JobKeeper – have weathered the storm.

However, with little support remaining, it’s up to business owners to remember that they are now the heroes of the story … the ones taking the risks.

A return to normal trading will only come after a population- wide rollout of a vaccine and the opening of international travel.

Until those two things are in sight, owners are rising to the occasion, digging deep and finding the strength to push through by continuing to innovate and find creative ways to trade to the best of their abilities.

On May 11, Business SA will present its Strength and Success Seminar at the National Wine Centre.

This event is designed to provide essential information to owners seeking to sustain or grow their business, as well as ensuring they comply with their obligations as employers.

By providing opportunities for networking and education, the heart of Business SA’s mission is to create connections for business owners.

The Strength and Success Seminar will allow businesses to network with their peers and be inspired by 10 industry professionals in the fields of sales; workplace relations; work, health and safety; business transformation; marketing and accounting; and providing practical tools they can take back to their organisations for immediate implementation.

Through strength and perseverance comes success.

The CBD will thrive in the end, saved by the heroes – the business owners – who are winning their battle against the virus with a war chest of knowledge, passion and strength.

Tickets for the Strength and Success Seminar on May 11 are $120 a person or $60 for members of Business SA, and are available from strengthandsuccess.com.au

Martin Haese is chief executive of Business SA