Gold Coast start-ups set to hire hundreds more staff in major boost for economy

Entrepreneurs and start-ups are fuelling a mini jobs boom on the Gold Coast with hundreds of new roles to be created in the next year.

ENTREPRENEURS and start-ups are fuelling a mini jobs boom on the Gold Coast with hundreds of new roles to be created in the next year.

The results of a recent survey of members from Robina-based start-up incubator Gold Coast Innovation Hub show they plan collectively to boost the number of part-time, full-time and contract jobs by 73 per cent in the next 12 months. That equates to 245 new jobs based on the current figure of 4.8 average staff per company. Positions range from software engineering roles right through to sales and marketing.

ROBINA PUTS GOLD COAST INNOVATION HUB BUILDING ON MARKET

The PC building which houses the Gold Coast Innovation Hub

The hub was established in 2017 and has 70 businesses, including leading building design firm Superdraft and Suncayr, which makes sun safety stickers.

Luke Hardy, who founded commercial solar energy solutions provider Smart Consult, has doubled his workforce since joining the hub one year ago.

“Businesses and consumers are becoming more aware of the environmental and economic

benefits of solar power so it is a growth industry and an ideal company to base on the Gold

Coast,” Mr Hardy said.

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“Since being at the GC Hub we have hired two new engineers and a sales consultant and have

engaged a number of the businesses within the hub on a contract basis for a variety of work.”

Hub CEO Sharon Hunneybell said the survey confirms the hub is providing strong economic outcomes for the city.

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70 businesses use the space now

“The Gold Coast Innovation Hub was built by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs,” she said. “Unlike any other workspace in the city, everyone that is involved in this not-for-profit organisation has experienced the highs and lows of building innovative businesses and is committed to providing a supportive environment to help other local businesses grow and thrive.”

“We have always anticipated strong economic outcomes from this workspace and these survey results confirm that we are very much on track.”

The companies at the hub may be small scale but some emerging technology firms are shooting for the stars with jobs growth targets.

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Gilmour Space Technologies director James Gilmour said the company, which recently leased a new larger site in Helensvale for its space exploration operation, has set lofty goals for the cutting-edge company.

The business wants to hire more workers soon

“If everything goes well we plan to hire 5000 staff in the next decade,” he said.

“I’d love those jobs particularly to come from southeast Queensland.

“I’ve already been privileged to nurture young academics we have pulled out from university who are now likely to be leading propulsion experts.”

Leading demographer Bernard Salt said the Gold Coast jobs market would change in coming decades.

“The future belongs to knowledge workers, they will be in demand,” he said.

“The sort of jobs I would love to see more of will be around corporate administration, finance, start ups and entrepreneurial jobs.

“The best thing for any parent to do now is encourage their kids to become skilled in some areas of health or allied health.”

GOLD COAST HUB BUSINESSES:

Name: Virtual Psychologist

Business: Text messaging service linking counsellors and psychologists to clients suffering from mental health issues.

Staff: Nine

Name: PUML

Business: Fitness business that enables clients to be rewarded for working out via tokens

Staff: Four

Name: Superdraft

Business: Building design services

Staff: 19

Name: HotelFlex

Business: Platform that enables hotels to generate revenue from early check ins and late check outs

Staff: One