March update from the Commissioner

This month I’m pleased to present the Commissioner’s Annual Review for 2022. The review sets out our work and focus and highlights the challenges and achievements of small businesses in NSW.

The importance of the State’s 840,000 small businesses (almost 90,000 more than before the pandemic) to the NSW economy should not be underestimated.  Employing 1.8 million people and generating $425 billion a year in sales and services income, they literally keep NSW moving.

On current projections there will be more than one million small businesses in NSW by 2030.

I recently made a trip to the central west and was impressed at how well the region’s economy was performing, despite rising interest rates and other challenges. One business that stood out was Almighty Industries in Orange, which builds custom cars and trucks for government and industry. The business employs more than 50 people and is providing an outstanding opportunity for many young apprentices. You can listen to our podcast with founders Jenny and Todd Raffen.

Finally, a reminder about our free online course, Winning Business, which helps small businesses learn how to bid for contracts and improve their business pitch. If you are new to contracting, it’s an excellent introduction and takes less than an hour to complete.

Chris Lamont