Brisbane’s prominent business support and resource hub is this week celebrating its third year in operation since it was first established in 2020 to support local businesses during the pandemic.
More than 23,000 business leaders and entrepreneurs have visited the Brisbane Business Hub (BBH) during that time, representing an estimated 12,950 businesses, to take advantage of the complimentary workshops and events, co-working spaces, and mentoring program.
BBH has facilitated 370 workshops and events, 445 one-on-one mentoring sessions, and more than 12,100 coworking space drop-ins since its opening, and has grown an online community of more than 60,000.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the Brisbane Business Hub continues to provide vital support to grow local businesses.
“Brisbane is home to an incredible business community that are taking Australia, and the world, by storm,” Cr Schrinner said.
“Through the ongoing impacts of a tumultuous few years, the Brisbane Business Hub has provided much needed support and resources for businesses to flourish.
“We are so proud of the growth stories that come out of the Hub which highlight the value of the program in connecting small business owners and setting them up for success.”
Vicki Saunders, founder of The Brand Builders, which supports the 99% of athletes who aren’t regularly in the spotlight to build and promote their brand, is part of this Brisbane community and said the support from BBH has enabled her business to thrive.
“Brisbane Business Hub provided us with a reliable place to work and collaborate as a team during a time where it was really difficult for us to maintain consistent revenue following the pandemic,” she said.
“We’ve been really embraced by the team and other businesses, and the connections we’ve made through the events and workshops have led to some great business collaborations.
“We’ve also worked with two mentors through the mentorship program who helped us to successfully navigate some issues and opportunities that were in our immediate grasp.”
The Brand Builders found Brisbane Business Hub when looking for available coworking spaces in the city during the pandemic.
By working in BBH, they also discovered, applied for, and were awarded a Lord Mayor’s Women in Business Grant in 2021.
All grant recipients benefit from a 12-month incubator program facilitated by BBH to build business acumen, nurture leadership skills, and enable networking opportunities and connections within the business community.
The mentoring program run by BBH has also experienced a year-on-year increase in demand, with the number of registered mentors growing from 20 in 2020 to 90 in 2023, and the program continues to track at a 100% satisfaction rate.
Brisbane Business Hub is delivered by Brisbane Economic Development Agency in partnership with Brisbane City Council to provide local businesses and entrepreneurs with a place to come together and connect in Brisbane’s city centre.
BBH will continue to support the local Brisbane business community from new premises next year, relocating from its Queen Street Mall site at the end of its lease in June 2024, with building owners ISPT opting to proceed with plans to redevelop the heritage site.
Brisbane Business Hub’s services, including the full range of complimentary events, workshops, networking and mentoring opportunities, and drop-in hot desks, will continue from new premises.