How Business Connect has supported NSW businesses
Top 3 business issues
- Business planning
- COVID-19 disruption
- Marketing
Top 3 industries supported
- Retail trade
- Other services1
- Arts and recreation services
What we have achieved
12,272 referrals to government programs
8,731 referrals to the commercial sector
An estimated 28,400 jobs created
Over 3,391 events run across NSW
96% overall satisfaction with the service
97% of customers likely to recommend the program
Types of business supported
Business stage
- 40% established businesses
- 36% startups
- 23% intenders
- 1% exiters
Business structure
- 55% sole trader
- 29% companies
- 7% partnerships
- 3% not for profits
- 2% trusts
- 4% prefer not to say/not defined
Business size
- 62% no employees
- 29% 1-4 employees
- 8% 5-19 employees
- 1% 20+ employees
Our customers
Age
- 4% aged 16 - 24
- 19% aged 25 - 34
- 37% aged 35 - 44
- 23% aged 45 - 54
- 13% aged 55 - 64
- 4% aged 65+
Gender
- 57% female
- 43% male
Location
- 55% regional
Indigenous Australians
- Over 860 Aboriginal clients
Business Connect program evaluation
An independent evaluation of the Business Connect program found that the current program:
- fulfils a clear need, with more than half of small businesses not knowing where to go for business planning and other support needed or not being able to afford it
- plays an important role in avoiding business failure
- has had a positive impact on its outcomes of supporting businesses to start, grow and adapt, and increase confidence.
NSW Business Profiles 2021 by Local Government Area
The NSW and LGA Business Profile contains infographic profiles of NSW Local Government Area (LGA) business statistics for 2021, using the latest data available from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the NSW Department of Planning and Environment, with a focus on small businesses (0-19 employees). Each LGA has data shown for demographics, general statistics and business statistics.
1 See 'other services' in Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC)