SUMMARY OF SERVICES PANEL OUTCOMES

What can Ballarat do to best position itself and to create new opportunities? Ballarat should focus on its strengths and turn these into internationally renowned and marketed features of the region.

• Ballarat should be an ICT Centre with a specific focus.
• Knowledge of Agri-business and ICT, these two sectors continue to overlap placing Ballarat in a prime position to be innovative and capture the market.
• Smaller businesses mean lower overheads and the ability to produce services of equitable quality for less cost.
• Ballarat is a University town, and therefore not only has access to training, but the latest Graduates, research and innovative ˜study as you work ™ programs.

If Ballarat is going to capitalise on its strengths there are opportunities to:

• Decide where Ballarat wants to position itself on the cost/reliability continuum - large corporations want to get as close as possible to low cost/high quality.
• Need to be able to afford to attract and retain talent in our regional environment.
• Create new business paradigms “ ICT not separated out “ merged with business.
• Maintain and improve links between the University and industry to produce work-ready, high quality graduates.
• Create new learning paradigms “ Earn as you learn in Ballarat SMEs; Business Sponsorship Program for Students; Strategies which ensure students ™ part-time work gives them practical experience in their area of study.
• Produce graduates with big intellect and lots of practical experience.
• Grow business outside Ballarat (regionally, nationally, internationally).
• Be proactive in attracting the investment we want “ Don ™t wait “ go get it.
• Market Ballarat to increase awareness and create a more positive perception, nationally and internationally.
• Promote the fact that we (Australians) are good at managing things from a distance.
• Promote the political stable environment and close links with University.

Steps in securing these opportunities may include:

• Engineer and continually evaluate innovative and work-place relevant Undergraduate courses in order to create work-ready Graduates.
• Engage in cluster activities to fully utilise existing SMEs and generate big business through cooperation.
• Foster a culture of support for talented young people who are innovative, so they can get the support they need and be recognised while staying in this town.

To realise its full potential in the ICT Service industry for the future, it is recommended that Ballarat:

• Provide access to capital investment for SMEs so they can employ more people.
• Ensure that the focus strategy includes the underdeveloped areas of Health, Agriculture, Emergency Services (particularly remote) and Logistics.
• Work towards changing the culture and developing young people so Ballarat can say that the most young entrepreneurs are fostered here.
• Market what we have nationally and internationally as a large industrial centre.
• Optimise use of the University.
• Undertake more community consultation on a regular basis.
• Build up the SME market “ like Seattle has. This would be facilitated by getting big companies to stay in town and then subcontracting. This would keep a free market but offer more opportunity for local business.
• Keep education relevant and develop courses in conjunction with industry.
• Provide the infrastructure so that these things are not only possible, but become popular.
• Establish and promote what it means to be an ICT Centre.
• Establish a distinction between IT users and IT specific jobs, and promote the IT specific areas.
• Find and focus on a niche market where Ballarat can be competitive and be decisive about how Ballarat wants to be known.

Click here to view images from the Services Panel