Greater Geelong has a diverse economy and current growth is being driven by healthcare and social assistance, construction, public administration and safety, education and training, and accommodation and food services.
Manufacturing remains one of
the region’s top four employers. Added to this is the expansion of advanced manufacturing.
Developing a clean economy relies on the technical services and production
businesses Geelong already has, which are looking for their next opportunity to
diversify their markets. We have a
number of transferable skills in Geelong.
In addition, there are opportunities for topping up skills we already
have (for example: developing more green skills amongst plumbers and electricians); and
developing more clean economy skills within management, procurement and
architecture.
Therefore, opportunities
for businesses to adapt their existing operations and create new business
opportunities individually or through alliances are plentiful.
The City of Greater Geelong has been providing business support services (including grants) to stimulate the clean economy since 2014. Originally, the vehicle to deliver this support was a program called Cleantech Innovations Geelong.
The City's business support program is based on research including:
- a market
analysis of the market needs
- a skills audit of manufacturers' ability to meet
these needs and
- generating a strategic plan, which outlines the gaps and
opportunities in the market, and projects which will respond to these gaps and
opportunities.
The projects identified
in the strategic plan focus on those which expand businesses, create/maintain
jobs and develop skills.
The clean economy has continued to expand in Greater Geelong.