Business bulletin: 4 July 2024

Steve Roberts received the shock of his business life after attending a highly regarded training course.

He confidently expected to win the top award at the end of the Business Acceleration Program.

'We were asked to demonstrate what we had done within the business since the last session.

We presented the spreadsheets with our plans and waited to be announced winners.

'But we got nothing.

'It took me a while, but I realised that we hadn’t won because we hadn’t changed anything. Spreadsheets alone don’t produce change.'

Steve, who founded Darwin-based managed services firm One IT Services in 2012, set about transforming his business.

'The program taught me that our problems boiled down to people, and we were not making changes because of how the people would react. We were being led instead of leading.'

One IT Services decided the people had to change.

'I was told to put on my big boy pants, and it transformed the company.'

One IT Services has tripled its revenue in three years, and never had a more productive and happier team.

One IT Services recently announced that it had acquired successful Alice Springs business, Alice Onsite IT from Wayne and Cate Driver.

'Alice has its problems – everywhere does – but they won’t last forever, and the town has great potential for being a big part of a growing Territory,' said Steve.

'We shouldn’t rely on government for everything. We all must do our bit to support our home.'

The Business Acceleration Program, which was launched in 2018, is an initiative of the Territory Government and delivered by the Australian Centre for Business Growth. The program enables CEOs, managing directors and executives of Territory-based companies to identify growth opportunities, overcome business challenges and drive competitive advantage.

In FY23, Territory companies who had attended a Business Acceleration Program reported an aggregate increase of 11% in FTE jobs and 9% in revenue. The Program has enabled over 200 small and medium Territory firms to access internationally recognised business growth expertise. The Chamber of Commerce NT has proudly supported the delivery of the Business Acceleration Program since 2021 as a delivery partner.

For more information, visit the Innovation Territory website.

The Territory’s cruise industry has reached a significant milestone with the addition of another ultra-luxury expedition ship, Seabourn Pursuit.

Earlier this week, Seabourn Pursuit was welcomed back to its home port of Darwin following its inaugural voyage between Darwin and Broome last month.

Built for immersive and adventure experiences the ship capacity for 264 passengers in addition to 24 person expedition crew.

Home porting enables cruise passengers to explore a little further afield and tour Litchfield and Kakadu National parks and Arnhem Land.

Turnaround passengers will also spend more in the Territory given their extended stay providing a welcome boost for local tourism, retail and hospitality operators. The next Seabourn Pursuit cruise will arrive on 21 July.

The cruise ship industry is estimated to have injected $65 million to the Territory’s economy in 2023-24.

A total of 103 cruise and expedition ships visited Darwin throughout the 2023-24 season, with a total passenger capacity of 60,000 people – making it the Territory’s largest cruise ship season yet.

Seabourn Pursuit will depart Darwin in August before returning to homeport in Darwin again for the 2025 cruise season.

The Territory’s brightest vocational education and training (VET) stars have been recognised with the 2024 NT Training Award finalists announced this week.

Now in its 69th year, the Awards celebrate and acknowledge the achievements of our most outstanding VET students, including apprentices and trainees, trainers, training providers and employers.

There was a strong response to this year’s awards with 89 nominations received.

From this 34 finalists have been named across 12 categories, including 7 individual and 5 business categories.

The finalists come from across the Territory including Darwin, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Batchelor.

They represent a diverse field of industries including engineering, construction, electrical, air conditioning and refrigeration, health, business, aquaculture, maritime, vet nursing, early childhood education and beauty services.

VET plays an important role in future proofing our workforce and helping develop our local capacity, enabling Territory businesses to adapt and grow.

A skilled workforce is essential for our ongoing economic and social growth and supports the Territory’s goal of a $40 billion economy by 2030.

Winners will be announced at the gala awards dinner on Saturday 31 August in Darwin.

Tickets for the gala awards dinner are now available for purchase from the NT Training Awards page.

The Northern Territory Government has strengthened its Liquor Regulation 2019 (the Regulation) to better address alcohol related harm experienced in the community.

Amendments to the Regulation include new conditions for grocery stores and takeaway licensees to address the consumption of alcohol on prohibited public places.

From 1 July 2024 licensees and their employees in the Darwin urban liquor control area can refuse service to a customer if:

• the customer cannot state the place where the alcohol is intended to be consumed
• if the intended location is a prohibited public place or other restricted area.

These changes are an extension of measures implemented during COVID-19 to reduce the unlawful consumption of alcohol in public places. During COVID customers in the greater Darwin area were required to provide a legitimate residence to consume take away alcohol.

These measures implemented during COVID had an impact in reducing the unlawful consumption of alcohol in public places in the greater Darwin area.

Amendments to the Regulation are intend to reduce the instances of alcohol consumption in prohibited public places which will help address the high levels of alcohol related harm being experienced within our community.

These changes are part of a broader suite of measures being rolled out by the Territory Government to tackle alcohol related crime and anti-social behaviour in the Northern Territory.

Find out more go to the Northern Territory Government website.