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City of Perth Business Support
The City of Perth provides a range of services and supports businesses that have chosen to operate in the city or are interested in doing so with economic development strategies, marketing and networking activities along with the latest demographic information to inform business decision making.
Business Development
- Business enquires
The City of Perth Economic Development team are available to assist you with business enquires.
Contact the Economic Development team on +61 8 9461 3136.
- City Vitality
An annual investment and research publication containing information on the performance and vitality of Perth as the capital city of Western Australia. It contains a variety of statistics to assist businesses in identify trends and provides a snapshot of the City at a point in time.
For the most current version of City Vitality, please click here [pdf].
- Business networking and trading
To encourage, facilitate and build community relationships within particular precincts the City has began to initiate trader and resident groups. Such groups provide the opportunity for business owners and residents to discuss issues and ideas and at which the City can offer information regarding issues pertinent to their business and local community.
- Retail Trading
The City of Perth works closely with city retailers on issues such as preferred Sunday shopping hours, deregulation and exemptions to trade on public holidays and lobbing state government on retailers’ behalf. Retail Trading Hours are determined by the Department for Commerce (Consumer Protection).
- After-hours Transport
Improving the accessibility and frequency of public transport beyond business hours is a key priority for the City. Evening public transport supports city businesses, particularly restaurants and bars.
- Affiliation with the World Energy City Partnership
In acknowledgement of the importance of the resources industry to the state and its capital, the City of Perth continues its long standing affiliation with the World Energy Cities Partnership (WECP) – an international network of 14 cities worldwide promoting the exchange of industry knowledge and economic development expertise and strategies among energy cities in the global oil and gas industry.
For more information, please visit the WECP website.
- Small Business Grants
The City is offering small business grants of up to $2000 to promote the growth and diversity of existing business, attract and encourage new businesses and improve the city’s competitiveness. The grants may be used to assist businesses with the types of requests already received, for business start-up or expansion, buying equipment or for other small business projects.NB: The 2009/10 round of Small Business Grants is fully subscribed. The next round of grants will become available in July 2010.
- Match funding
This funding aims to stimulate diverse inner city commerce by supporting and rewarding local business creativity and pioneering entrepreneurial activities. Matching funding is available to any entrepreneurial and small businesses projects that demonstrate creativity and innovation, add business diversity to the city, activate underutilized areas, and attract and retain an even larger number of people in the City.
The match funding program was introduced in July 2009.
- Small bars
The City of Perth is a strong supporter of the State Government’s 2007 liquour licensing reform, moving quickly to facilitate the development of new small bars.
Contact the Economic Development team for information on opening a small bar in the City of Perth under the State Government’s legislation.
- Business awards
City of Perth is a sponsor of WA Business New’s 40under40 Awards and assists in the search for the State’s most outstanding young entrepreneurs. The 40under40 Awards are designed to celebrate the depth of emerging business talent in Western Australia, with 40 people honoured each year with one outstanding leader selected as the '1st Among Equals'.
Underutilised Spaces
- Laneways
The City’s Laneway Strategy “the Laneway Strategy - Forgotten Spaces, Revitalising Perth’s Laneways” aims to improve the contribution of laneways to enhance the urban fabric of the spaces and celebrate each laneway’s distinctive environment.
To view the Forgotten Spaces strategy, click here [pdf].
To view the approved concept plans for three inner-city laneways, click here.
- Upper storey activation
A feasibility research project is currently underway. The study will offer an independent assessment of the opportunities and barriers to upper storey activation, providing property owners and developers with the information required to make sound investments in the city.It is hoped that the reactivation of existing stock above street level may provide affordable alternatives for businesses that have not attempted to secure inner-city premises at a time of record high-value leasing agreements.The Forgotten Spaces - Upper Storey Activation feasibility study is scheduled to report by March 2010.
Research
Strategic Direction – Economic Development
The Economic Development Team is responsible for developing and deploying strategic policy, plans and projects to guide the future economic prosperity of the City through the attraction, growth and support of business in the City. Research is essential to this.
'Planning for Economic Development : City of Perth - The Approach' outlines the City of Perth approach to promote, grow and support the economy of Perth. The key focus areas of this plan are: tourism, retail and the evening economy. To view the strategy (currently under review) click here [pdf].
Recent and ongoing research projects include:-
- Creative Industries
In 2005, the City of Perth partnered the State Government Departments of the Premier and Cabinet, Culture and the Arts and Industry and Resources, to map the size and growth rates of Perth’s creative industries.
The resultant landmark report, entitled Perth’s Creative Industries - An Analysis [pdf], demonstrated the massive economic contribution each of the 8 creative industry segments studied, make to the metropolitan economy.
- City of Perth Resident Survey
The City regularly conducts a survey of residents to create a report assessing residential property market perceptions while exploring changes and identifying trends with previous years. Click here to view the 2007 survey.
- Land Use Activity (Floor Space Survey)
- Pedestrian counts and movement studies
The City undertakes independent and joint pedestrian surveys to provide a snapshot of pedestrian traffic flow within City of Perth areas. This information informs traffic management, urban design and the management of public spaces.
- Oil and gas (other)
As part of a larger World Energy City Partnership project the City of Perth in partnership with the University of Zwickau in Germany is undertaking a research project targeted at cluster effectiveness and supply chains of small to medium enterprises. Curtin University Business School, WA Energy Research Alliance (WAERA) and Chevron Australia have also become research partners.
Research projects 2009 / 2010
- Upper Floor space
The aim of this study is to examine the financial feasibility of upper-floor activation and to identify and explore all factors (financial and otherwise) that are related to upper-floor activation in the City of Perth.
- Resource Cities
A comparative research project focused on an analysis of Perth and other international ‘resource cities’ such as Aberdeen, Houston, Calgary and Stavanger.
