Indigenous Business Month is an annual celebration that occurs every October, and 2022 marks its 8th year.
In Mackay, an Indigenous Meet the Buyer/Supplier event was hosted by the Department of Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships. Following the success of last year’s event, a move the MECC allowed for additional supplier and buyer attendance. Approximately 25 Indigenous businesses attended, and several members of the BHP Local and Indigenous Sub-Committee were also present. The C-Res Business Development Team connected with buyers and suppliers on the day, and as a result have commenced onboarding new Indigenous businesses.
The Central Highlands region celebrated Indigenous Business Month in Blackwater on October 25, at the Blackwater Civic Centre. C-Res, industry representatives and business support services were available to meet with current and emerging Indigenous business owners from across the region. The day was enjoyed by over 20 people and this event will be a building block for future Indigenous business events and workshops.
In conjunction with LBP key objectives to actively identify and support local Indigenous businesses, staff from BHP and C-Res attend these events to promote and strengthen relationships with Indigenous businesses. C-Res sourcing suppliers and promoting Indigenous spend results in a greater number of buyers engaging TOIB businesses through the program.
Presentations in Mackay by Local Buying Program Suppliers, Dodd Taylor Group and BudbySmith Group, as well as YarbunCreations, were well received. It was a fantastic opportunity to hear firsthand how these businesses are adapting to current markets and how their businesses benefit through connections made via the Local Buying Program. BHP Buyers were able to discuss supply opportunities with Indigenous suppliers, with a view to engaging them in the future.
A number of attendees were already registered on the Local Buying Program, so buyers can easily connect through the LBP following the event. C-Res have followed up with other suppliers who were not registered and have since commenced the onboarding process.
The LBP portal is increasingly being utilized by BHP Buyers to identify Traditional Owner and Indigenous Businesses in the region capable of delivering quality goods and services to site. As a result of engagement, positive working relationships are being built between BHP, BMA and local Indigenous businesses in Queensland.
“This was the first event held in the region and we really just wanted to start that relationship building process with our local Indigenous business owners by finding out who they are, what they are doing, what is going well and what are some of the struggles they are facing within their business. There are definitely conversations happening about what to do for Indigenous Business Month 2023.” Ashleigh Kavanagh, Business Facilitator CHDC.