ICT GEELONG LAUNCHES NEW MEMBERSHIP DRIVE TO GROW LOCAL INDUSTRY

ICT Geelong (the Geelong Region ICT Cluster) has launched a new membership model aimed at securing increased involvement of smaller IT businesses as well as the leading employers of IT skills in the region.  

Executive director Craig Hill said the new model is an important next step in the development of ICT Geelong and of the industry in the region since the advocacy group was established in mid 2009.

The new model will see small-to-medium businesses (SMEs) more actively involved in the future direction and activities of the industry and ICT Geelong working more closely with these IT businesses to understand their opportunities, needs and challenges.

“Many IT business owners and managers are technically very competent. They spend a lot of time working in their businesses, often at the expense of developing them.”

“Among the benefits of joining we will have regular one-on-one briefings with member SMEs to determine their needs.  We can then give them a better understanding of such things as grants, funding, support and industry development schemes so they can grow their businesses,” Mr Hill said.

“We also expect to increase the number of exclusive briefings on business development initiatives from State and Federal Government agencies, particularly with the imminent roll-out of the National Broadband Network.”

It is hoped to attract more than 25-30 organisations as new members in the next 12 months from the total of some 300 such IT businesses in the greater Geelong area. These businesses are engaged in web and application development, software development, IT research and education, telecommunications, e-commerce, computer/electronic equipment retailing and related IT services. 

About ICT Geelong

ICT Geelong is the representative voice and peak body for the information and communications technology (ICT) industry in the Geelong region. Its foundation members are industry leaders from the private sector, experts from tertiary education institutions and community leaders from the public sector. ICT Geelong’s vision is to establish the Geelong region as a major Victorian ICT precinct, and act as a significant player in the State Government’s vision to position Victoria as a globally recognised ICT region.