Summary of engagement data

Thank you to people who participated in this engagement and completed the survey. We appreciate your time and effort in providing your feedback.

We engaged with the community over a four-week period from 1 November to 30 November 2024. We sought feedback on the challenges and opportunities for businesses in Glen Eira in order to measure the effectiveness of our programs and services and help us with future program planning.


(Please note: Several of the questions in the survey allowed for multiple selections so percentage figures in the data will reflect this.)

Who we heard from

  • We received 47 survey contributions from Glen Eira business providers.

  • The top industries they came from:

    • Health and medicine
    • Food and dining
    • Construction and contractors
    • Education
    • Merchants (retail)
    • Personal care services

  • How the business providers operate:

    • 36% operate in home-based premises
    • 30% operate in commercial premises
    • 17% operate in home-based premises and online

  • Their customers come from:

    • Across Melbourne (62%)
    • Glen Eira residents (57%)
    • Victoria wide (53%)
    • Australia wide (47%)
    • Overseas (25%)


  • The online technologies they rely on:

    • Social media e.g Facebook, Instagram (67%)
    • Website without e-commerce (53%)
    • Website with e-commerce (online sales) (33%)
    • 46% were female business owners
    • 41% employ people from different ethnic backgrounds
    • 17% employ people who identify as LGBTIQA+
    • 15% employ students and young people

  • Their self reported accessibility:

    • 67% are web based and digitally accessible
    • 59% are physically accessible
    • 28% are sensory and neuro divergent accessible

Summary of engagement data

  • Challenges

    Top challenges that businesses are facing:

    • Cash flow and finances (67%)
    • Attracting customers (67%)
    • Marketing (51%)
    • Red tape and government regulation (40%)
    • Staffing (37%)

  • What would help

    Feedback on what might help their business:

    • Targeting specific population groups as customers (e.g. seniors, young families, young people) (47%)
    • Scaling up (42%)
    • More events in the precinct to drive foot traffic (28%)
    • Partnering with someone else (28%)

  • Participation

    • 64% of our business survey respondents were not part of a sector network
    • 70% said they were not aware of Council's Business Support Services

  • Engagement with Councils Business Support Services

    21% of survey respondents said they were aware of and have participated in Council's Business Support Services including the Business Excellence Awards, subscription to the Business e-newsletter, networking and training opportunities.

  • Future interest in Council services

    66% said they would be interested in attending network sessions and training provided by Council's Economic Development Team.

  • Most requested topics for future training

    • Sales and marketing
    • Business planning
    • Digital presence
    • Finance and accounting
    • Automation - artificial intelligence
    • Legal and administration

Ways Council can help support our business community improve their businesses

The top responses in order include:

  • Provide networking resources, events and mentoring
  • Deliver events and other activities that increase exposure and drive traffic to streets/centres
  • Provide more financial support and grant opportunities
  • Provide support with marketing and advertising
  • Increase parking and waste collection
  • Improve Councils town planning and building services

How will the engagement data be used and next steps

The engagement data gathered has been provided to our Economic Development team. The feedback received will help them monitor whether the support programs and services they currently provide are suitable and a make a relevant impact on supporting the needs of our local business community.

The results of the engagement will also help the team identify any trends, challenges and opportunities to support future program development. Insights from survey respondents will help guide the ongoing planning, design and delivery of future service offerings and will provide some basis to revise or rationalise change to business development programs.

We encourage you to connect to our Economic Development Team if you wish to discuss the engagement findings further or if you would like to find out more about the programs and services they offer. More information can be found https://www.gleneira.vic.gov.au/services/business