Business Entrepreneurial Programs

Mrs POWER (Elder) (14:20): My question is to the Minister for Innovation and Skills. Can the minister update the house on how the Marshall Liberal government is backing business through entrepreneurial programs?

The Hon. D.G. PISONI (Unley—Minister for Innovation and Skills) (14:20): I thank the member for Elder not just for her question but for her very strong interest in entrepreneurship, particularly social entrepreneurship, in her role in supporting women against domestic violence.

The Marshall Liberal government understands the crucial role that innovation plays to create a vibrant and robust economy. It drives productivity, it solves problems and it creates jobs. The thriving startup hub at Lot Fourteen is now home to 58 companies occupying 194 workstations. The hub residents have collectively raised $25 million, an increase of more than $13 million over the past year.

Our Future Industries eXchange for Entrepreneurship (FIXE) program inspires, equips, enables and celebrates entrepreneurship. It is one of those areas where sometimes we get a little bit embarrassed about our success as businesspeople and entrepreneurs, but our FIXE program celebrates the success of South Australians. By building our entrepreneurial ecosystem, we support the creation of new business and new jobs in South Australia.

The Marshall government also works with the business community to ensure that young entrepreneurs can access valuable coaching and professional development. Last night, I attended the 2021 graduation of SAYES, Business SA's entrepreneurial mentoring program. This 12-month program assists young South Australians to turn their business ideas into reality by creating a sustainable model for their newly established businesses. A key initiative since 1998, the SAYES program has an annual intake of 35 participants with a mix of regional and metropolitan entrepreneurs.

A survey of the 2020 cohort found that, collectively, revenue among participants grew by 38 per cent to over $12.4 million, and net profits have grown by 177 per cent. Participants are not only growing their bottom lines but they are also collectively employing more South Australians by increasing staff by 42 per cent.

Last night, I was pleased to announce the new two-year Marshall government funding grant program. This supports another 70 entrepreneurs to take part in this valuable opportunity and help create more businesses and more jobs here in South Australia and a much stronger private sector economy.

Last night, we heard from last year's Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Sam Ackland, the director of Build Clean. Build Clean, based in the member for Elder's electorate, is a business-to-business cleaning service that builders utilise before handing over newly completed homes and commercial premises. In just three years, Build Clean has grown to employ 40 staff.

This year's Young Entrepreneur of the Year is Luke Timmins. He is the owner and director of the Adelaide and Hills Lawns and Gardens company, which is in the seat of Kavel. The Marshall government's support for the Business SA SAYES program is one of the many ways this government supports young South Australians to turn their ideas into business realities and to create more jobs now and into the future. It is a very exciting time in South Australia for the private sector, for businesses to grow. For young people who want to make a difference, people who want to go out and start their own businesses, the government is there supporting them. We are making sure that young people have the skills for those roles.

And, of course, we have the lowest youth unemployment in the nation at 9.2 per cent. The national level is 10.2 per cent. That's because of the opportunities we are offering young people and young people are choosing to stay in South Australia. We have stopped the brain drain. They are not going interstate—8,000 a year we lost under those opposite. Now they are staying in South Australia because we have brought the opportunities here to South Australia. We have made sure young South Australians have the skills they need to exploit those opportunities delivered by the Marshall government.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I am playing catch-up here. I call to order the Minister for Innovation and Skills. Before I call the leader, I just remind members on my left and on my right that there is no general invitation to a cacophony of interjections, so I will indicate a general warning: those interjections will cease.

It is the practice to provide warnings to individual members for interjections and the Speaker endeavours to be even handed in that regard, but there is no general invitation to a chorus of interjections. That will cease. The leader is seeking the call.