Economic Development
Driving economic prosperity and quality outcomes for communities
We are drivers of progress, working at the intersection of business and community to develop economies and forge pathways to prosperity. Through co-designed and developed strategies, we pave the way for communities, businesses and local governments to thrive. Our approach is multifaceted, encompassing market assessments, workforce development, and sustainable practices, all focused at fortifying the economic landscape. We help communities to leverage and stretch. We're committed to driving growth, creating opportunities, and ensuring a future where the whole economy and its impacts are considered. Because, at the heart of it, a thriving economy is one that uplifts all its stakeholders, leaving a legacy of sustainable success.
Case Studies
Planned steps to successful economic outcomes
Nambucca Valley Council engaged Sparrowly Group to develop their Economic Development and Tourism Strategy and Action Plan with a focus on transforming the diverse region.
OUR APPROACH
To undertake a holistic and integrated approach we first reviewed all regional, state and federal strategies and plans to ensure consideration and alignment for the Nambucca Economic Development and Tourism Strategy. This was complemented with data analysis across a number of angles and industries to deeply understand the conditions. This helped us to understand the opportunities and challenges and potential areas and industries to focus the stakeholder and community engagement phase.
Using a varied approach to engagement was essential to ensure deep insights could be gathered from the businesses across industries as well as the community at large. This enabled us to stress test the desktop analysis and unpack then nuances to find the right levers to pull in developing the Strategy. The response to our engagement approach was well received by the business and resident communities.
Acknowledging the opportunities and the challenges, we synthesised these findings to develop a realistic, bottom up Economic Development and Tourism Strategy and Action Plan to create a framework that will enable their to pull and grow industry in a way that is sustainable and will encourage business and resident support and advocacy.
IMPACT
The Economic Development and Tourism Strategy and Action Plan lays the foundation for the Nambucca Valley for the next five years with clear actionable outcomes and measures for the Nambucca Valley Region to take a staged and responsive approach.
The action plan starts with grassroots actions to build trust and collaboration with the business community and the council to achieve the long term goals for the region
Small business strategy becomes local government benchmark
Sparrowly Group was engaged by Liverpool City Council to create a Small Business Strategy which included a recovery response and ongoing resilience building plan for the small business community. Liverpool City is fast growing and emerging as Sydney’s third CBD with 98% of all businesses (18,000) being small businesses. It was one of the hardest hit regions from COVID lockdowns.
OUR APPROACH
This project was a key recommendation from the Council’s Economic Development Strategy and required us to specifically consider Liverpool’s cultural and linguistic diversity (CALD).
Our initial analysis looked at regional business performance, including spend in and leakage out, business profiles and regional demographics. We also reviewed the anchor organisations (e.g. Western Sydney Airport, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool Innovation Hub, Western Sydney University) and their development plans to better understand the potential for the small business sector to leverage and grow from.
Deep stakeholder engagement externally and internally via a series of interviews and co-design workshops helped to further unpack gaps and opportunities to produce the strategy. The strategy was further strengthened through a business typology framework to inform prioritisation and actions.
IMPACT
Our action plan was endorsed by the Council and has become a roadmap for business program officers within the City Economy team.
Our approach was recognised for the role it played in breaking down internal silos and encouraging a more collaborative approach.
Other NSW LGAs are looking at this strategy as a benchmark for application as part of their economic development and small business engagement and retention initiatives.