Webinar for councillors: Small Business Friendly Council Charter
Event details
Type: Webinar
Date: 26 February, 2026
Time: 5:30pm to 6:15pm
Location: Microsoft Teams
By invitation. If you didn't receive an invitation and wish to attend, please email us at enquiries@vsbc.vic.gov.auCouncillors and Mayors of Small Business Friendly Councils are invited to join Victorian Small Business Commissioner Lynda McAlary-Smith for an insightful overview of the Small Business Friendly Council (SBFC) Charter and what it means to be a Small Business Friendly Council.
Acknowledging that many councillors have been newly elected since their councils entered into the Charter, Commissioner McAlary-Smith will cover the following topics:
- The purpose and intent of the Charter
- The six commitments outlined in the Charter
- The pivotal role councillors play in promoting how councils can be small business friendly
- How the Victorian Small Business Commission (VSBC) collaborates with councils to support local small businesses
- What small businesses need and expect from their local councils
- How the VSBC will report on the work of Small Business Friendly Councils in the 2025–26 financial year
Council executives and economic development teams are also welcome to attend the session.
This webinar will be held by invitation. If you did not receive an invitation but wish to attend, please email enquiries@vsbc.vic.gov.au
About the Small Business Friendly Council Charter
Since 2019, 67 Victorian local councils have signed the Small Business Friendly Council Charter, in partnership with the Victorian Small Business Commission and the Victorian Minister for Small Business.
The Charter outlines six commitments that local councils have undertaken to implement, with the shared goal of making it easier for small businesses to establish themselves and thrive within their local communities.
The Victorian Small Business Commission reported on the achievements of Small Business Friendly Councils in its 2023–24 Annual Report, a feature that will continue to appear in future annual reports tabled in the Victorian Parliament. To support this reporting, Small Business Friendly Councils will be required to provide an annual update with each financial year. This presents a valuable opportunity for councils to showcase their initiatives and contributions to fostering a supportive environment for local small businesses.