The world’s 5th largest accounting network, BDO, is the latest specialist services provider to identify the growth in the knowledge-based economy on the Sunshine Coast by setting up visiting offices at the dynamic Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast.
BDO Australia has taken up a visiting office at the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Innovation Centre, so it can form closer relationships with its existing Sunshine Coast clients.
Innovation Centre Chief Executive Colin Graham said the Innovation Centre was pleased to be welcoming BDO Australia as one of four high-calibre professional service firms now using the visiting office facilities.
“With the Innovation Centre perfectly positioned at the hub of what will be the Sunshine Coast’s newest Business and Technology Precinct, it offers professional service companies a unique opportunity,” Mr Graham said.
Mr Graham said with more than $100m being invested in the area’s infrastructure, together with the Business and Technology Precinct, the area would become the knowledge-based industry centre for the Sunshine Coast.
“It is for this reason, especially with the local economy starting to bounce back from the financial downturn, that we are experiencing very strong interest from businesses keen to position themselves here,” Colin said.
BDO Australia, an established Queensland firm since 1913, has a strong presence in South East Queensland, and is one of the state’s largest and most experienced accounting and business advisory firms. BDO provides both traditional and contemporary business advisory and consulting services across a broad range of industry sectors, including Government. Specifically, the firm’s services include Audit, Business Recovery & Insolvency, Tax, Corporate Finance, Forensic Services, Performance Improvement Consulting and Risk Advisory.
BDO partner Bernard Curran said the Innovation Centre’s visiting offices offered the firm a great opportunity to increase their presence on the Sunshine Coast, which was one of Queensland’s leading areas of major growth.
“The visiting offices at the Innovation Centre will allow us to be more responsive to our existing Sunshine Coast clients while also being a part of the growing cluster of innovative and dynamic companies locating themselves in the precinct,” Mr Curran said.
Mr Graham said the other professional service firms also using the visiting offices at the Innovation Centre offer specialist services in key areas such as intellectual property and patents, commercial legal services and Research and Development incentives.
“BDO Australia already have very strong business relationships here on the Sunshine Coast so they are a welcome addition to the Innovation Centre and another asset to boost business on the Coast,” he said.
For more information about the Innovation Centre and the businesses located there, visit www.innovation-centre.com.au.
Additional background information:
About the Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast:
Established in 2002, the Innovation Centre, a University of the Sunshine Coast company, aims to create new jobs in new industries for the Sunshine Coast region.
Located on the edge of the USC campus, the Innovation Centre is currently home to over 30 private companies in the clean-technology, digital and creative industries and offers world-class business support for entrepreneurs and growing companies. To date, the Innovation Centre has supported the start-up and growth of over 55 businesses, creating around 350 jobs.
The Innovation Centre facility includes a Business Incubator and Business Accelerator which provide serviced offices, high speed fibre connections, consulting support, investment readiness and networking for both start-up and growth businesses.
The Innovation Centre is at the hub of the Business and Technology Precinct taking shape around the University of the Sunshine Coast. Over $100m has been invested in infrastructure in the last two years – including roads, a bus station and dark fibre optic cabling – to help advance the Precinct which has the potential to provide high level skilled jobs for over 6,000 people in the next 10 – 15 years.
The Innovation Centre also runs an extensive program of business events designed to help local entrepreneurs to connect with each other and the University and build a productive network. Over 4,000 people have attended these events and represent dynamic and valuable network.
For more information visit www.innovation-centre.com.au.
About BDO:
BDO is the world’s 5th largest accounting and advisory network whose strong client relationships have helped deliver proven results for clients.
BDO is one of Queensland’s largest and most experienced accounting and business advisory firms, providing both traditional and contemporary business advisory and consulting services across a broad range of industry sectors, including Government. Specifically, our services include Audit, Business Recovery & Insolvency, Tax, Corporate Finance, Forensic Services, Performance Improvement Consulting and Risk Advisory.
A long-standing Queensland firm, BDO can trace its continuous history here back to 1913. What sets us apart from our competitors is the way we see, listen and think about our clients. It’s this dedication and commitment to our clients that helps us deliver distinctively different relationships and results. For more information visit www.bdo.com.au.
