This was highlighted in a submission by the Parramatta-based Regional Development Australia – Sydney, to the Professional Services Industry Action Plan being developed.by the NSW government.
RDA Sydney undertook a series of workshops in Western Sydney, in 2011,with financial, property, professional services and industries.
In addition to the image problem, feedback included:
- Professional services were Sydney-CBD centric and would benefit from an increased presence in areas such as Parramatta, Norwest, Penrith, Campbelltown and Liverpool.
- The sector’s presence in these areas could contribute to the establishment of business parks, close to existing transport and infrastructure.
- Greater coordination between industry and government in the development of strategies to address current and future skill shortages, which was most evident in the west and south-west.
“There is a need for the NSW government (Trade and Investment) to commission research into why large financial companies such as PWC Ernst & Young and KPMG withdrew from Parramatta and have a very limited presence in Greater Western Sydney to ensure issues and known and addressed,” the submission said.
A recommendation was that the NSW government facilitates local regional centres, for example, Parramatta, the Hills, Penrith, Liverpool and Campbelltown LGAs, to work collectively to raise their profile and promote their business assets and capabilities to demonstrate the need for finance companies to reside in these locations and operate locally.
