Regional Business Partners Update: Six strong years
Regional Business Partners has been up and running in Central Otago for over six years. In this time, we have connected over 140 businesses with support and allocated over $120,000 of central government funding for business development training. The scheme has had particularly strong engagement from the tourism sector.
What is involved?
For those of you who have not yet signed up to RBP, the process starts with a free business assessment, which results in a tailored list of information, advice and possible sources of support, with the aim of encouraging business growth. The focus is on identifying the specific support that you and your business would benefit from.
Following the assessment, businesses may qualify for financial assistance for training. There is a broad range of courses and one-on-one business coaching sessions available under the scheme. To be eligible, businesses need to be GST registered, operating in a commercial environment and have fewer than 50 employees.
What support have tourism businesses received?
Central Otago tourism operators have received a wide range of advice and subsidised training. Examples of training and support include: a marketing bootcamp in Queenstown with Strategies Marketing, social media training with Jamie Roy, health and safety training with OSEA, 1:1 business strategy coaching with Michael Hesp and executive development training with the Icehouse.
We have also connected businesses with business mentors and research and development grants through Callaghan Innovation.
What are the benefits?
The scheme presents an opportunity for all businesses to improve their systems and skills as well as raise their productivity.
The coordinator for the scheme here in Central Otago is Tara Druce. If you would like to take up this opportunity or to know more, please call or email her on 021 216 6543 or tara@druceconsulting.co.nz