From roles in finance to activating business growth

NEW GROWTH ADVISER: Activate Tairawhiti new business growth adviser Wendy Gatley. Picture by Paul Rickard

Activate Tairawhiti’s new business growth adviser comes with a CV that covers the length of New Zealand.

Wendy Gatley signed on as AT’s new business growth adviser (BGA) last month, and is loving the diversity and energy of the businesses and business people she is interacting with — and the fact this region has potential for growth.

“I have worked in the financial services sector for more than 20 years, from product development right through to distribution management, with a focus on third party distribution,” she said.

Her resume boasts the likes of ANZ, ASB, Sovereign and AIA, and it is not light on volunteer hours either — including pro-bono work for the Assistance Dogs New Zealand Trust and the Tauranga Art Gallery Trust.

Giving back was part of what attracted Mrs Gatley to the role with AT.

“This job is a chance to help the community grow and support businesses to create employment opportunities.

“A role like this adds a lot of value to a region. Business growth advisers provide constructive help at whatever stage and more importantly, ensure your business is sustainable.”

As a BGA, Mrs Gatley works through the national Regional Business Partner programme.

Her purpose is to enable businesses to compete and prosper through several avenues, whether it be business planning, attracting capital, accessing national networks of skills and expertise through Callaghan Innovation and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, and business development services via capability voucher funding.

NZTE’s Capability Development Voucher Scheme can pay for up to 50 percent of company training costs, and is open to all businesses from one-man bands and sole-traders, to small-to-medium enterprises.

In the last financial year, AT distributed $148,000 in capability vouchers to local businesses.

BGAs run in-region events to better assist the business sector too, like Export Essentials, Lean workshops, TechWeek and Tairawhiti PopUp Business School.

Clients can also join the RBP Business Mentor Programme through Mrs Gatley.

At present, there are 16 local mentors on the AT books who provide one-on-one advice.

Mrs Gatley said she originally moved to the region, after 11 years in Auckland, because her husband Adam grew up here.

“Adam has always wanted to come home. We have been here 18 months now — it feels friendly and with the proximity to so many amazing white-sand beaches, I am not complaining.

“In terms of small or smaller businesses, I understand how they work — that is where most of my background sits.

“I am loving the diversity too, from IT to horticulture and agriculture, there is a lot going on here.

“It is exciting.”

The region still had room for growth.

“Value-added products are what businesses are wanting to make more of and this is something I can help them achieve, sooner rather than later.

“Everyone I have met or worked with to date has been so active and engaged, it is clear as a business community we have the appetite for growth.

“I get a lot of energy from being around other people. I love helping and seeing others succeed.”