More funding available for business training

ANOTHER ON THE WAY?: Existing Regional Business Partners Katja Groenewegen and Jo Emerre wait to see if a third advisor is on the way. Picture by Paul Rickard

WHILE it is not known yet if the Budget announcement to provide an $8 million boost to the Regional Business Partner programme will further Gisborne’s Business Capability Voucher programme, Activate Tairawhiti says it has already seen the amount given to businesses here rise by $24,000 this year.

Activate chief executive Steve Breen said from the start of January to the end of May this year, Regional Business Partners here had issued $65,400 of voucher funding to 29 Gisborne businesses. Last year in the same period they issued $41,350.

Mr Breen said the main areas for funding had been business planning and coaching, marketing strategy, and health and safety.

“Total funding available for the funding year July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2016 is $100,000 which they have almost distributed to businesses completely with only one month to go in this funding year.”

The programme is run through the government-funded Regional Business Partners, who are part of Activate Tairawhiti in this region, and can provide co-funding of up to 50 percent of training costs to a maximum of $5000 a year for those that qualify.

Budget 2016 last month allocated an additional $8m over the next four years for the RBP programme, which earlier this year received additional funding here to support a second RBP business adviser.

Nationally the Government now expects to expand the scheme to 1000 more businesses, which will include Gisborne businesses. However, the exact number of vouchers to be allocated in Gisborne will depend on demand.

Seek to increase fundingMr Breen said the region would certainly look to increase its funding, if possible.

“Activate has put in a lot of effort lately to bring to MBIE and NZ Trade and Enterprise attention that this region needs much more funding for the 2016/2017 funding year.

“Activate is hopeful that Gisborne businesses can benefit from an increased funding pool.”

Qualifying areas for training are finance, business planning, business systems, lean manufacturing, export, marketing strategies, managing resources, capital raising and governance.

A wide range of service providers, both in Gisborne and nationwide, work with the programme to deliver high-quality training services to Gisborne businesses.

“The value of this programme to businesses is demonstrated by the year-on-year increase in businesses seeking and securing the funding being provided to them. This support is central to accelerating business profitability and competitiveness in the region, and we’re working to grow the level of funding available so that more businesses can benefit.”

The best way to get in touch with the Regional Business Partners is to register as a business on: www.regionalbusinesspartners.co.nz

Eligibility criteria for the Regional Business Partner/NZ Trade & Enterprise funding¦ Operating with 50 or less FTEs

¦ Be GST-registered in New Zealand

¦ Operating in a commercial environment and currently trading

¦ Be privately owned or a Maori trust or incorporation under the Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993

¦ Have undergone an assessment by a Regional Business Partner

Businesses should also:

¦ Have the potential and desire to grow

¦ Demonstrate commitment to improving management capability

¦ Have an identified gap in their capability that can be addressed through management capability building and training.