Seeds for growth of Hawke's Bay

People were given a free plant at the official launch of Business Hawke's Bay last week.

Also launched at the opening at the Hawke's Bay Opera House was www.hbhothouse.co.nz, a website that has assembled essential nutrients for Hawke's Bay's economic garden.

The business portal connects the businesses to a myriad of services and support.

For business growth there are contacts and information on e-commerce, business performance, research and development, business mentoring, starting a new business or recovering an existing one.

Employee issues are dealt with by information on training subsidies and subsidised workers schemes.

The website gives examples of companies that had used some of the services.

Entrepreneurs Ian Williams and Anders Warn were ready to launch the WilliamsWarn personal brewer, a machine capable of making commercial-quality beer in seven days.

They teamed up with Hawke's Bay based engineer Sam Wood, from ATI Engineering, who had the skills and technology to construct the machine.

Mr Wood applied for research and development funding through the Hawke's Bay Regional Council and three weeks later Nanobrewing Ltd was awarded $200,000.

Nanobrewing now exports its machines to several countries and is looking to expand.

Gains Psychology in Napier is one of about 80 Hawke's Bay businesses that turn to Business Mentor New Zealand each year.

Part-owner Stephanie Dillon says the business was established eight years ago and was already successful. She was keen to take it to another level so she registered with Business Mentors NZ where she was matched up with Ron Massey, the Napier City Council economic development manager.

It made a huge difference.

"We needed help from someone we could bounce ideas off and someone who understood the market," Ms Dillon said.

When Mardi Gras, formerly known as McEntee Hire, started out under new ownership a little more than a year ago managing director Greg Gilmour said he needed to quickly develop a competent team to carry the company through the summer event season. When Work and Income in Napier approached Mr Gilmour with the opportunity to employ two staff members through the Skills Investment Subsidy, he said he jumped at the chance and "hasn't looked back since".

The security of a six-month wage subsidy meant he gave the inexperienced pair a chance and it worked out well.

Apple grower and exporter Crasborns uses Work and Income clients to expand its workforce.

Hawke's Bay's largest family-run apple exporter has 800 employees and during the past 12 months secured Work and Income funding for 20 seasonal workers under the Straight to Work programme.

Employment co-ordinator Erina MacDonald said she had seen some staff struggling with basic life skills.

"Our workforce needs more than just practical orchard training, so by investing in staff on the Straight to Work programme, each participant can build ongoing employment opportunities for themselves once the season finishes."

She said it had boosted productivity and benefited people as well.

Swimming park Splash Planet in Hastings used another Hothouse recruiting programme.

The facility employed six Limited Service Volunteers who were sent on a six-week motivational training camp run by the New Zealand Defence Force at Trentham.

Under the programme, Work and Income subsidises half of every graduate's wages during the first six months of their employment.