Westpac moves to help business owners

The Westpac senior management team were in Hawke's Bay yesterday for a corporate retreat and a function for 150 customers at the Hawke's Bay Opera House.

CEO Peter Clare took the opportunity to sit in on the bank's latest workshop offering for SMEs, to be rolled out throughout the country.

The workshops are part of the bank's Grow New Zealand programme, started last year with more than 15 forums held across the country and 1000 businesses surveyed.

The purpose was to identify what was needed for business to have the confidence to grow after the global financial crisis. Two key areas were identified - education and leadership. On-going programmes have been developed in each area with Westpac, linking with Massey University.

Business owners had asked for up-skilling of their financial knowledge and the opportunity to network.

At Westpac's Hastings headquarters eight people attended yesterday's workshop, to help business owners understand financial management, manage cash flow and plan for growth.

The workshops are targeted at SMEs employing between 5-25 people and/or a turnover of $100,000 to $10 million.

"SMEs are the engine room of the New Zealand economy and it's important they have the skills they need to be the best they can be," Mr Clare said.

"Westpac has a responsibility to New Zealanders beyond its core business and we are committed to meeting that responsibility. The Grow New Zealand programme is a key part of that."

Originally an accountant, the Australian has not visited Hawke's Bay since 1993. "I was a management consultant and I was doing some work for Goodman's baking and milling business."

He said his wife "has been harassing him" to visit with her, so she could show him her childhood stomping ground.

Kirsten Phillips grew up in Havelock North, her father was orthopaedic surgeon Frank Phillips. "We are coming back for a long week holiday in a few weeks time with the kids and staying at one of her childhood friend's homes, with a view to her reliving some of her past - which I'm quite keen on as well."

But with a toddler and a baby he was "not necessarily looking forward to the car trip".