More companies join work initiative

Analytical Research Laboratories manager Rebecca Withnall, pictured with technician Thomas Harvey, said gains are already evident from the High Performance Work Initiative. Photo / Paul Taylor

Another 10 companies are making gains thanks to the 2016 High Performance Work Initiative (HPWI).

It is the fourth 12-month HPWI programme brought to the region by economic development agency Business Hawke's Bay (BHB) with support from Hastings District Council, having secured funding through Callaghan Innovation.

This year's participants are from a range of sectors including manufacturing, engineering, packaging and processing.

The programme, delivered by consultant Glenn Manahi's company Smarter, Better Faster, is customised for each company.

"We've developed streamlined processes to work with each business one-on-one and already together we're identifying areas of waste and creating efficiencies within each business," he said.

Awatoto company Analytical Research Laboratories manager Rebecca Withnall said the soil, water and plant-testing company was already seeing gains "and now wonder why we didn't think about working with a specialist management consultant sooner".

She said focusing on business management was "absolutely invaluable" and networking with the "massively diverse" participants enlightening.

"Because we're not competitors in the same industries we can openly and freely talk together and learn from each other."

To be eligible for HPWI, a business must be ambitious to grow, employ more than 10 staff, be involved in exporting or the export supply chain, and co-fund the programme cost.

BHB CEO Susan White said other productivity and innovation programmes were available to local businesses including Callaghan Innovation's Better by Lean, a two-day workshop and coaching programme that looks at development processes, workflows, supply chains, production lines, distribution channels and customer touchpoints, to boost the competitiveness and performance of a business.

The next Better by Lean Hawke's Bay workshop is being held at the Hawke's Bay Business Hub on May 24 to 25 and is "geared to business owners, innovators, leaders and senior managers who want to improve productivity, reduce waste and enhance customer experience".