The Alternative Board will provide help to up and coming entrepreneurs in Hawke's Bay

The Alternative Board NZ founder Stephen James with Hawke's Bay branch co-director Russell Jaggard. Photo / Paul Taylor

A pair of well-known Hawke's Bay businessmen are teaming up in a new venture hoping to boost business effectiveness across the region.

Officially launched in Napier last week, the business (called the Alternative Board) brings together Hawke's Bay businessmen Wayne Baird and Russell Jaggard, who will now start a series of meetings with local business owners and entrepreneurs to explain the concepts behind the business.

"These will be held in Hastings, Napier and Waipukurau over a two-week period," Baird said.

Both men had been involved in owning and managing a diverse range of companies locally, as well with national and international-based organisations and Baird said both men felt that they wanted to re-focus on Hawke's Bay.

"Russell and I decided last year that we would focus on working with Hawke's Bay companies that wanted our help to attain both their business and personal visions," he said.

"We researched to find out what was available to assist us with achieving this goal and the Alternative Board matched our criteria in every way."

Jaggard said the Alternative Board operated by harnessing the collective wisdom of other fellow business owners to provide a platform to make that journey a much better one.

"Like any new business it's important we show the value of what we're able to do. It's for this reason we will be inviting the owners of local businesses to join us in small groups during May to experience this for themselves.

"The processes and support provided by the Alternative Board and other business owners will absolutely get businesses to where they want to be faster, and in a way that could never be achieved on their own."

The Alternative Board was launched by US entrepreneur Allen Fishman 28 years ago and is now represented in over 250 regions and 18 countries.

The Alternative Board came to New Zealand in 2012, starting off in Auckland under Stephen James. It has since established itself in Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Wellington and Christchurch.

James said he was delighted there would now be a presence in Hawke's Bay.

"We've been searching for an owner for the Hawke's Bay region for some time now and I'm very excited to have Wayne and Russell as the team that will represent our brand in one of the fastest-growing parts of New Zealand.

"Once established in Hawke's Bay Wayne and Russell will be launching in Taupo, Gisborne and Wairarapa.

"With over 9000 businesses in those territories combined, they both see significant growth in the number of boards being established and this will add significant additional income to the region's GDP."

Baird added that reaction to the company's presence in other regions had been "very positive" with people reporting increased profitability, greater confidence in their future, and a detailed vision and plan both personally and for their business.

He was very confident that the region's SMEs would be receptive to the concept.

"We have already met a number of local business owners and the feedback has been very positive. What we offer is very much demonstrated in the return on investment they will achieve - having the collective wisdom of their peers is hugely beneficial in many ways."

Businesses joining up with branches elsewhere came from a wide-range of backgrounds.

"Most of them are very successful and common reasons for joining a board have been to accelerate growth, acquire new clients, develop and deliver a sound business plan, expand and hire new staff and so on. There are also some business owners who also want help to head in a better direction as well and being part of the Alternative Board can help with all of this.

"The unique aspects of being part of a peer group in a board environment is something we believe business in the region will be attracted to. Business ownership can be a very lonely journey when you have responsibilities to your employees and their families clients, suppliers and other stakeholders, as well as wanting to be a positive contributor to your local community. "