Tauranga chamber chief executive Stan Gregec
The Tauranga Chamber of Commerce has been selected to lead the delivery of the Government's Regional Business Partnership for the next five years, renewing its current role.
The Tauranga chamber will work with the Rotorua and Eastern Bay chambers of commerce to deliver the programme, together with regional partners ExportNZ BOP and the Poutama Trust.
Tauranga chamber chief executive Stan Gregec said a new development was the addition of delivery of Business Mentors New Zealand services by the regional partner.
"The mentors programme, which used to operate separately, has now been incorporated into the main programme.
"This means we can be a much more efficient one-stop shop for all the government assistance programmes that are on offer in the BOP for local businesses."
Mr Gregec said the selection of the chamber to once again lead the delivery of the programme in the BOP signified confidence in the organisation's reach of SMEs in the region.
"And it allows us to add significant value to those relationships."
Rotorua chamber chief executive Darrin Walsh said the programme made a very solid contribution to the region's business growth.
Since 2011, 734 SMEs have benefited from the programme across the wider BOP.
The funding supports the chamber's business adviser programme, which includes regional business adviser Jason Stockdale and a support team in Tauranga, and Phil Becker, based in the Rotorua chamber, who also advises the Eastern Bay chamber. Regional Business Partners were local hubs of business development knowhow, and research and development expertise for companies, said Small Business Minister Craig Foss, in announcing the new programme, which kicks off in January 2016.
"Of particular value is the work by business advisers who use their local knowledge and links to the business community to work with each business, identifying their development needs and increasing their ability to carry out key activities."
The programme has four main elements:
-Assessment and advice: Business advisers within each region assess businesses' needs and provide direct advice, connections and support.
-NZTE Vouchers: Capability Development Vouchers allocated to clients to fund up to 50 per cent of the cost of specialist business support and training (up to $5000 per voucher), with participating companies funding the balance.
-Callaghan Innovation R&D support: R&D Getting Started Grants funded by Callaghan Innovation to pay for 40 per cent of external R&D costs (up to a maximum of $5000) and support for making applications for larger R&D project grants (up to $250,000). Regional Business Partners will also begin acting as a shop front for Callaghan Innovation's other (non-grant) services, such as technology and product development support.
-Business Mentors New Zealand: The partners will now support the delivery of one-to-one mentoring by volunteer mentors for SME owners and start-ups in local communities.
Mr Walsh said the chambers were driving the programme throughout the BOP.
"If you're interested in what's available to help your business grow, then come in and talk to your chamber."
Regional Business Partner Network
* Jointly funded by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and Callaghan Innovation.
* Rolled out to 15 regions across the country.
* Almost 10,000 SMEs across the country have so far taken part since 2011.