Rotorua non-profits offered free business training programme

Kihi Wihapi, Cori Maroroa and Megan Kusabs from the Graeme Dingle Foundation. Photo / Supplied.

Rotorua based charities and non-profits are being encouraged to participate in a free business training programme, designed to help set them up for long term success.

The 12-week training programme is run in partnership between Rotorua X and Firestation, a central north island Business Growth Centre.

Programme director Darren McGarvie said these programmes have a proven track record and cater for all ages and stages of business and non-profits.

"Regardless of whether an organisation is for profit or a non-profit they still need strong foundations in place to be successful."

He said the support of the Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust allows them to offer free places for non-profits.

Subsidised places were also available for commercial businesses.

More than 180 organisations had gone through these programmes across Rotorua, Kawerau, South Waikato and Taupo.

The programmes included group-based training, group review sessions where participants shared challenges and successes and one-on-one business coaching sessions.

Megan Kusabs, the regional manager of the Graeme Dingle Foundation Rotorua recently completed the programme and encouraged other non-profits to do the course.

Kusabs said they were already seeing the benefits and the programme had triggered a turning point in the foundation.

"The best part was the opportunity to build confidence in areas of business management I have limited experience with. The facilitators made all the content feel very accessible."

Applications close Monday 18 March, with the programmes starting early April. For more information or to apply here.