Go For Growth, Urges Icehouse

Go For Growth, Urges Icehouse

How to get 'from good to great' is clearly a top business priority for emerging exporters, according to ICEHOUSE CEO Andy Hamilton, who reports that advance registrations are coming in fast for the 321 Go Global seminars being held nation-wide next month.

321 Go Global has the backing of exporting hotshots like Navman's Peter Maire and Bill Day of Seaworks, who will be amongst the high profile business leaders sharing their war stories at the seminars in November in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

The programme is a new initiative for business accelerator The ICEHOUSE, founded three years ago by the University of Auckland Business School. "It's a logical rounding out of our growth programmes, fitting between our incubator for start-up companies and the successful Owner Managers Programme for more established businesses," says Andy Hamilton.

Hamilton says Kiwi businesses should be ultra-aggressive in seizing business growth and wealth creation opportunities. This philosophy has been a driving force in developing The ICEHOUSE business growth programmes.

A recent survey of participants in the Owner Managers Programme (OMP) found participants companies had achieved on average 30% growth in net profit and increased turnover of 24% (compared to -1% and 11% for all New Zealand companies).

According to Andy Hamilton, research results showed there are still distinct barriers to SME growth, that are not being addressed effectively. This became a driving force in the development of The ICEHOUSE suite of business growth programmes.

Business programmes such as 321 Go Global help emerging and high growth companies become successful in offshore markets, and establish an international business, based in New Zealand, but operating across a number of countries.

Industry sectors identified by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise as offering the greatest potential for growth, (ICT, biotech, creative, marine, niche manufacturing, and tourism) are showing the most interest in the 321 Go Global programme to date, which will kick off with three regional workshops in November, followed by three, 3 day blocks in early 2004.

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