Auckland SMEs focused on building capability

Auckland SMEs focused on building capability

Auckland’s small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are showing their commitment to build capacity with investment in innovation, research and development (R&D), and training to improve capability through the government funded Regional Business Partner (RBP) programme.

Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development (ATEED), on behalf of Auckland Council, works with NZTE and Callaghan Innovation to deliver the RBP programme in the Auckland region.

ATEED has delivered a 40 per cent increase in the number of business referrals in the 2015/16 financial year compared with the year prior referring more than 5,200 SMEs through the RBP programme.

Auckland businesses were referred to Callaghan Innovation and NZTE, as well as specialist service providers, networking events and to other businesses to exchange products, services and information.

ATEED also assisted Auckland businesses with 56 Callaghan Innovation R&D grants in the 2015/16 financial year and facilitated access to the organisation’s programmes and world-leading research, innovation and technology services.

586 Auckland companies received NZTE Capability Development Vouchers which helped business owners and managers to grow their capability to build successful companies.

ATEED General Manager Business, Innovation and Skills, Patrick McVeigh, says Auckland has the highest concentration of SMEs in New Zealand, with these businesses playing a crucial role in driving the region’s economic growth and embedding a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.
“Supporting Auckland companies with R&D, and helping them to build capability through all stages of their journey - from budding entrepreneurs to fulfilling the ambitions of established businesses - is vital for business growth.
“Growing businesses will create new money and new jobs for Auckland which will benefit the regional economy and New Zealand as whole,” he says.
ATEED’s Business and Innovation Advisors offer Auckland SMEs free advice on how to find support to grow their business so they can reach their goals more quickly.

To assist with this, ATEED has recently launched a new Business Support Helpdesk through which businesses can easily access free help and support from Business and Innovation Advisors located in North, South, West and Central Auckland, or get advice on other suitable support services.
For further information call 09 365 0510 or business.ateed@aucklandnz.com.

Ends

notes to editor
• Established in 2010, the RBP programme is a network of 14 regionally-based organisations that provide information and advice to SMEs to support growth and innovation. The organisations are contracted by government to support SMEs to engage in management capability improvement, R&D, and link them to the New Zealand Business Mentors programme.
• The RBP supports businesses to improve their productivity and understand how innovation and investment in R&D can propel their business forward.
• The RBP aims to improve management practices by understanding the businesses’ objectives, identifying their needs and co-funding training and early-stage R&D that align with the businesses goals. It is jointly managed by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) and Callaghan Innovation.
• The RBP has four elements:
o a regional network of business advisors, who provide:
a business capability assessment and information service including approving training vouchers
an extension of Callaghan Innovation’s customer management team
general business assistance and a ‘one stop shop’ source of information on central and local government support in the regions.
o NZTE management capability training vouchers can be approved for eligible SMEs which provide 50 per cent government co-funding up to $5,000 per annum, to use with a training provider of their choice, and
o Callaghan Innovation R&D Getting Started grants are approved by RBP advisors (40 per cent government co-funding up to $5,000 per annum). RBP advisors can also support businesses to apply for larger R&D project grants (up to $250k).
o Business Mentors New Zealand (added in 2016) which supports the delivery of one-to-one mentoring by volunteer mentors for SME business owners and start-ups in local communities.
• The RBP programme also promotes development of the training market by incentivising SMEs to purchase training and advisory services and in turn, incentivise providers to increase the range and quality of their services.

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