The Icehouse Exports Itself

For Immediate Release
26 August 2003

THE ICEHOUSE EXPORTS ITSELF

The University of Auckland Business School's The ICEHOUSE is extending its successful business growth programmes into Australia through a franchise agreement with one of Australia's leading business schools.

Under the agreement, Mt Eliza Business School will market and deliver The ICEHOUSE's business growth programmes from November.

University of Auckland Business School Dean, Professor Barry Spicer, says around 100 owner managers have gone through the various business growth programmes since the introduction of the first programme in 2001.

"The success of the programmes is illustrated by the growth the course participants have achieved subsequently in their businesses. There's been strong interest from Australia in importing the concept, which is a great tribute to the work of The ICEHOUSE. We are delighted to be exporting the knowledge of a fantastic team that is quickly being recognised worldwide. "

ICEHOUSE Chairman, David Irving, says the unprecedented international demand for The ICEHOUSE's programmes is a huge testament to the quality of its innovative education approach.

He says Mt Eliza's strengths in executive development and its national focus influenced The ICEHOUSE's decision to choose Mt Eliza as its Australian partner.

"As a firm believer in The ICEHOUSE's business growth programmes, Mt Eliza will be an outstanding partner in Australia. The agreement will benefit The ICEHOUSE financially as well as providing opportunities to enhance the existing New Zealand programmes."

Mt Eliza CEO John Harvey says the two business schools will both benefit from the agreement.

"SMEs are a critical driver in the Australian economy. We're pleased to be able to offer these innovative programs, which will provide a competitive advantage to participants from this important sector."

The founding partner of Mt Eliza's ICEHOUSE programmes will be National Australia Bank (NAB), parent of the BNZ, itself one of the founding partners of The ICEHOUSE.

NAB General Manager Financial Services, Paul Clark, says The ICEHOUSE's growing international reputation and its understanding of the needs of owner managers represented an opportunity too good to miss.

"We are looking forward to The ICEHOUSE programmes operating throughout Australia. Most importantly, we anticipate significant growth occurring in many Australian companies, joining the group of fast-growing Kiwi companies graduating from The ICEHOUSE's New Zealand programmes."

With bases in Mt Eliza, Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and Beijing, Mt Eliza is regularly ranked among the world's leading business schools for its open enrolment, tailored and postgraduate business programmes. Its client base includes many of the Asia-Pacific's top organisations. The school has close, well-established relationships with leading management development providers, including the world leader in leadership development, the US-based Center for Creative Leadership, Ashridge and Henley in the UK, and the University of Queensland, with which it delivers a suite of internationally accredited MBAs.

The ICEHOUSE business growth programmes covered by the agreement comprise:

Owner Manager Programme - designed to provide owner managers of small to medium-sized enterprises with the skills and resources needed to grow their business

Professionals Programme - designed to help professionals grow their business

Go Global - designed to help emerging high growth companies go global

Moving On Programme - designed to help owner managers plan effective exit strategies and to manage this major life transition

Since its inception three years ago, The ICEHOUSE has built a reputation for innovative business growth programmes for owner managers and start-up businesses. Established by The University of Auckland Business School, the centre is a collaborative partnership between Bank of New Zealand, Carter Holt Harvey, Telecom New Zealand, The Boston Consulting Group, Chapman Tripp, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Microsoft, HP and the Business School.

The ICEHOUSE'S sole focus is to create more internationally successful New Zealand companies.

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