Otago

The Southern Business Growth and Support Virtual Conference is brought to you by Connected.govt.nz and DigitalBoost.co.nz, to connect you with business support and services available, to all industry sectors across the Southern region. Join as many sessions as you’d like, to hear about the offerings provided by the agency presenting.

Register today to find out more.

When: Tuesday 24 May - Thursday 26 May

Tuesday 24 May

12pm - 12.45pm

Connected - Connecting you to support for your business and Regional Business Partner Network - Supporting your business to recover and grow

1pm - 1.45pm 

Kuma - Bringing Māori people together to enhance their individual and professional and business success

2pm - 2.45pm

Digital Boost - Helping your business move into the digital world

3pm - 3.45pm

Amotai - Unlocking opportunities for Māori and Pasifika businesses through supplier diversity

4pm - 4.45pm

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise - Helping New Zealand businesses to grow internationally

Wednesday 25 May

1pm - 1.45pm 

Southland Business Chamber - Here to inspire and influence business, and promote, support and encourage sustainable, profitable business growth

2pm - 2.45pm 

Great South - Helping your business to grow, innocate and make big things happen.

3pm - 3.45pm 

Business South Inc - Providing specialist and tailored business support to help Otago and Southland organisations to succeed and thrive

4pm - 4.45pm 

Queenstown Chamber of Commerce - Helping you grow your business. Support to make your business visible.

Thursday 26 May

1pm - 1.45pm 

Ministry of Social Development - Work brokerage, financial support and more for you and your business

2pm - 2.45pm 

Inland Revenue - Here to support you, whether you’re new to business or need some help to get on the right track

3pm - 3.45pm 

Employment.govt.nz - An introduction and update to your rights and responsibilities as an employer

4pm - 4.45pm 

Business.govt.nz - Tools and expert advice from government and industry, designed to help kiwi businesses

Career experts can help you to:

• make a personalised career plan
• gain confidence
• find work or training.

Spaces are limited, so email to book your spot.

Alexandra

When:

Thursday 19 May

Thursday 9 June

Where: MSD Service Centre, 57 Tarbert Street, Alexandra

Queenstown

When:

Friday 20 and 27 May

Friday 10 and 17 June

Where: Queenstown Connected Centre, MSD Service Centre, Ground Floor, Building 11, Remarkables Park Town Centre, Frankton

Wanaka

When:

Thursday 26 May

Thursday 16 June

Where:

Wanaka Community Hub, 34 McDougall Street 

To book your spot in Queenstown, Alexandra and Wanaka, email connectedqueenstown@msd.govt.nz

Dunedin

When: Every Wednesday, 10am - 3pm

Where: Connected Centre, 265 Princes Street, Level G John Wickliffe House, Dunedin

To book your spot in Dunedin, email connecteddunedin@msd.govt.nz

You will have the opportunity to meet and make connections with employees from a range of sectors, who will be available to speak to you about recommended career paths, training opportunities and planned recruitment.

This interactive and informative Careers Fair is hosted by Workforce Central Dunedin and My Next Move.

When:

Friday 27 May, 9 am - 3 pm (High Schools only)
Saturday 28 May, 10 am - 3 pm (Open to the public)

Where: Otago Taieri A&P Showgrounds, 320 Gordon Road, Mosgiel, Dunedin

Southern Group Training is looking for people interested in gaining a trades qualification in the Dunedin and Queenstown areas.
Apprenticeships are currently available in:

• Glazing
• Carpentry
• Plumbing
• Painting and decorating
• Roofing

When: Wednesday 29 June, 10am - 12pm

Where: Queenstown Memorial Hall, 1 Memorial Street, Queenstown

Email info@reap.co.nz to register as spaces are limited

Southern REAP is offering personalised CV advice and will work with you one-on-one to create or update your CV.

Sessions must be booked in advance and are delivered via Zoom, Skype or phone.

Appointments cost $10 and you will receive a digital copy of your new CV on a USB stick.

When: Tuesday 9am or 10.30am; Thursday 1pm or 2.30pm

Delivered in partnership with New Zealand Careers Expo, this free event is not to be missed if you’re in need of work or study inspiration.

• Meet Tourism & Hospitality employers, professionals and educators.
• Ask as many questions as you want!
• Discover your career path.

Where: Dunedin Town Hall, Moray Place, Dunedin
When: Thursday 2 June, 9am - 3pm 

All welcome and registration not required.

Meet with a wide range of employers, industries, and education and training providers all under one roof.

Where: Dunedin Town Hall, Moray Place, Dunedin
When: Thursday 2 June, 9am - 3pm 

www.drive.govt.nz (external site) is a fantastic free resource available to help you prepare for your learner, restricted or full driving licence test. It can also help friends/family that are supporting you to be better instructors.

Learners Licence 

The all important first step to getting behind the wheel. www.drive.govt.nz (external site) offers a free interactive road code and official practice tests so you will know when you are ready to ace your test.

Restricted/Full Licence 

Free app and instructional videos so you can master the right skills (instead of your parents bad habits), prepare and know what to expect on test day.

If you need help to access driving lessons then contact your closest Connected office and we can help put you in touch with services in your local area. connecteddunedin@msd.govt.nz or connectedqueenstown@msd.govt.nz

New Zealand has long been known as the land of milk and honey but there are a lot of other paths your career could take if you step into the primary industries. Take the careers quiz (external site) to get an idea of where you could fit in!

Even if you have never worked in any primary industry your transferrable skills can open many doors and the team at Primary ITO will help to match you up with the right training pathway and employer to get you where you want to go.

Register your interest today.

This free course is delivered one-on-one and can be tailored to your needs but sessions can include:

• Self-Awareness
• Anger
• Depression and Loneliness
• Stress
• Grief
• Assertiveness
• Self-esteeem
• Future directions

The Positive Lifestyle Programme is run by the Salvation Army in Queenstown and Alexandra.

To find out more, email hine.marchand@salvationarmy.org.nz

Find a Job is for anyone looking for work – you don’t have to be on a benefit. If you find a job you’re interested in, contact Work and Income to be put in touch with the employer.  

You’ll get hands-on experience with useful digital tools that you can take straight back to your work, as well as the chance to collaborate with a friendly and encouraging community of learners. 

If you are interested in this and more courses check out The Mind lab(external site) (external site) .

You may also qualify for a scholarship to cover any course costs.

This 3 day online wānanga is designed with you in mind. Māori Women's Development Inc has designed the course to support your pathway towards a successful business.

You will complete 80% of your business plan, gain new business skills and a network of like-minded wāhine to support you on your journey.

When:

Friday 10 June - Sunday 12 June

Where: Online

Cost: $29.97

A charitable trust, 4Trades offers comprehensive support for businesses and their apprentices.

It helps with compliance costs, payroll processing, responsibility and risk, HR and performance reviews.

Whether you are a new business or have an idea you want to turn into reality this free, online course is for you. This kaupapa Māori course is designed to help your business move forward, flourish and succeed. Pakihi will provide you with new skills, a growth plan, mentoring and connections with other business support organisations and networking with other Māori businesses.
Next intake is in May, so sign up today.

The Community Learning Centre offers a positive and encouraging learning environment. All learning is self-paced so you can integrate your study into your daily routine.

Flexible delivery allows you to complete your learning online or at the Dunedin Centre where you will have access to their computers and experienced facilitators if you need guidance or support.

Short courses available include:

• Microsoft Word,
• Excel,
• Powerpoint 
• Google Docs,
• Cloud storage,
• CV creation, and more. 

Where:

   Mosgiel Community Learning 7 Hartstonge Avenue, Mosgiel
   South Dunedin Hub - 199 Hillside Road, South Dunedin

Find out more email Jacquie.hayes@op.ac.nz or

The scheme, which is provided by Aukaha in Otago, allows up to $32,000 to an employer per apprentice, which includes a wage subsidy aligned to the Apprenticeship Support Programme.

There is extra funding to help with business support and pastoral care, so employers and apprentices can maintain the apprenticeship.

This funding can be used to provide equipment, tools, clothing and other expenses related to staff training and upskilling.

The foundation of this programme is ‘Ko wai au? Who am I? framework’ which allows you to unlock your cultural identity, ambitions and natural capabilities to identify your pathway forwards:

• Being your Own Boss - Entrepreneurship-self-employment
• Being Career ready - employment preparation/ job placement
• Being curious to learn more, up-skill - explores further education and training.
• Being a great Youth Leader and Ambassador

INNOV8HQ are based in Dunedin but as the programme is delivered via online and in person sessions this is fantastic opportunity for young people throughout Otago.

Class sizes are kept small to make sure you get the help you need to succeed.

Queenstown

Adult Literacy, Language and Numeracy classes are taking enrolments now.

To register your interest in any of these Queenstown based courses email - info.c10@literacy.org.nz

Dunedin

The following course are available:

• Digital Literacy – Smart Phones
• Literacy, Language and Numeracy
• Driver Learner's Licence
• Intermediate Computing

To learn more about Dunedin courses, get in touch Phone: 477 2055, or email info.c10@literacy.org.nz

While onsite health and safety can feel a bit like a chore, it is something to take seriously to protect your team and business. In 2020, 3,873 injuries occurred on construction sites in New Zealand, which resulted in more than a week. Learn how to protect yourself, your team and your business.

Whether you are a new business or have an idea you want to turn into reality this free, online course is for you.

This kaupapa Māori course is designed to help your business move forward, flourish and succeed.

Pakihi will provide you with new skills, a growth plan, mentoring and connections with other business support organisations and networking with other Māori businesses.

Next intake is in June, so sign up today.

Many New Zealanders jobs have been impacted by COVID 19 and they are looking for new opportunities. This initiative aims to bring potential employees and employers together with a mutually beneficial support scheme.

Provided all eligibility criteria are met the new employee receives a starter kit of farm gear and ongoing pastoral support, the employer can receive a wage subsidy to assist with training costs for the new employee.

Advertise your role free of charge to New Zealand Job Seekers via Work and Income's Jobs during COVID website  (external site)There you will reach people whose jobs have been impacted by Covid-19 and are a registered job seekers.

Once you find the right candidate register with Federated Farmers and they will sort out the rest.

Open to all this will be a fun and interactive presentation which explores unconscious bias and the impact it has on your wallet, your health and your future.

When: Thursday 26 May, 6pm - 8pm
Where: Queenstown Events Centre, Joe Oconnell Drive, Frankton

Complete the self-paced 10 course modules online and ondemand.

The 6-week programme is delivered online and focuses on how to:

• build your business model
• develop a unique value proposition
• reach your customers
• develop revenue streams
• build out your idea
• deal with legal and accounting matters
• launch your business.

Once you have completed the course book a free call with the Start Up Queenstown business mentors.

Whether you’re a start-up, an established operation or a self-employed worker, you can get support from Enterprise Dunedin’s Business Clinic.

The confidential one-to-one clinic offers:

• advice on council and government regulations
• liaison with relevant council departments
• guidance for start-ups
• referrals to other business support agencies, mentors and assistance
• information about government-funded schemes.

Bookings are essential for the business clinic, which is available on weekdays.

GoodYarn is a peer-delivered mental wellbeing programme to support the local small business community.

For more information, or to register your company's interest - email: workshops@southernwellbeingtrust.org

There are three initiatives from MBIE to support eligible tourism businesses in the Queenstown Lakes District through their recovery:

• Business Advisory Support Grant
• Advice Implementation Grant
• Tourism Kick-Start Fund 

Eligibility guidelines and information to help you prepare for your application are available online.

Your business will need to be registered with Otago Regional Business Partner Network who will support you through the application and eligibility process.

In the Introduction to Business seminar, you can learn about different types of business structures, record keeping, and how income tax and provisional tax work for businesses.

In the GST Workshop, you can understand who needs to register for GST, how to register, how to keep records and how to file GST returns.

All in person workshops are currently on hold but don't worry you can watch pre-recorded webinars.

Find out more: webinars (external site)