Opportunity Hamilton
Opportunity Hamilton
Opportunity Hamilton
Start Up
Grow
Relocate
Visit
Opportunity hamilton

3 June 2009

New Economic Development Agency Capturing Hamilton Business Opportunities

Hamilton Mayor, Bob Simcock, tonight launched the city’s new economic development agency, Opportunity Hamilton.

The organisation is working with entrepreneurs and business owners who are starting-up, growing and relocating businesses in the city.

CEO, Sandra Perry, says Opportunity Hamilton is building on 20 years of experience offering business assistance to local companies.

“Opportunity Hamilton already boasts a solid business support foundation created under our former umbrella, the Business Development Centre. Our team has over twenty years of experience helping thousands of people to start-up and grow their businesses in and around Hamilton. We’ve done this through offering business coaching, training and high-impact support programmes.

“Moving forward we’re now building on this experience and adding new services. In particular, we are focusing on helping businesses relocate and set up companies in Hamilton. We’re actively selling the features of Hamilton as an ideal business location for entrepreneurs just starting out, or businesses relocating existing companies,” explains Mrs Perry.

At the 3 June launch function held at The Grandstand, Opportunity Hamilton unveiled to business leaders in attendance the newest marketing tool aimed at enticing businesses and skilled people to the city. The Gateway Magazine – produced by Waikato Business Publications - is a 100-page booklet promoting the business and lifestyle benefits of Hamilton and the surrounding region.

“The Gateway Magazine is one example of the type of marketing activity Opportunity Hamilton is undertaking to bring businesses and talented people to the city and region. We’re working with a variety of organisations who will use the booklet to educate people within New Zealand and overseas about Hamilton’s positive features,” says Mrs Perry.

Mrs Perry also outlines that Opportunity Hamilton is playing an active role supporting Hamilton International Airport as it sets up a new regional tourism organisation. The organisation is also helping to grow exports and job opportunities within the Waikato aviation industry through its work with the Waikato Aviation Cluster.

Opportunity Hamilton has invested in a comprehensive website portal - www.opportunityhamilton.co.nz - to help local companies find the support they require to move their businesses forward. The website also has an extensive section targeted at domestic and international business owners and entrepreneurs considering relocation to Hamilton.

Opportunity Hamilton is funded, in part, by Hamilton City Council, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, Work & Income NZ and the Young Enterprise Trust.

www.opportunityhamilton.co.nz

-ENDS-

Media Contact:
Sandra Perry, CEO
Opportunity Hamilton
Sandra@opportunityhamilton.co.nz
07 959 8693
021 849 901

 Opportunity hamilton Opportunity hamilton
 SMEs contribution to employment in Hamilton stands at 33% which equates to 25,810 employees.  The growth of SMEs in Hamilton city between 2000 and 2008 was 31% which is above the 25% percent growth recorded in the rest of New Zealand over the same time period.  Hamilton is the home of the mighty Chiefs and Waikato rugby teams and the 26,000 capacity Waikato Stadium.  Hamilton will host 3 matches in the 2011 Rugby World Cup.  Hamilton hosted the New Zealand round of the prestigious V8 Supercar Championship in the city for the second year in 2009. The inaugural race in April 2008 attracted 172,000 attendees plus 5,000 people associated with the running of the event. The event generated $28.3 million of new money into the local economy in the first year and is estimated to generate $156 million over the seven years that the event will run.  Over 100,000 people annually visit New Zealand National Agriculture Fieldays held at Mystery Creek (10 minutes south of Hamilton), which is the largest agricultural event held in the Southern Hemisphere. Each year generates around $290 million sales.  As the centre of the thoroughbred industry, Hamilton has an excellent racing venue at Te Rapa. A national trotting track is 15 minutes drive from Hamilton in Cambridge.  31 October - 7 November Lake Karipiro (30 minutes south of Hamilton) will hold the 2010 World Rowing Championships.  Raglan is 40 minutes by road from Hamilton and home to one of the world’s longest left-hand surf breaks.