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Educating SMEs on the business capability support available to them is a key focus for the new manager of Regional Business Partners Waikato.

RBP Waikato manager Novell Gopal joined Opportunity Hamilton recently to manage the initiative giving regional business owners access to tens of thousands of dollars of funding and advice to help them innovate and grow.

“The big challenge with SMEs is they don’t have time to lift their heads to see what is available to them. If we can help educate them about Regional Business Partners they will find a simple way to improve their business capabilities,” Novell said.

RBP Waikato was established late last year, with Opportunity Hamilton and Waikato Innovation Park jointly appointed one of 14 regional partners of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) and TechNZ for the programme.

Since then the programme has supported dozens of regional businesses, from Tuakau to Taupo, with tens of thousands of dollars funding for training, workshops, coaching and other business capability tools.

Novell’s vast global experience in the business and technology arenas sets him in good stead to manage the programme.

Originally from Malaysia, he has worked in pivotal roles for organisations including the University of Malaya and Sapura Advanced Systems.

In the mid-1990s he helped establish a turn-key radiation-based cancer treatment unit at University Hospital (University of Malaya) and later was involved in technology transfer projects for various Malaysian government ministries and agencies such as Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (Prime Minister's Department), Ministry of Education and Ministry of Defence.

Since arriving in the city he has gained a Postgraduate Diploma in Management Studies and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Waikato and is a mentor for Business Mentors of New Zealand. He also has a Bachelor and Master of Science (Physics) from the University of Malaya.

In 2008 he was appointed Administration Manager for the Waikato Institute of Education and was the Business Manager at Relax English for two years.

He has also been Station Manager for BackBeat 89FM, procuring government funding for the Hamilton Youth Education Trust station.

“All my previous experience is relevant to my new role as it gives me an insight into business planning and helping RBP Waikato clients use the programme to enhance what they’re already doing,” he said.

RBP Waikato can support eligible businesses with up to $5000 funding each year to pay half their training costs.

To be eligible for the voucher-based funding system business owners must demonstrate a desire to innovate and grow their business.

“Part of the assessment is talking through their business, getting a feel for where it’s at, identifying their skill gaps and executing a strategy to close their skill gaps with the appropriate training programme. Depending on a business’ size and aspirations, regional partners can tailor funding and support to meet their needs.”

Research and development funding support from a national pool of $75 million is available through Waikato Innovation Park’s TechNZ arm of the initiative.

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  Hamilton will host the New Zealand round of the prestigious V8 Supercar Championship in the city for the fifth year in 2012. 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.  Raglan is 40 minutes by road from Hamilton and home to one of the world’s longest left-hand surf breaks.  Hamilton Zoo is home to over 600 native New Zealand and exotic animals, set in 25 ha of tranquil surroundings.  Hamilton Gardens are a free, 58-hectare walk-able wonderland attracting more than 600,000 visitors a year.  The natural resources surrounding Hamilton - including its forests, lakes, rivers, and mountains - provide opportunities for tramping, bush-walking, and other types of outdoor recreation.  The borough of Hamilton was established on 27 October 1877 and Hamilton became a city on 13 December 1945.  Hamilton’s Maori name is Kirikiriroa meaning long stretch of gravel.  New Zealand’s longest river, the Waikato, flows for 16km through the city.  Mild climate and moderate year round rainfall keep the city and surrounding area very green.  Mean temperatures - 18C in January (summer) and 9C in July (winter).  Hamilton has135 parks and gardens and 58 sports areas and more than 1,000 hectares of open space.  Hamilton has 3 public swimming pools and over 55 kms of walkways in parks and reserves.