Opportunity Hamilton

Important Changes to the Enterprise Training Programme

After 30 June 2010 business training workshops and coaching will no longer be fully funded by New Zealand Trade & Enterprise.

A review carried out by the Ministry of Economic Development and New Zealand Trade & Enterprise led to these proposed changes.

A new scheme will offer eligible businesses a partial subsidy to access business training and capability services. Details of the scheme are to be made available over the coming weeks. We will endeavour to keep you updated on the progress of these developments.

This new scheme is expected to be operating from 1 October 2010.

In the meantime, we encourage you to complete an assessment of your business using the New Zealand Business Capability Assessment tool.

You may also be eligible to have half the cost of any relevant management capability training course or workshop reimbursed by New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, up to a maximum of $250 GST Incl. To find out more about how you can apply visit NZTE website

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.