Since our first breakfast network event at the start of 2020 had been so successful, we decided to kick start the year once again with the same format.
A huge thank you to the sponsors of our events during 2021 -
EVENTS
Over 2021 we again managed to hold just 2 keynote speakernetwork events as restrictions and reluctance continued from the Covid pandemic.
Thursday 4 March - Breakfast with MSD - Business Moving Forward in 2021 - An Overview
Our first business event for 2021 was held on 4 March again at Red Beach Surf Life Saving Club and was a breakfast event.
Our speakers for the event were Denise Bayne and Alan McDonald from the Ministry of Social Development. We picked them because of the variety of support services they offer to small/medium business and the needs after a traumatic past year.
Denise gave us some insights into the support business owners can get from MSD and Alan, who is Head of Strategy ad Advocacy gave us some economic insights, information and forecasts for 2021.
As businesses struggle after the impacts of Covid 19 Denise gave valuable information on various programmes including how Work and Income connects employers and New Zealand’s largest pool of job seekers. Services to help grow and develop local business, include:
help to recruit staff
financial support to take on new staff
training and work experience opportunities so staff have the necessary skills
specialist recruitment services te in all areas of employment, helping to build sustainable businesses
recruitment services
providing training or wage subsidies for new staff
ongoing support and advice to help your new staff settle into your workplace
short-term pre-employment or in-work training
support to help keep or take on new apprentices
supporting candidates with a health condition or disability into work including wage subsidies, modifications or on-the-job support
support and advice for you and your staff if you need to consider redundancies.
There were a lot of questions and the presentation was well received.
This event was sponsored by Hibiscus and Bays Local Board, Duncan Building Services and Ministry of Social Development. Once again it was a beautiful morning with a magnificent sunrise over Red Beach and was enjoyed by all attendees. This event attracted 50 attendees.
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Town Centre Meet Ups - Gulf Harbour - Thursday 20 May
The second Town Centre Meet Up was held at, and supported by, Cherry Cafe in Gulf Harbour Village and was intended to get Gulf Harbour businesses together and connect directly with business owners for a specific area. We had a nice turn out of approx 12 people and had a presentation and questions from our community constable, Scott. We fielded a few queries about local business and opportunities.
Whilst the turn outs at these events aren't always high they are good touch points with many local business contacts to develop the awareness of Business Whangaparaoa. Our business database for Gulf Harbour has almost 120 local business contacts.
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Thursday 17 June - Meet Rod Jenden - Wet & Forget! If it was easy everyone would be doing it!
After continual disruption with on-going Covid restrictions our original 2nd network event booked for 3 June was finally held on 17 June with guest speaker and local businessman, Rod Jenden from Wet & Forget.
Rod is the mastermind behind Wet & Forget. A company widely recognised for its unique, quality products that are both time savers and environmentally friendly. With unique names and purposes such as Hitman, Miss Muffet's Revenge, Shower Witch and Hit the Deck. Rod told us his story and then ran us through a timeline video of the building of their new premises in Silverdale.
It was a very good evening and Rod spoke well and we had a lower than normal turn out, but not unexpected with Covid issues and being mid-winter of 35 attendees. The event was sponsored by Simpson Western, lawyers and catered by Cafe Manly.
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Tuesday 13 July - Mid-Year Christmas Casual Networking
Once again we enjoyed an evening of nibbles, drinks and casual networking at Paraoa Brewing Co. These events are a very casual affair, which we are making regular and held twice a year. The main aim is for Business Whangaparaoa to thank members for their support and offer an opportunity for casual networking as well as continue to build our profile in the local business community.
The event was open to all local business owners but Members are entitled to discounted drinks.
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Business Profile Photo Shoot - 5-9 July
Subsidised business profile photo shoot – a week long opportunity for local business people to get updated profile photos. Run in collaboration with Photo Carnival and subsidised by BW by $20 for members. A number of members and non-members took the opportunity to get updated photos.
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Town Centre Meet Ups - Red Beach - Thursday 14 October
This event was meant to be held at Curry Leaf restaurant in Red Beach Shopping Centre however once again Covid restrictions meant this could not happen.
Instead we opted to try running it via Google Chat just to see the kind of response which wasn't too bad.
We had 11 attendees, 6 apologies and had a good discussion on what Red Beach would like as a business centre. Unfortunately there were very few attendees from within Red Beach town centre businesses. Unfortunately our community constable was also unable to attend.
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Wednesday 15 December - Christmas Casual Networking
Our annual thank you to members with free nibbles for all attendees and subsidised drinks for BW members. At Paraoa Brewing Co.
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Covid disruptions continued to plague us through 2021 and therefore due to continual postponements we were unable to hold out other two planned network events in September and November. However both speakers, Rachel Klaver and Dave Wild, were able to speak at events in 2022.
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