2020 has been a year like no other.
Around the world lives have been changed irrevocably.
Thankfully New Zealand avoided the worst of the public health impacts. But our business community has been hugely affected, with even the best laid plans being well and truly put to the test.
Companies have faced huge uncertainty, job losses, strained budgets and widespread disruption. I’ve been at the coal face, hearing first-hand from those affected and whose future is unclear.
Our thoughts are with those companies. We, as a community, might sometimes feel helpless but we can all do our bit to help.
We can continue to spend and support local businesses – ultimately keeping money moving in the economy can and will save jobs.
It’s also important to remember that many businesses have grown despite COVID-19. Indeed, the can-do attitude of Cantabrians has seen many businesses rise to the challenge and grasp opportunities arising from these extraordinary times.
ChristchurchNZ’s Economic Recovery Index, which measures the region’s activity against a national benchmark, has shown us hold up relatively well so far.
But there’s a long way to go and businesses absolutely do need support and help.
Here at ChristchurchNZ, the job of my incredible team and our partners, such as the Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce, is to facilitate support services to businesses impacted by COVID-19.
A key part of this support has been the Regional Business Partner Network, through which we have engaged with more than 4000 Canterbury businesses since March and have allocated over $6.5 million of government funding to those businesses for access to expert advice and support to help them navigate the changed business environment resulting from COVID-19.
We usually work with about 670 businesses a year, so it’s fair to say 2020 has been hectic.
This support was delivered as part of the Business Survival workstream within the Ōtautahi Christchurch Socio-Economic Recovery plan.
The importance of businesses accessing specialist advice right now can’t be understated. It can mean they are better equipped to adapt, make important decisions and act. If this is ringing true with your business, there is support available to you.
Businesses like Rollickin’ Gelato and Untouched World were among the thousands who sought COVID-19-related support.
