The funding is delivered as part of the Regional Business Partner (RBP) Network, which connects small to medium businesses (up to 100 FTE) to specialist advisors in areas including:
- HR & Employee Relations
- Health and Wellness
- Business Continuity Planning
- Finance and Cashflow Management
- Marketing, Business and digital enablement strategy
The new funding includes $37.25 million to directly fund the professional advisory services and $2.75 million to increase resourcing within the network.
This is on top of an initial $15m invested in March.
ChristchurchNZ, alongside delivery partners Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise North Canterbury, and South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, delivers the Regional Business Partner programme. Jointly our business growth advisors have been supporting COVID-19 impacted businesses since mid-March.
ChristchurchNZ General Manager of Innovation and Business Growth Boyd Warren said the additional funding was a welcome boost for the region, especially for those still to access support.
‘’Alongside our regional partners, we have engaged with more than 4000 businesses to help them access specialist one to one advice, business mentoring, and webinars to help meet challenges such as cashflow scenario planning, identifying new markets and enabling ecommerce activity.”