Regional Business Partners Funding

Are you eligible for business support funding?

It pays to find out! The Regional Business Partner Network is set up by the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment in conjunction with Callaghan Innovation. It exists to offer support to businesses of all kinds through advisory services, networking opportunities, and funding for relevant training and support with a range of local providers.

Emendas is a proud RBP service provider.

The Management Capability Fund is a government-funded initiative in New Zealand that aims to help small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) access training and development services to help them grow and improve their business capabilities. The scheme is administered by the Regional Business Partners network.

Under the scheme, eligible SMEs can apply for up to NZD 5,000 (excluding GST) in vouchers to cover up to 50% of the cost of the approved training and development services. The scheme offers a range of services across capability areas:

• Governance: obligation under the Companies Act, roles and responsibilities, governance documents
• Business planning: goals, vision and mission, growth strategies
• Business systems: information systems, record keeping, organisational efficiency
• Business sustainability: what is sustainability, factors in creating a sustainable business, understanding the implications of your business choices
• Leadership: leadership and managing people, time management, conflict resolution
• Managing resources: HR planning, recruitment, motivation
• Lean manufacturing/business operations: introduction to lean manufacturing principles, benefits and pitfalls of lean manufacturing, lean manufacturing process

A business may be eligible for funding if they:

• Have undergone an assessment with a Regional Business Partner Growth Advisor;
• Have fewer than 50 full time equivalent employees;
• Are registered for GST in New Zealand;
• Have a New Zealand Business Number (NZBN);
• Are operating in a commercial environment; and
• Are a privately owned business, or a Māori Trust or incorporation under the Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 or similar organisation managing Māori assets under multiple ownership.

To access the scheme, SMEs need to register on the Regional Business Partners website and connect with their local growth advisor, who will help them identify their business needs and develop a capability plan.

Your local growth advisors

BAY OF PLENTY | Tauranga Chamber of Commerce: www.tauranga.org.nz

TAIRĀWHITI-EAST COAST | Trust Tairāwhiti: www.trusttairawhiti.nz

TARANAKI | Venture Taranaki: www.venture.org.nz

MANAWATŪ WHANGANUI | Central Economic Development Agency: www.ceda.nz

HAWKE'S BAY | Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce: www.hbchamber.nz

WELLINGTON | Wellington NZ: www.wellingtonnz.com

MARLBOROUGH, NELSON & TASMAN | Nelson Regional Development Agency: www.nelsontasman.nz

WEST COAST | Development West Coast: www.dwc.org.nz/business

CANTERBURY | Canterbury Regional Business Partners: www.christchurchnz.org.nz

OTAGO | Business South Inc: www.business-south.org.nz

SOUTHLAND | Great South: www.greatsouth.nz

NATIONWIDE | Poutama Trust: www.poutama.co.nz

What happens next?

Once a plan is approved, the SME can apply for vouchers to cover the cost of the approved services.

We believe that in the current climate, with labour shortages as well as post-COVID adjustments, getting the people, process, and safety (including proactive psychosocial health & wellbeing practices) aspects of your business in order is crucial.

Note that there is a limited amount of funding available, so not all applications may be successful.

If you’re interested in applying for funding and want to chat to us to see how we can help, please email us and we'll set up a time to discuss what services might suit you best.

Funding Enquiry