Christchurch based Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) is offering a short-term Course for small businesses at the International College of Auckland (ICA) Campus.
A full-time, three-day course will be held from November 16 to 18, 2010, in addition to evening courses from November 15 to 18.
The Centre offers a number of services to budding entrepreneurs and existing micro and small business owners. The courses incorporate start-up training, business facilitation and consultancy, business development plans; marketing advice and reports, management planning and budgeting, finance advice, tourism consultancy and training.
SBEC was established in 1983 to promote self-employment and economic and enterprise development. It also provides specialist business training and advisory services for migrants who are keen to be self-employed or invest in a New Zealand business.
Evening Courses
Wenceslaus Anthony, Chairperson of Business Advisory Group of IAG, WA Marketing Group and India New Zealand Business Council said that the new evening courses were designed to provide a realistic overview of what it takes to start a new business.
“These courses would be suitable for people preparing for new business start-up and for current business owners who have taken the plunge and for those who are good at what they do, but are struggling to cope with the practical challenges,” he said.
SEBC Business Facilitator Lyndon Hay would share his real-life, practical experiences, providing business owners with a no-holds barred look at how to get a business going.
Mr Anthony said that over the past 12 years, Mr Hay had assisted more than 650 small business developments.
“His expertise includes start-up assistance and ongoing mentoring and training to small business owners who are keen to develop new business concepts. Existing business owners also understand the ways and means of improving their operations.
Mr Hay has more than 30 years of experience and expertise in project management, international negotiations and international trading and recruitment,” he said.
“With a lifetime of small business experience, Mr Hay has spent much of the last 20 years assisting small business owners develop success plans and strategy for new and existing businesses,” he said.
Training Agreement
According to the ICA website, the Institution has agreements with a range of recognised education, training and local government and community organisations in New Zealand and other countries.
“These agreements provide ICA with support and mentoring and enable students to access higher level training or employment,” it said.
The College has a Partnership Agreement with Waitakere City Council, through which it provides an endowment every year to the libraries of West Auckland to purchase resources that are relevant for ICA students and residents.
Job Assistance
ICA also has a Job Assistance Programme.
Although it does not provide guarantees to existing and potential students, it provides assistance to those applying for jobs within New Zealand.
Mr Anthony said the courses at the College were designed with a ‘Life Skills Section’ through which students can derive help from experienced tutors.
“These services range from writing smart and concise CVs suitable and acceptable to New Zealand employers to workshops that prepare students for jobs. Wherever possible, we provide employment contacts,” he said.
He said students were encouraged to maintain contact with the in-house Job Search Coordinator.
“Voluntary work is very popular in New Zealand and we recommend all our students to be involved in voluntary work, which provides valuable New Zealand work experience. We also ask our students to attend as many workshops and interviews as possible,” Mr Anthony said.
