On Friday 22 October, the Government announced a support package for Auckland businesses affected by alert level restrictions, and as the country transitions to the new COVID-19 Protection Framework. Under this package, Black Arrow Business Studio can help Auckland businesses access:
- Advice and planning:
- Business Planning, Strategy and Continuity
- Financial Planning and Cashflow Management
- Business Model, Systems and Processes
- Business Digital Enablement
- Implementation of advice and planning:
- Implementation of Business Strategies and Continuity Plan
- Implementation of Financial Planning and Cashflow Management Advice
- Implementation of Business Modeling, Establishing Systems and Processes
- Implementation of Digital Enablement Plan
Activate Tāmaki Makaurau has been set up to connect existing Auckland businesses with that support. It is an opportunity to assist the business community to navigate the current environment and build more resilient businesses by supporting them to work through tough decisions, seize future opportunities and adapt where necessary to enable businesses to thrive.
This support could help secure the future of your business. Consider what support is right for your business now, and what will help your business most over the coming months.
Please contact us to get your business the support needed and to get the funding under this package.
AVAILABLE SUPPORT:
Activate Tāmaki Makaurau can connect your business to expert advice and support to keep you moving forward. We can help with areas like financial planning and cashflow management, or help with your overall business management, continuity, and strategy.
Business Advice includes access to expert advice, strategy and planning to businesses in the Auckland region. This will enable businesses to address their most immediate challenges, like changing target markets, financial planning and cashflow management, or overall business management, continuity, and strategy.
You can access advice if you are considering hibernating or closing your business, or are looking to scale. The advice should lead to a plan to overcome challenges and/or identify opportunities and map out the scope of the work required to achieve the plan. Auckland businesses can apply for up to $3000 + GST through Business Advice support.
OPENING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: Applications will open 1 December, 2021 (estimated date as at 17 November, 2021)
Services that are available:
Under this government funding package, your business can access expert advice and support in the following areas:
- Business Planning, Strategy and Continuity (e.g. workforce planning, risk management, new products, new markets, new opportunities, operational improvements)
- Financial Planning and Cashflow Management (e.g. budgeting, forecasting, scenario planning)
- HR and Employee Relations and Legal (e.g. people leadership, advice about attracting and retaining staff, contract law, legal requirements, COVID-19 framework guidelines)
- Business Hibernation or Exit (e.g. liquidation plan and succession planning advice)
- Marketing Advice (e.g. marketing strategies, value proposition development)
- Digital Marketing (e.g. digital marketing strategy, website strategy)
- Digital Enablement (e.g. digital productivity, client interaction strategy, operational digitisation)
- Health and Safety Advice (e.g. working within COVID-19 framework guidelines)
Please contact us to get your business the support needed and to get the funding under this package.
Eligible businesses can apply for an Implementation Grant to help implement an existing business plan or to execute a plan based on the Business Advice received. This grant will give many Auckland businesses the funds to begin putting their business plan into action, in one of the available service categories. Auckland businesses can apply for up to $4000 + GST for an Implementation Grant.
This is not a cash payment. An Implementation Grant will pay for specific services to put your business advice or plan into action. The Resurgence Support Payment and Wage Subsidy Scheme are more suitable for businesses’ cashflow concerns.
OPENING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: Applications will open 1 December, 2021 (estimated date as at 17 November, 2021)
Services that are available:
Under this government funding package, your business can access support in the following areas:
- Implementation of Business Strategies and Continuity Plan (e.g. creation of workforce development guidelines, creation of risk management templates, managing supply chains, analysis of export markets, new product development, and operational improvements, business coaching to support strategy delivery)
- Implementation of Financial Planning and Cashflow Management Advice (e.g. working capital and debt restructuring, tender preparation, implementation of reporting systems or digital accounting services)
- Implementation of HR and Employee Relations and Legal Advice (e.g. creation of job descriptions, job listings, professional development plans and training, creating policy related to COVID framework, employer COVID responsibilities, creating contracts, guidelines, plans, templates)
- Implementation of Business Hibernation or Exit Plan (e.g. liquidation support, succession plan development)
- Implementation of Marketing Plan (e.g. brand development, channel analysis, customer identification, value proposition development)
- Implementation of Digital Marketing Plan (e.g. website design, build or upgrade, including e-commerce, software integration, booking systems, content development, social media management, SEO implementation, digital advertising spend)
- Implementation of Digital Enablement Plan (e.g. implementation of technology including customer management, workflow management and online shopping tools)
- Implementation of Health and Safety Plan (e.g. creating health and safety documents, plans, templates)
Please contact us to get your business the support needed and to get the funding under this package.
- Advice already implemented and paid for (e.g. historic payments are ineligible)
- Ongoing engagement fees for existing professional services that the business is currently contractually obliged to (e.g. retainers or ongoing fees for service)
- Accounting annual returns services (e.g. bookkeeping, GST and tax returns, expenses reconciliation)
- Fees for SaaS (Software as a service) products (e.g. hosting fees, Xero subscriptions, ad spend, domain costs, recommended CRM costs)
- Capital expenditure (e.g. purchasing computer hardware)
- Consultancy services (eg: designing, developing, creating, building, auditing)
- Training services
- Mentoring services (connect with NZ Business Mentors for these services)
- Subscription services
- Conferences, seminars, networking events, retreats, team building days/event
- Personal physical and/or mental health consultations (medical or alternative)
- Services offered outside New Zealand
- Services already subsidised through other Government funding
- Catering, travel & accommodation expenses
- Examination fees/costs
- Membership fees/costs
- Any situation where an actual, perceived, or potential conflict of interest may exist
To access the Business Advice support, your business must:
- have fewer than 100 full time equivalent employees
- be GST registered in New Zealand
- have a New Zealand Business Number (NZBN)
- be operating in a commercial environment
- be a privately-owned business or are a Māori Trust or incorporation under the Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 or similar organisation managing Māori assets under multiple ownership
- primarily operate within the Auckland Alert Level 3 boundary
- be an existing business that is trading prior to 22 October 2021
V. BUSINESS READINESS CHECKLIST:
• A New Zealand Business Number (NZBN). Apply for your NZBN here.
• Be GST registered. If you aren’t GST registered, find out more here.
• Check to see if your business meets the eligibility criteria above.
• Think about the service categories available and which ones would help your business the most.
VI. FAQS:
A: Yes. Eligible businesses can register and apply for Activate Tāmaki Makaurau Business Advice, Implementation Grants, Health and Wellbeing Support and/or Business Community Resources regardless of previous government funding such as the Wage Subsidy, Resurgence Payment or Regional Business Partner Network support.
Q: Where do I find or get my New Zealand Business Number or NZBN?
A: There’s an NZBN for every New Zealand business, from sole traders through to companies, available free of charge. Find out your business’s existing NZBN or apply for one online here.
Q: Where do I find or get my business’s GST number?
A: Find or get your business’s GST number online here.
Q: What if my main operation is outside of Auckland?
A: Business must operate within the Auckland alert level 3 boundary to be eligible to access Business Advice and/or an Implementation Grant. See details and an interactive map here.
Q: Is there a fee for applying?
A: No. There are no fees for businesses applying for Activate Tāmaki Makaurau, a fully government-funded economic support package for Auckland businesses.
Q: Is this a cash payment?
A: No, this is not a cash payment. Activate Tāmaki Makaurau pays for specific services, for business advice and/or implementing business advice. The Resurgence Support Payment and Wage Subsidy Scheme are more suitable for businesses’ cashflow concerns.
Q: What Business Advice is available?
A: Expert advice and support to keep your business moving forward – whether that’s help with financial planning and cashflow management, developing your marketing strategy, or creating a digital media plan. You might choose to look at your overall business management, continuity, and strategy. Auckland businesses can apply for up to $3000 + GST through Business Advice support and the total value of the support will be determined as part of the application process.
Q: What is the Implementation Grant?
A: You may already have a plan in place or have accessed Activate Tāmaki Makaurau Business Advice to create one. Now you can apply for a grant to implement your plan. This grant will pay for an expert – or experts – with the tools and know-how to put your business plan into action.
Q: What is the value of an Implementation Grant?
A: Auckland businesses can apply for up to $4000 +GST per business through an Implementation Grant and the total value of the support will be determined as part of the application process. This recognises many businesses have business plans ready to go and can see a way forward, but don’t necessarily have the cash reserves to go ahead. This grant will give many Auckland businesses the ability to begin implementing their business plan.
Q: Can an eligible business access both Business Advice and an Implementation Grant?
A: Yes, potentially, as these initiatives are related, but not dependent, on each other.
Please contact us to get your business the support needed and to get the funding under this package.
