Building your business skills
Research has shown that many new businesses fail through lack of business management skills. Successful business people continue to build their skills and experience throughout their business careers by attending courses, reading business books, talking to more experienced business people and extending their networks of business contacts.
Take advantage of the free Enterprise Training programme established by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and run by a network of regional Enterprise Training Providers.
For details of Enterprise Training workshops being run in your area phone 0800 42 49 46, or email info@biz.org.nz or search now online.
Many other organisations also run business skills training (some free, some fee-based), including:
- Chambers of Commerce
- Industry-specific organisations
- The New Zealand Institute of Management
- Universities and Polytechnics
Private trainers and providers (search the Internet or watch for details in newspapers and other media)
Online training for small business growth
Online training is increasingly becoming a popular option with small business owners and managers. Online training has the advantages of being:
- Confidential (no need to share your business details)
- Convenient (you can choose the time to access the training)
- Efficient (you can work in your own time, at your own pace).
Effective online training is interactive (you are encouraged to input your ideas and choices as you go) and customised, enabling you to print off an action plan at the end to suit your business. Some sources:
Exporter Education
The Exporter Education Programme offers a range of physical and online export workshops. By registering for the programme you also gain:
- Personal follow-up coaching after each workshop
- Access to the Virtual Advisor service where experts answer your exporting queries online.
For more details visit www.exported.co.nz or freephone 0800 232 800. The programme also includes workshops customised to meet the export needs of specific industry sectors, including fashion, food, publishing and ICT.
