We sometimes hear people say ‘What’s the point of giving feedback, no one listens!’ Our response to this is that your opinions, views, and feedback do absolutely matter and does help shape decisions, but if you don’t have time we will do it for you. The Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce is here to communicate and advocate for your opinions, to provide your feedback, and to make sure that your views as part of the Hutt valley business community are heard. We regularly provide feedback to government and local government, whether this is for an individual business situation, or feedback into change that is happening across our community, our region, or our
country. We can support your feedback or needs quickly by raising your concerns with local MP’s, Ministers, or our local government representatives. We often collate feedback from a range of businesses that don’t have time to respond individually. In this issue of the Hutt Valley Business Weekly we have included a link to some changes Greater Wellington are proposing to their Revenue and Financing Policy (the rates). If you have feedback, that you don’t have time to give yourself, just give me a quick call on 021 248 1203 or email me at patrick@hvchamber.org.nz and I will do it for you as one of many voices from our Hutt Valley business
community. In this issue of the Hutt Valley Business Weekly we are pleased to share: - Business Confidence Survey - 3 Minutes To Complete
- Inspiring Our Hutt Valley Rangatahi To Discover Their Futures
- 17 New Members Welcomed To The Hutt Valley Chamber
- Greater Wellington Proposed Revenue and Financing Policy Consultation
- Financial Support For
Workers In Isolation
- Local News & Updates
- Upcoming Events
- Nicola Willis - Leadership & My Journey From Corporate To Politics
Breakfast with Chris Luxon, Leader of the Opposition - NEW Date Announced
- Upcoming Training
- How To Mentally Cope With Stressful Situations - Free Resilience Training
- Free Marketing Workshop in Upper Hutt
- Member Offers
Business Confidence Survey -
3 Minutes To Complete
Your views are very important to us so we would like to hear from you about how you are feeling about the current environment for your business, and how you think things will be across our region and across New Zealand. We would like to hear about your challenges and your opportunities. We know nobody likes filling out long surveys so we kept it short. You can take part in our 3 minute Business Confidence Survey here.
Inspiring Our Hutt Valley Rangatahi To Discover Their Futures
Supporting the rangatahi of the Hutt Valley to discover, explore and connect to their possible further pathways is one of the things we do at the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce. This week, our Education to Employment Coordinator, Amanda Walters had the pleasure of visiting the Wharewaka Event Centre with some rangatahi from our Gold Partner, Youth Inspire. Whilst here, they were able to hear about hospitality pathways from Paul Retimanau. Paul is Managing Director of Manaaki Management, Chairperson of the Wellington Pacifica Business Network, Deputy Chairman of Te Awe Maori Business Network and sits on several other Boards and
Charitable Trusts. Paul was an ideal person to talk to the rangatahi with his long history of working within the Hospitality industry, working his way from Supervisor to a catering manager at a five-star hotel and now owning and operating his own business. Paul shared his own personal career journey, along with passing onto the students some tips and strategies on how they can interact successfully during interviews, what employers are looking for in young people and the importance of seizing every opportunity, no matter how small, to help them enter the workforce. It was inspiring to visit the beautiful Wharewaka Events Centre, hear Paul’s journey and to see his words resonate with the rangatahi. The unexpected addition of scones/muffins and coffee was a hugely appreciated treat for
the rangatahi! If you would like to inspire some students please reach out to our Employment Coordinator Amanda amanda@hvchamber.org.nz.
17 New Members Welcomed To The Hutt Valley Chamber
Last week, we had the pleasure of hosting 17 new members from various industries - all the way from media production to research and development, plumbing to biotechnology, accounting to food wholesale and many areas in between. All with something in common, the decision to become part of this growing Hutt Valley business community.
Have Your Say - Greater Wellington Proposed Revenue and Financing Policy Consultation
Greater Wellington is seeking your feedback on the proposed changes to the Revenue and Financing Policy. The Revenue and Financing policy describes how Greater Wellington intends to fund its expenditure. It outlines the sources of funding that Council intends to use and the relative level of funding from each source, for each activity. A consultation document has been developed to help you clearly understand what the proposed changes are and why Greater Wellington is doing it, so you can make an informed submission. There are some key areas we are seeking your feedback on. You can access the documents and take the survey here. Submissions close 5pm on Wednesday 20 April 2022. The Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce will be making a submission on behalf of Hutt Valley Businesses. If you have feedback and would like to be part of this submission please email patrick@hvchamber.org.nz or phone Patrick on 021 248 1203.
Financial Support Available For Workers In Self-Isolation
There are also, two different payments available when workers need to self-isolate because of COVID-19 or are waiting on a test result and can't work from home. These are the: - COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme
- COVID-19 Short-Term Absence Payment.
Employers or the self-employed can apply for these payments to help pay wages. There are no revenue tests. To find out more about these payment options, click here.
Enter the 2022 Diversity Award NZ™
Last year Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce member Hutt Gas and Plumbing was the Small-Medium Organisation Winner of the Diverse Talent award at the 2021 Diversity Award NZ™. For many years they have supported Women into Trades careers after they were approached by a future female plumber and gasfitter whose request for an apprenticeship had been turned down by 25 businesses. Colleen Upton, General Manager of Hutt Gas and Plumbing knew she needed to drive industry change, starting in her own workplace. Now is your chance to showcase the amazing work your organisation is doing to increase
diversity, equity and inclusion within your workplace and put people at the core of what you do. Be part of the 25th celebration of this prestigious national awards programme – it’s free to enter and all the information you need is right here.
Keeping the Hutt Valley Beautiful
The Hutt Valley is something we are all very proud of. It's where we work, live, and play. It's great to know that there are organisations like ‘Keep Hutt Valley Beautiful’ out there in our communities supporting keeping our region looking good. Keep Hutt Valley Beautiful is a charitable trust that supports efforts to keep our region looking its best. Their many volunteers do beach clean up’s, clean our waterways, streets and help maintain our parks. Businesses can get involved too. Recently staff from one organisation helped clean up the river bank as part of their team-building exercise. If you would like to help you can check all of their great work and connect with them through their Facebook Page.
Finding Staff To Support You Through Omicron
We expect that many businesses will have developed business continuity plans to support your business through any disruption created by the Omicron variant. You may be splitting your teams in some way if you can, or simply planning for the disruption of staff needing to isolate. This may mean you need staff for short periods of time to provide some cover. We can help with this. The Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Jackson Street Programme have worked with the Ministry of Social Development to come up with a way to help: - Match employers with someone on the Jobseeker benefit for whatever length of time required. i.e. a day, a
week or more
- Streamline the process with only a few details required
- Eligibility for the MSD Wage Subsidy if the employment turns out to be longer term.
To view a summary of this opportunity click here.
2022 Civic Award Nominations Are Now Open - Nominations Close April 8th
Nominations have opened for the Hutt City Council’s Civic Honour Awards. There are some fantastic volunteers in Lower Hutt and this is a great opportunity for the Hutt City Council to acknowledge and celebrate the work that they do in our community.
There are two types: - Community Services (Civic Honour): recognises outstanding, long-term voluntary community service in Lower Hutt. There are 7 categories
- Youth Services: recognises outstanding voluntary community service in Lower Hutt from those aged 15-25
To find out more and to fill out a nomination form click here.
Alternatively, you can visit hutt.city/civicawards. Spread the word and nominate someone you think deserves one of these awards. Nominations end on April 8th at 5pm.
Nicola Willis - Leadership & My Journey From Corporate To Politics
As part of our Gibson Sheat Political Series, the Hutt Valley Chamber is hosting a breakfast with Nicola Willis, National's Deputy Leader & Finance Spokesperson. - This is an opportunity for Nicola to engage with our Hutt Valley business community.
- You'll have the chance to hear why she decided to make the transition from corporate to politics and what she learned along the way.
- You'll be able to listen in on National's plan to support businesses & our local community through current challenges.
- You'll get to have your questions answered as part of the Q&A
When: Tuesday 05 April
Time: 7:30am - 9:30am
Where: Silverstream Retreat, 3 Reynolds Bach Drive, Stokes Valley
Price: From $45 + GST
Breakfast with Chris Luxon,
Leader of the Opposition
As part of our Gibson Sheat Political Series, the Hutt Valley Chamber is hosting a breakfast with Christopher Luxon, National Leader and MP for Botany. This is an opportunity for the Business community to hear how National would support the business community in a future government.
When: Thursday 05 May
Time: 7:30am - 9:30am
Where: Silverstream Retreat
Price: From $45 + GST
How To Mentally Cope With Stressful Situations - Free Resilience Training
Chamber member Savvy Up has partnered up with Heartfulness, a worldwide non-profit to run a "Heartful Resilience" session. By the end of the session, you will: - Know what resilience is
- Know the science behind resilience
- Learn how our emotions contribute to a crisis
- Learn how we create our own reality and how we can change it
- Find out a unique approach to resilience by reducing the crisis in the first place rather than managing it once it hits us
- Experience Heartfulness Relaxation.
When: Monday 9 May 2022
Time: 12 - 1pm
Where: Online
Price: No Cost
Smash Your Revenue Goals In 2022 - Free Marketing Workshop In Upper Hutt
Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Digital Partner - Synthesis Marketing brings their marketing workshop to Upper Hutt in partnership with the Upper Hutt City Council. This in-person workshop was a success last month at the Lower Hutt session and due to high demand will be run here in Upper Hutt. The specific areas covered will be: - Top 5 marketing trends to watch.
- Marketing in a Covid and post-Covid world
- Setting meaningful objectives for the
year.
- Defining marketing’s role in your business.
- The fundamentals of a smarter marketing plan.
- Differences between strategies and tactics.
- Tips for a successful action plan.
- Free resources to help keep your marketing effort on track.
When: Tuesday 12 April
Time: 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Where: Central Library, 844 Fergusson Drive, Upper Hutt
Price: No Cost
We have several more events and training workshops coming up throughout the year. These will include:- Business After Five networking events
- Gibson Sheat's Political Series
- BNZ Technology & Innovation Series
- Business Safaris
- Women in Business Events
- Learning & Development workshops from our partners
Plus many more! To stay up to date with all our events & training, keep an eye out on future issues of the Hutt Valley Business Weekly. You can also follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook to see these events as they come up.
Jussi Luukkonen At Your Service
We are delighted to welcome Jussi Luukkonen. A member of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce. He is a Leadership Coach, Facilitator, Speaker and Author. You can read more about him on his website here. He is currently running a promotion for our members with a 10% discount on his services which includes: Coaching,
Workshop Facilitation and Presentation Skills. For more info call 021 999 652 or email jussi@jussiluukkonen.com.
Do You Have A Role That You'd Like To Get Filled?
Thank you to all our Partners As always, special thanks to all our Members and Partners for your ongoing support.
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