As we move into phase two of the Omicron public health response businesses will need support more then ever. This might be information, access to Rapid Antigen Tests, support for workers in isolation or a voice to government.

In this issue of the Hutt valley Business Weekly we have tried to cover as many of these areas as possible, including how the Chambers around NZ want to send a message to the government about every business being critical.

In this issue you will find information on:

• Phase Two of the Omicron Public Health Response – including the Close Contact Exemption Scheme and Financial support for workers in isolation
• Finding staff to support you though Omicron
• Sending an important message to government that every business is critical
• Survey about the NZ Income Insurance Scheme
• Upcoming Events:
  • Women in Business – International Women’s Day Event
  • Breakfast with Christopher Luxon, National Party Leader
  • Members Wine Tasting
• Upcoming Training:
  • Free Marketing Workshop
  • Free Breakfast seminar – How to win friends and influence people
  • Health and wellbeing webinar
  • Free counselling for business owners
  • Workshop to support change

I am also pleased to share an offer from one of our members, Survive-It, to purchase N95 / P2 equivalent masks. They have stock.

If you ever need help or support I am just a phone call away at patrick@hvchamber.org.nz or 021 248 1203.

Phase Two Of The Omicron Public Health Response is Underway

Last night at 11.59pm, New Zealand moved to the second phase of the governments Omicron response.

Phase Two means the start of the Close Contact Exemption Scheme. This would allow critical workers to return to work if they return daily rapid antigen tests. 

The infographic below summarises what Phase Two looks like for businesses, critical services, critical workers and RATs.

For clickable links and to view the infographic below in a new window click here.

Close Contact Exemptions For Critical Service Workers  

From Wednesday, as part of the Close Contact Exemption Scheme, staff in critical service roles who are close contacts of COVID-19 cases can continue to work with regular negative tests.

Those who are asymptomatic, vaccinated and close contacts can keep going to work instead of isolating if they return a daily negative rapid antigen test (RAT).

Once an eligible business has signed up to the scheme, an employee who is a close contact without symptoms can go to a local provider such as a community vaccination clinic and get a pack of 10 RATs.

To find out more about this test-to-return-to-work scheme, click here.

Financial Support Available For Workers In Self-Isolation

There are 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:

1. COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme
2. 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.

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.

Help Us Take An Important Message On Behalf Of Businesses To Government

We want to extend our support to the Auckland Business Chamber and all our Chambers around New Zealand to send a message to the government that we believe all businesses are critical and all workers are critical.

Help us send this message to government on behalf of all businesses in New Zealand if you agree.

You can show your support by entering your email here and selecting 'agree'.

Michael Barnett, Chief Executive Auckland Business Chamber 

A New Way Of Protecting Workers And The Economy

The Government, Business New Zealand and the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions are proposing a new way of better protecting workers and the economy: a New Zealand Income Insurance Scheme.

It will support workers with 80 percent of their income for up to seven months if they lose their job through no fault of their own. Under the proposed scheme, people will have the time and financial security to find a good job that matches their skills, needs and aspirations, or retrain for a new career.

If you would like to send your feedback to the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce team we will make a submission on behalf of businesses in our region.

To read more about the proposals, complete a short survey or make a submission of your own click here.

UPCOMING EVENTS

International Women's Day Event:
Women In Business | Celebrating Local Women Challenging The Norm

Join us to celebrate International Women’s Day, with a morning tea & networking session.

Hear from three local businesswomen who have been incredibly successful in industries that have traditionally been male dominated.

They will give a short talk a little bit about why they choose their career path and the challenges and highlights along their journey.

This event will support Dress For Success. Feel free to bring a preloved garment on the day or bid in our auction for a selection of prizes.

When: Tuesday 08 March 2022
Time: 9am - 10.30 am
Where: Dowse Art Museum
Price: Members $45 | Non-members $38

To register for this popular event click here.

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 17 March 2022
Time: 7.30am - 9.30 am
Where: Silverstream Retreat
Price: Members $45 | Non-members $55 | Table (Max 8 people) $360 | *Excludes GST*

To register for this event that will fill up fast click here.

Members Exclusive Event:
Wine Tasting With Sommelier, Gurjit Singh

Gurjit Singh, Chamber member and an accredited sommelier is hosting an evening of networking while tasting a range of New Zealand wines including Toi Toi Sparkling Rose, Palliser Pencarrow Sauvignon Blanc, Theory & Practice Chardonnay, Theory & Practice Syrah and Toi Toi Pinot Noir.

If you enjoy tasting wines from around New Zealand and would like to learn a little more about the art of wine tasting then join us as Gurjit Sigh Barry walks us through a tasting of these 5 New Zealand wines.

When: Thursday 03 March 2022
Where: Hutt Valley Chamber, Level 3, 15 Daly St
Time: 5pm - 7.30pm
Price: $35

To register for this event on our website click here.

UPCOMING TRAINING

Our Silver Partner, Synthesis Marketing, Is Hosting a FREE Workshop

As 2022 gets into full swing, now is the time to prepare for the year ahead and put in place the marketing strategies and tactics that will ensure that you smash your revenue goals over the next 12 months!

At this session, the team from Synthesis Marketing will share the key steps to take in planning smarter marketing moves for 2022.

When: Tuesday 22 February 2022
Where: Hutt Valley Chamber, Level 3, 15 Daly St
Time: 5pm - 7pm
Price: FREE

To register for this event on our website click here.

FREE Breakfast Seminar:
How To Win Friends And Influence People

Have you got the tools to engage and retain your talent or will you succumb to the tide of staff movement?

Dale Carnegie and Tradestaff invite you to an interactive breakfast seminar on how to build your leadership and communication skills, increase confidence in connecting with others , and form closer, more rewarding relationships built on trust and respect.

When: Tuesday 22 February 2022
Time: 8am - 10 am
Where: Boulcott’s Farm Heritage Golf Club, Wellington
Price: Free

To find out more details and register for this free event click here.

How To Stay In Control Of Your Mental Wellbeing During Uncertain Times

It's not easy to run a business and deal with the effects of COVID.

Patrick McKibbin (Chief Executive, Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce) & Sabina Larsen (Counsellor & Director, Reach Out Counselling) have a sit down to discuss strategies to stay in control of your mental wellbeing during uncertain times in this FREE online webinar.

When: Thursday 24 February 2022
Time: 11:30am NZST
Where: Online on our Facebook Page
Price: Free

To register for this webinar on Facebook click here.

FREE Counselling For Business Owners

As we face further uncertainty from COVID-19 the stress that it causes especially to business owners and leaders is often underestimated.

The constant adaption to change, the long term uncertainty and the responsibility as an employer can take a toll on your mental wellbeing.

Chamber Member, Reach Out Counselling, based in Petone and Palmerston North, specialise in among other things how to deal with the impact of COVID 19.  

We encourage all our members to prioritise health and wellbeing and take advantage of the opportunity for counselling sessions fully funded if you're a business owner.

How Small Steps Will Lead You To Long Term Change

Wellington Performance and Productivity Coach, Josie Askin,
is running a trio of online micro-classes to help people understand the need to ‘think small’ and prioritise the little things if 2022 goals are going to stick. Half the proceeds of these micro classes will go to the Wellington City Mission.

3 areas to be covered include:

• MINDSET | 10 February 2022
• MOVEMENT | 17 February 2022
• NUTRITION | 24 February 2022

When:  10, 17 & 24 February 2022
Where: Online
Time: 5:45pm - 6.30pm
Price: $20 per class | $50 for all 3

To register for this event on Eventbrite click here.

Future Events

We have several more events 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, keep an eye out on future newsletters of the Hutt Valley Business Weekly. You can also follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook to see these events as they come up.

MEMBER OFFERS

Members Offer: N95 / P2 Equivalent Masks

Our Hutt Valley Chamber member and government supplier, Survive-it, are offering you a special deal on N95/P2 equivalent masks.

How To Redeem:
To redeem your special offer contact Steven. Email steven@survive-it.co.nz and mention to him you are a member of the Chamber.

Product Details:
Mask product details and specs: View product details.

Torpedo7: Family and Friends Offer

Thanks to Torpedo7, you can get up to 50% off their range of products. (T&C's below.)

Valid Dates: 16 February – 1 March 2022

How To Redeem:

• In store - Show the attached flyer. Store staff to scan the barcode
• Online - See the promo code on flyer to use at the online checkout: F68C80F57

Terms and Conditions: Discounts are off RRP. If the product is already on promotion customer will receive the lower of offer or promo pricing. Not all products are eligible for a discount. Variations in the regional COVID-19 alert levels may cause a delay in non-essential orders being shipped. Not available in conjunction with any other offer. Excludes Bikes and Frames, Electronics, Freight, Gift Cards and Workshop Services. Valid from 16/02/2022 to 01/03/2022.

Job Vacancies

Are you a member and have a role that you'd like to get filled?

Contact Andrew our Employment Coordinator. You can reach him on:   andrew@hvchamber.org.nz or call 049399821.

If you have a job suitable for a student get in touch with our Education to Employment Coordinator Amanda Walters at  amanda@hvchamber.org.nz or call 049399821.

To view more of our vacancies, click here.

Membership

Are you or your business a member yet?

Your membership includes exclusive offers, members-only events, networking opportunities with local council and other businesses, promotion across our social media channels, website, email and network, FREE employer services, FREE weekly meeting room hire, plus many other benefits.

For more information on our memberships or how you can become a member email annette@hvchamber.org.nz or call 04 939 9821.

Thank you to all our Partners

As always, special thanks to all our Members and Partners for your ongoing support.