Kia ora ,

Last week we had the chance to take a group of business people to the new Torpedo7 flagship store in Petone which opened earlier this year. It's very flash and is a great asset for our community.

The purpose of the visit was to see the store and allow our members to get some great deals. Members were shopping up large and saving hundreds of dollars. One of our members saved over $1,000 on the night.

These deals and many more are accessible through the Hutt Chamber App which is now available to you and your staff. The App already has some awesome deals including:

• Noel Leeming
• 2degrees
• Welly Collective – 20% additional value on voucher purchases
• Fig Tree Café – 2-for-1 deals every day
• Sprig and Fern Petone – Special deals on Wednesdays
• Café Soleil – 2-for-1 deal Tuesdays
• Cutlers Entertainment – Cheesy Tuesdays
• Cupcakes Sweeties – 10% off
• Sweet Escape – Gifts with purchases
• Hireace – 15% off
• Goody Goodness
• Bella La Vie
• Torpedo7

There are also some great services from Scale Studios, Excio, Vaeg, Revive Employee Support, Jolly Billboards, D-fluff Insulation, The Settlement, Rambler Coachlines, 2Fathers Driver Training, Morden and more.

Just use the QR code below to get up and running on the App and get some great deals from retailers in your local community. Share the QR with your staff. They are all eligible to get great deals.

If you would like to get an offer on the App just let me know and I will come and discuss this with you.

In this edition of the Hutt Valley Business Weekly:

• Chamber Updates
• Missed out on our Finalists Function?
• Local & Regional News
• Productivity Commission - Improving Economic Resilience
• Sustainability Stimulus Grant now open
• Partnering for Change
• Business Continuity Planning Workshop
• Upcoming Events & Training Workshops
• Fri 18 Nov 22: 2degrees Wellington Regional Business Excellence Awards 2022 - Official Gala Dinner
• Tue 29 Nov 22: Climate Change and Your Business
• Member Offers 
• From The Settlement, Goody Goodness, Torpedo7 & Noel Leeming

CHAMBER UPDATES

Missed out on our Finalists Function?

Relive the moment. Play the video above to take a peak at our Finalists Function we held just under 2 weeks ago.

The list of finalists is on our website. You can view them here. 

Thank you to Waihanga Ara Rau for sponsoring this event and Lane Street Studios for providing us with a space on short notice to accommodate our 150 attendees.

Thank you to our category sponsors for joining us on the night and awarding our Finalists with their certificates. Upper Hutt City Council, Hutt City Council, Open Polytechnic / Te Pukenga, Pertronic, BNZ, CentrePort, The Sebel, PKF Kendons, and Wellington Water

Lastly, a massive thanks to all attendees and guests for making it a memorable and fun evening. We look forward to doing it again (bigger and better) next week at our Official Awards Gala Evening at the Lower Hutt Events Centre. With only a few seats left, this will be a sold-out event.

Online registrations are now closed. If you would like to purchase one of the very last few remaining seats please email our Events and Training Coordinator Annette at annette@hvchamber.org.nz. Visit our Gala Dinner page for more info.

LOCAL & REGIONAL NEWS

Productivity Commission - Improving Economic Resilience

The Government has asked the Productivity Commission to undertake an inquiry into the resilience of the New Zealand economy to supply chain disruptions.

The Government wants to identify what policies and interventions can enhance the resilience of New Zealand’s economy and living standards to persistent disruptions.

The Commission will apply its independent analytical capacity and work with stakeholders to define resilience, identify significant or systemic vulnerabilities, and examine current arrangements. From this, the Commission will explore which policies and what choices might assist in anticipating, preparing for, responding to, recovering, and learning from supply chain disruptions.

What's next?

To enhance the resilience of our economy to external shocks, the Commission will investigate: 

• factors that make the New Zealand economy vulnerable to supply chain disruptions within the context of increasing risks and the pandemic experience;
• vulnerabilities from importer and exporter dependencies on global supply chains; 
• a Te Ao Māori perspective on resilience considering He Ara Waiora dimensions and how it applies within Māori businesses and communities;
• drivers of variation in firm, sector, and community, resilience to supply chain disruptions.

The Commission will publish an issues paper, presenting our initial thinking on/framing of the inquiry for public comment, followed by a final report or reports, which must be submitted to each of the referring Ministers by 15 February 2024.

You can read the Terms of Reference here.

The Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce will keep you up to date on this important work and ensure that we provide an opportunity for your views to be heard.

Sustainability Stimulus Grant - Now Open

Have you got an idea for a sustainable project/initiative, but are lacking funding?  Perhaps your business has some sustainability goals it's trying to work towards.  Great news — the Sustainability Stimulus Grant is up and running for round two, and we’ve got funding to put towards projects that can benefit the Upper Hutt Community.

Last year we funded all sorts of things — an innovative app, an indigenous reforestation project, water saving projects, food programmes, pest programmes, and a Centre of Regenerative Learning.

What: Funding is available to projects/initiatives that support the goals of the Sustainability Strategy and benefit Upper Hutt.  Minimum grant size is $5,000, up to 40% of the project cost. For some of the bigger projects, there may be opportunity to partner with other groups for additional funding.

Who: Businesses, individuals and organisations may apply.  There are a couple of restrictions: funding will not be allocated to government agencies (including schools), events or operational costs (eg marketing, training, insurances etc).

When: Applications are open until 28 February 2023.

Where: There are no restrictions as to where projects can take place, but applications must support the goals of the Sustainability Strategy, and benefit Upper Hutt.

Why: To provide funding to assist projects which meet the goals of the Sustainability Strategy.

How: Apply online.

Partnering for Change

Our Land and Water, and Scarlatti, are recruiting some businesses to get involved in their Partnership for Change project. They are looking for businesses that are willing to co-design environmental and sustainability outcomes.

Why would you participate:

• Free consultation(s) with environmental experts who can support you and your business
• Free mentorship for strategy and action planning towards your own environmental plan
• And many more benefits

If you would like to participate in some upcoming workshops and co-design your environmental plan, please contact Kate Gear at kate.gear@scarlatti.co.nz  

Business Continuity Planning Workshop

A Business Continuity planning workshop will be held in the Hutt Valley on Friday 18^th November for small to medium businesses.

During the workshop, you will learn about the basics of business continuity planning and start to create a plan that meets your needs. We will draw on lessons from experiences in Christchurch, COVID and international research from other disasters. 

• Identify the actions needed to prepare your business to survive disruptions
• Look at the ways your business or organisation could adapt after a disaster
• Make a start on your plan using our simple business continuity plan template
• Meet other businesses and organisations in your area and share your ideas

The details of the event are:
When: Friday 18^th of November
Time: 9am - 12pm
Location: 25 Laings Road, Lower Hutt
Spaces: Limited to 25 people

Drinks and refreshments will be provided.

To register please go to: https://www.getprepared.nz/organisations/business-continuity-planning-workshops/

EVENTS & TRAINING

Climate Change and Your Business

When: Tuesday 29 November 2022 | 8am - 9:15am
Where: Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, Lvl 3, 15 Daly St
Cost: No Cost

Climate change is here. In the Hutt Valley, we have had one of the wettest winters on record which has seen many hundreds of slips affecting households and travel.

This session will provide information, tools and tips for a business thinking about their action to tackle climate change.

Topics include:

• How small-medium businesses might measure, reduce and offset carbon emissions
• Sustainable business loans to support your business
• Q&A

Speakers from: EKOS, Hutt City Council, Kiwibank and Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce

MEMBER OFFERS

Wrap Up 2022 At The Settlement

Settle in for the rest of the year at The Settlement Upper Hutt and give coworking a go - on them. 

As a member of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, they’re inviting you to join them at The Settlement Upper Hutt as a hotdesker for the rest of 2022. Try hybrid working to round off the year and set yourself up for the best start in 2023. 

Come and go as you please anytime from 8:30am to 5pm Monday to Friday - whether you settle in for a coffee and an hour of work, or stick around for a whole day, the choice is yours. 

It’s also a great spot to meet your clients for a cuppa or bring the team together for a catch up. 

Register now and get involved.
Just email Kylie: kylie@thesettlement.co.nz or call 0212880645. 

Get Your Corporate Christmas Gifts Sorted With Curated NZ Made Products

This year, choose a gift for your team members and clients that shows your business cares… a beautiful gift box filled with artisan, eco-friendly, New Zealand-made products curated by Lower Hutt business Goody Goodness. 

For every order placed by November 15th over $500.00, they will add a complimentary gift box to your order. They'll also deliver free of charge to your workplace.

By working with Goody Goodness you are not only supporting a small, eco-friendly business based in the Hutt Valley, you are also supporting local, sustainable and artisan businesses throughout New Zealand!

If you would like to learn more please feel free to visit the Goody Goodness website here or email hello@goodies.nz directly. 

You are also welcome to visit the shop at 179 High Street, Hutt Central which is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. 

Want More Member Offers?

To see a list of all our member's offers visit our Members Marketplace on our website to see a variety of deals we have from our members for both members only and anyone.

EMPLOYMENT

Do You Have A Role That You'd Like To Get Filled?

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

Thank you to all our Partners

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