Hi

As 2021 draws to a close the single most consistent message we’re hearing at the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce from many
businesses is “We can’t find staff”. In fact 56% of businesses who completed our recent Business Confidence Survey said that finding staff was difficult. Not one business said it was easier to find staff, over 50% of businesses said it was harder to get skilled staff, and 40% of businesses said it was harder to get unskilled staff.

The Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce is here to support you to access great talent through two initiatives that can assist employers in connecting to local work ready talent. These services are FREE and open to our members and non-members. They include:

Working with schools in your communities across the Hutt Valley to help young people discover, explore and connect to the world of work. Many employers are now engaging with this service as part of their talent pipeline, supporting students through the year and then offering them employment.
Working with young people between the ages of 25 and 35 years old who have lost their way but want to find sustainable employment. We do all of the work to interview, coach and match them to the jobs you might have, so you only see the people that might be great employees for your business.

We have had some fantastic results in developing career opportunities across a variety of industries, and with this success and increasing awareness comes increasing interest and opportunities for business and talent alike.

If you want to hear more email me at patrick@hvchamber.org.nz or call me on 021 248 1203.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support through 2021 and wish you, your families, and employees a very happy Christmas and New Year.

Thanks

Patrick McKibbin
CEO

The Latest COVID-19 Business Updates

HUTT VALLEY REGION IS AT ALERT LEVEL ORANGE

The Hutt Valley and the Wellington region are at Alert Level Orange in the new Covid 19 Protection Framework, known as the traffic light system.

For more information on the Covid Protection Framework click here.

AN UPDATE ON THE OMICRON VARIANT

Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) provides New Zealand with a layer of protection at our border. On 17 January, this is due to undergo change, with New Zealand residents and citizens in Australia able to return and isolate at home for 7 days rather than going into MIQ.

Ministers will receive the latest advice from the Ministry of Health on the Omicron variant in early January, including the relative effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine against Omicron.

This advice will allow Ministers to check-in and assess the next steps in the Reconnecting New Zealand work.

MY VACCINE PASS

My Vaccine Pass is an official record of a person’s COVID-19 vaccination status and provides access to places within New Zealand that require proof of vaccination under the new COVID-19 Protection Framework.

For more information and to apply for your 'My Vaccine Pass' click here.

NZ BUSINESS PASS VERIFER

The Ministry of Health's NZ Pass Verifier scans and verifies your customers. It is called, 'My Vaccine Pass'.

If you run a business in NZ and need to scan your customers My Vaccine Pass QR codes, download the free NZ Pass Verifier here.

RAPID ANTIGEN COVID 19 TESTS FOR BUSINESSES

Rapid antigen tests (RATs) can be a useful and quick COVID-19 surveillance tool for businesses. See information on:

the benefits of RATs for businesses
how to prepare your workplace for RATs
what to do if a worker gets a positive RAT result

To get more information click here

Accessing the Government Financial Support

WAGE SUBSIDY

All the previous Wage Subsidy payments have now ended. You can no longer apply for these, but Work and Income may still be processing some applications and making payments.

For more information click here.

RESURGENCE SUPPORT PAYMENT

Applications for a Transition Payment (the 7th Resurgence Support Payment) is now open. Applications for payments 4 to 6 are still open.

For Information on how to apply click here.

The Covid Protection Framework
Your Questions Answered !

Our CEO, Patrick McKibbin, spoke with Ginny Anderson MP about the specific details of the Covid Protection Framework and how it will potentially effect businesses across the Hutt Valley region.

They discussed the following topics:

food and beverage hospitality services
events and group activities
general retail rules
specific retail rules
close contact services
workplaces

The framework is designed to keep people safe and keep businesses operating so following these new rules is important.

If you have any questions regarding the changes to the Covid Protection Framework, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

To view the video click here.

Hutt Valley Business News

Business Confidence Survey
December 2021

Here is the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce December 2021 Business Confidence Survey, Sponsored by Bronze Partners, Red Hot Business Coaching & Consulting.

The key findings from the report is above, but to view the full December 2021 Business Confidence Survey click here.

Local Hutt Valley Business Wins At International Innovation And Excellence Awards 2021

Local Wellington company, Armstrong Downes Commercial (ADC), is the Asia-Pacific Region Winner of the Operational Improvement Award at the World Commerce & Contracting Innovation & Excellence Awards 2021.

This accolade was awarded to ADC and LawHawk for their work to transform the New Zealand construction subcontracting process.

Driven to find a cost-efficient and time-saving solution, Hebden reached out to legal automation experts LawHawk for a solution to streamline and automate the process.

ADC and LawHawk, with the support from Master Builders, worked closely together to create an automated solution for drafting, negotiating, and signing ADC’s subcontracts. A process that would often take 4 weeks or longer, can now be done in 1 hour.

Read the full article here.

Inspiring The Future Of Our Youth

Mere at her Work Experience at Z Energy

Ngas at her work experience at Racetech

Meet the two sisters Merehuka (Mere) and Ngaroma (Ngas), who have recently completed Youth Inspire’s Inspiring Youth Futures employability programme in Lower Hutt. The aim of the 14 week programme is to teach young people employability skills like communication, teamwork, positive attitude, willingness to learn, thinking skills, self-management and resilience. These skills are essential for our youth to transition successfully into the local work force and we know that our local businesses want to support and employ directly from the communities where they are based.

Authentic work experience gives the young people a taste of the different businesses and the different types of jobs and careers that are available locally. Mere did her work experience at Z Energy and Ngas at Racetech. They both were both quick learners and were a great fit for both organisations.

Mere is now working as a Customer Service Representative at Z Energy with hours that fit in with her daughter. Rupali from Z Energy says “Mere has worked with us the past few weeks and has shown great attention to detail and punctuality, she has also shown that she is eager to learn new things. We are so excited to welcome you to the team Mere.”

At the completion of her work experience, Ngas was offered a full-time contract as a Lamination Assistant at Racetech”, a job that they created for her. She received positive feedback from her peers and her Manager Greg says “With the excellent feedback from her immediate peers it is very easy to see that Ngas has a great future ahead of her. The collaborative approach that she has taken to her work has added value to our team. She should be proud of her efforts. We are!”

Youth Inspire work in Wainuiomata and Taita supporting local young people into employment and education through their Youth Employability Programmes and Driver Licence Programmes.

If you would like to open a door for a young person please contact Rochelle Slight the Employment Advisor at Youth Inspire. Her email is rochelle@youthinspire.co.nz.

The Settlement Upper Hutt

Our Chamber Member, The Settlement, is excited to share with you that they are opening a new coworking premises located in the heart of Brewtown in Upper Hutt, on 1 February 2022.

In this new co-working space, upstairs you will find beautiful open plan designer workstations, a fully equipped kitchen, break out space, casual meeting space, and three private meeting rooms.

Downstairs, you will find a dedicated workshop and event space perfect for hosting those team building days, business planning sessions, training events and so much more.

The location is incredible as you are a short stroll away from the railway station, Upper Hutt city centre, and there are breweries and food trucks on your doorstep.

The space is currently under construction, but come 1 February, it will be a modern, renovated, character office with loads of natural light.

To register your interest in a space please email
work@thesettlement.co.nz.

Future Business Opportunities With Latin American

The Latin American CAPE is adding a new dimension to the development of New Zealand’s knowledge of Latin America and is enhancing our economic, trade, political, and cultural relationships with the region by educating people about the region and offering a course on how to successfully engage in business in this region.

The course starts in February 2022 and applications are now open for New Zealand businesses to apply. The course is called "Diversifying into Latin America: A Latin America CAPE Business Programme". The course features 8 modules on how to engage successfully with the region and offers tools and strategies for business growth.

To find out more information and to apply for the course click here.

Riverlink Updates

RiverLink - Making Hutt City More Resilient Connected, and Vibrant

The flooding of the river bank carpark in Lower Hutt that occurred on Monday 6th December and the alert of possible flooding yesterday highlighted the importance of the work to make Hutt City more resilient.

RiverLink is more than this though with three separate but interdependent projects that will help to transform Lower Hutt.

Progress is happening and the project is a step closer to construction. You can read more in the latest newsletter from the RiverLink team.

You can read the newsletter here.

To subscribe to the RiverLink newsletter and receive the updates click here.

Employment News

Giving Gifts this Christmas To Your Employees!

The great news is, that providing any single employee with a gift worth $300 or less between October and December, the costs are 100% deductible. However, if the gift is food and/or drink, then only 50% can be claimed.

If you give gift vouchers as a gift to your employees, the GST portion cannot be claimed on the purchase price and only 50% of the vouchers can be claimed. If the vouchers relate to food/drink, you can only deduct 50% also.

For gifts to clients, the rules are exactly the same as above, except there is no set dollar value.

If I am a shareholder-employee, can I give myself a gift?

Unfortunately no, you cannot do this. As a shareholder-employee, you are not able to claim gifts to yourself and claim them as an expense.

Do I need To make Any Accounting Adjustments?

You do not need to make any adjustments at your end for GST or splitting out non-entertainment. Your accountant will do that when the financial statements are prepared.

Why is the limit $300 For Employee Gifts?

This is set by the IRD. Anything more than $300 per quarter is captured by the Fringe Benefit Tax regime. This is something you should avoid if possible, but your accountant can give you more advice about this.

Members Offers

Members Events

Te Omanga Golf Tournament

Get your business registered today to support the Te Omanga Hospice, Golf Tournament. For more information or to register email Debbie at events@teomanga.org.nz.

Vacancies From Members

Front Of House Positions

Chamber Member Petone Working Men’s Club is on the look out for Front of House Superstars!

This is an exciting and varied role that will have you working across the Food and Beveridge Departments – Restaurant, Function Rooms and Bar as well as Reception, Gaming Lounges and TAB.

Part Time Weekends and Evenings available, a perfect opportunity to earn while you learn, with a roster that suits University Students and the likes.

As team player, you’ll thrive in a busy environment, the meaning of hard work is understood, with equal portions of fun served and a side of laughter dished up along the way!

This is a great opportunity to work and train with a wonderful, fun team across several areas of the Club, with an added bonus of discounted meals and free parking whilst on duty, this is an opportunity not to be missed!

For more information about this role please email generalmanager@petoneclub.co.nz.