Kia ora ,
Wow, What a Night!
Nearly 500 people from across the Hutt Valley and Wellington region celebrated business success at the 2degrees Wellington Regional Business Excellence Awards for 2022 on Friday 18th November at the Lower Hutt Events Centre.
The awards are a celebration of what our business community has achieved over the past 12 months. It is a real chance for the business community and our local councils, Hutt City Council and Upper Hutt City Council, to come together with their staff and their clients to recognise their success, hard work, and their contribution to our community.
More businesses than ever entered the Awards in 2022 with nearly 90 submitted entries.
The Supreme Winner from all of the finalists announced on the night was Cameron Harrison Butchery. Well done to them and their team for all of their hard work over the last 12 months and through Covid-19. You can find all our Category Winners in this issue of the Business Weekly.
The awards also took the opportunity to recognise some businesses and people that had contributed significantly to the local business community over many years.
The Hall of Fame, sponsored by NZME, recognised Fraser Engineering and Real Steel. These businesses have demonstrated over many years their original solutions, unique design of products and services, their strong client and customer relationships, processes of support, effective training and development of their teams and equally the overall contribution to their community.
The Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce inducted two life members who were recognised for their contribution to the business community through their relationship with the Chamber. These were David Percy, Managing Director of Pertronic Industries, and Mike Gould, Partner from Gibson Sheat Lawyers. Both have provided outstanding service to the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce and the business community over many, many years.
Guests were entertained throughout the night by Sacred Heart College who provided the Kapa Haka Group, Polynesian Group and Route 65 Jazz group. Wellington band Richter City Rebels closed off the entertainment for the night.
In this edition of the Hutt Valley Business Weekly:
- Chamber Updates
- 2022 Winners: 2degrees Wellington Regional Business Excellence Awards
- RiverLink
- Lower Hutt gets Jobs & Skills Hub to support construction & infrastructure projects
- Daly Street Asbestos Removal and Demolition – RiverLink Enabling Works
- Local & Regional News
Open Evenings: Come and Chat with the Weltec and Whitireia teams!
- Less Than 1 Week To Go To Score A $500 Shout For Your Team
Opportunity for Hutt Valley Based Businesses - Graffiti Removal
- Sustainability Stimulus Grant now open
- National News
- Fair Pay Agreements Bill Passes Into Law Despite Business Objections
- Upcoming Events & Training Workshops
- Tue 29 Nov 22: 6 Days To Go - Climate Change and Your Business
- Member Offers
- From Cupcake Sweeties and Cutlers Bar & Entertainment
- Employment
- In Case You Missed It: Gateway Coordinator Opportunity
CHAMBER UPDATES
2022 Winners: 2degrees Wellington Regional Business Excellence Awards
We are proud to announce your 2degrees Wellington Regional Business Excellence Award winners for 2022. A massive thank you to our sponsors and supporting sponsors for helping us bring these awards to life.
Want to see the official photos of the Awards night?
The official photos from the Awards Gala Evening will be out very soon. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram to be notified as soon as we share these.
Please contact comms@hvchamber.org.nz for any specific photo or video requests of the awards.
RIVERLINK
Lower Hutt Gets Jobs & Skills Hub to Support Construction & Infrastructure Projects
The Hutt Valley is getting its very own Ministry of Social Development (MSD) Jobs and Skills Hub from early in 2023 to support the massive construction and infrastructure projects in the region over the next 10 years, estimated to be valued at $2.7 billion
The Lower Hutt Hub will be the first outside of Auckland and will support the Riverlink, Wellington Water and Hutt Valley transport projects. The hub is supported by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, Hutt City Council and Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce. MSD is also working closely with Taranaki Whānui and Ngāti Toa to ensure community needs are met.
The Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce has been delighted to support this work. We are really excited about the opportunity to connect businesses involved in major construction and infrastructure projects, like RiverLink, to their future employees through the establishment of the Jobs and Skills Hub in the Hutt Valley. This a really fantastic opportunity for all people, but particularly our rangatahi, to discover, explore, connect to, experience, and be trained for a future in these major projects.
Daly Street Asbestos Removal and Demolition – RiverLink Enabling Works
Hutt City Council is seeking a contractor to undertake hazardous material removal (including asbestos), demolition and site clearance of 3 buildings located in Lower Hutt CBD.
The demolition project is set to be the first of the enabling works ahead of the wider RiverLink Project. The RiverLink Project focuses on urban revitalisation, flood protection, and transport improvements in Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai Lower Hutt.
Contractors are encouraged to subscribe on GETS for full access. If you would like to see the documents and don’t have access to GETs please contact patrick@hvchamber.org.nz
LOCAL & REGIONAL NEWS
Open Evenings: Come and Chat with the Weltec and Whitireia teams!
Come along to either the Petone or Porirua Open Evenings and find your dream career.
The teams will be able to sit with you and plan out a programme of study which will be tailored to suit your goals.
There are a number of different entry points into their programmes and courses. From academic achievement to special admission and discretionary admission. What matters is what the learner wants to achieve, not what they started with or where they are now.
When it comes to choosing the right programme, they will encourage everyone to start the discussion with them, with a destination in mind.
Petone
Come along to our Petone Open Evening and find your dream career. It is being held in The Hub at our Petone Campus from 4-8pm.
- Petone - 30 November 2022, 4pm - 8pm - 21 Kensington Avenue, Petone, Lower Hutt
- Petone Open Evening https://www.whitireiaweltec.ac.nz/events/petone-open-evening/
Porirua
Come along to our Porirua Open Evening and find your dream career. It is being held in our Learning Street in our Wikitoria Katene building from 4-8pm.
- Porirua - 01 December 2022, 4pm - 8pm - 3 Wi Neera Dr, Elsdon, Porirua 5022
- Porirua Open Evening https://www.whitireiaweltec.ac.nz/events/porirua-open-evening/
Less Than 1 Week To Go To Score A $500 Shout For Your Team
Less than a week to go to enter your photo for a chance to win a share of $3000. Get the okay from your boss and enter a photo of you or your colleagues in action making, creating, constructing or shipping to be in to win - and be the person who gives the team the ultimate shout.
Maybe there's some great pics in your phone's "My Photos" library already. Enter the "Made in the Hutt" category or one of the others such as: 'Hidden Gems', 'Great Outdoors', 'Hutt Life and People in Action'.
Opportunity for Hutt Valley Based Businesses - Graffiti Removal
Hutt City Council invites Registrations of Interest for the rapid response and removal of graffiti from the region.
We are looking for a supplier that has the capability and capacity to remove large volumes (Approximately up to 16,000m2) of graffiti annually, from within the HCC region.
Suppliers are encouraged to subscribe on GETS for full access. If you would like to see the documents and don’t have access to GETs please contact patrick@hvchamber.org.nz
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.
National News
Fair Pay Agreements Bill Passes Into Law Despite Business Objections
The Fair Pay Agreements (FPA) Bill has been passed into law, with the new bargaining system to take effect on 1 December 2022. This is despite business feedback. In a recent Chambers of Commerce survey, 68% of respondents either disagreed or strongly disagreed with the “Fair Pay” law proceeding through Parliament and an even higher 78% disagreed or strongly disagreed with the Income Insurance proposal.
The Fair Pay Agreement system brings together unions and employer associations within a sector to bargain for minimum employment terms for all covered employees in an industry or occupation.
You can read more about the Fair Pay legislation here.
You can read more aboyut employers rights and responsbilities here.
So should employers be concerned about Fair Pay Agreements?
Tony McKone, from Lower Hutt-based McKone Consultancy, a Specialist in Employee Relations and a Board Member of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce said ‘My view on this question is yes. All employers/business owners, particularly those in the hospitality, retail, and tourism sectors should be concerned about FPAs from the perspective that these are sectors that are more likely to be targeted by an FPA.’
Tony thinks that ‘it is likely that only 4 or 5 FPAs are likely to be negotiated per year and even then, the negotiation process will also likely take up to a year at least to conclude.’
You can read Tony’s thoughts through his recent Blogs
- One is a run through the process of initiating an FPA – what the union has to do and then what the employer party has to do. Read this article.
- The second is his thoughts on concerns and what an FPA may cover. View this article.
The Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce will continue to monitor this situation and bring you more information on Fair Pay Agreements as they are initiated and developed.
Resource Management System Reform
The Government has announced they plan to repeal the Resource Management Act (1991) and enact new laws to transform the way we manage the environment.
They have identified 5 objectives for the new system. These are:
- To protect and, where necessary, restore the environment and its capacity to provide for the wellbeing of present and future generations.
- To better enable development within natural environmental limits including a significant improvement in housing supply, affordability and choice, and timely provision of appropriate infrastructure including social infrastructure.
- To give proper recognition to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and provide greater recognition of te ao Māori including mātauranga Māori.
- To better prepare for adapting to climate change and risks from natural hazards and better mitigate the emissions.
- To improve system efficiency and effectiveness and reduce complexity while ensuring local input and involvement.
You can read more about these 5 objectives here.
How can you have your say into this significant change?
Let us know what you think and how this might impact your business. We will make sure we feed this into the work as it develops. Email me at patrick@hvchamber.org.nz with any feedback you have.
We will keep you informed about this change as it happens over the next few years.
EVENTS & TRAINING
6 Days To Go - 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
Get Your Corporate Christmas Gifts Sorted With Christmas Cupcakes and Edible Treats
Make your Christmas gift-giving easy this year.
Send Christmas Cupcakes, Macarons, Cookies and Brownies which can all be personalised with your company logo/brand to promote your business as well as deliver festive cheer to your clients, team, friends & family. Bulk pricing is available and a 10% discount is available via the Chamber app.
If you would like to learn more please feel free to visit the Cupcake Sweeties website or email info@cupcakesweeties.co.nz; You can also call us on 04 577 2962 or visit us at Cupcake Sweeties 221, Waiwhetu Road, Fairfield, Lower Hutt
By ordering through Cupcake Sweeties you are also supporting a small business in Lower Hutt!
Cutlers Christmas Cabaret – 10 December 7pm
A full Night of entertainment organised for you!
Only at Cutlers in Lower Hutt.
Full Mouth-watering selection of buffet dining, Outrageously entertaining London cabaret style floor show, with a live band.
Don't miss out. Book your office party or work drinks now! Large or small groups welcome.
One night only!
Book Tickets at the bar or online at Cutlers Christmas Cabaret Tickets, Sat, Dec 10, 2022 at 7:00 PM | Eventbrite
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
In Case You Missed It: Gateway Coordinator Opportunity
St Bernard’s College is an integrated Catholic Year 7-13 school for boys.
We are seeking applications for the position of Gateway Coordinator.
The Gateway programme gives senior students access to structured work experience and integrates with school-based learning.
You will be an integral part of the Support Staff team reporting directly to the HoD Pathways and Careers and indirectly, to the Head of Support Staff.
You will need strong communication skills, enjoy working with young people, be able to network and engage with employers and industry professionals.
This is a Part-Time position for 20 hours per week during the school term time. You are not required to work during school holidays and the role will finish when the senior students break for exam leave in Term 4.
It is a fixed-term position, subject to a satisfactory Police vet.
For a Job Description and an application form: Contact the College office or e-mail office@sbc.school.nz.
To Apply: Please provide a cover letter, your completed application form and your CV to the School Secretary ngrant@sbc.school.nz.
Applications close on Friday 25th November 2022
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.
