A February start date has been announced for a new business support service in Raglan offering free advice and access to enterprise funding.
Waikato District Council, as part of its Open Waikato economic development initiative, has partnered with Waikato Innovation Park to offer the free business service from the Council’s office in Raglan.
Starting on 9 February, the service offers support for start-ups as well as advice on business expansion, export market development, research and development funding and product development. It provides a Raglan outreach for services currently offered at Ruakura and Tuakau by Waikato Innovation Park, the lead agency for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and Callaghan Innovation funding programmes.
Waikato District Mayor Allan Sanson says the Open Waikato partnership with Waikato Innovation Park has already proved successful in assisting new and expanding businesses in Tuakau, and was now being extended to Raglan in recognition that Raglan is another high-growth area in the district with great potential for business expansion.
Mayor Sanson says, “In Raglan we’re lucky to have incredibly innovative businesses and lots of locals with great ideas and initiatives. We want to help foster and support the people and businesses that bring economic growth, employment and all its associated benefits to our community, so I believe this will be a great service for Raglan.”
Waikato Innovation Park business growth advisor for Raglan, Novell Gopal, says “Extending the service into Raglan offers opportunities for business people to get access to funding and advice that they may not have the time or the opportunity to seek out themselves.”
He says, “We assist businesses who want to grow but may be facing technical roadblocks, or need to take on new skills in order to do so. I’m looking forward to connecting businesses in Raglan with the opportunities they need to help them grow.”
The Raglan service will be available on the second Thursday morning of every month, starting 9 February 2017. New appointments can be made by visiting the Council’s Raglan office at 7 Bow Street during office hours, by emailing info@openwaikato.co.nz, or by calling Open Waikato’s freephone 0800 252 626.
