Source: BNZ Statements
Nine local businesses from the Manawatū-Whanganui region are set to benefit from an expanded nationwide programme designed to help them grow faster and compete more effectively.
BNZ is scaling up its BNZ Growth Academy programme to help businesses across Aotearoa kickstart growth as the country emerges from its deepest per-capita recession since the Global Financial Crisis.
Delivered in partnership with growth navigation software company, D/srupt, the businesses will take part in hands-on workshops and use sophisticated AI tools to refine their strategy, enhance performance, and create new pathways for growth.
Brian Gardner, BNZ Head of Commercial, Agri, & Business for Wellington and Top of the South, says it’s a solution to the challenge many owners face – moving from working ‘in’ their business to working ‘on’ their business.
“As New Zealand’s largest business bank, we’ve seen time and again how successful businesses thrive when owners can step back from daily firefighting to focus on strategy,” Gardner says.
Applicable no matter where you are in you journey
BNZ’s local Growth Academy workshop will run on July 22. Some of the Manawatū-Whanganui businesses taking part include:
• Air Dynamics
• Central Environmental Limited
• Freedom Plus Limited
• Jones Brothers Limited
• Law Corner
• Roadrunner Manufacturing
The Growth Academy has already delivered valuable learnings for Feilding based business, Advanced Accounting.
Director Aaran McLeod attended a pilot workshop in Wellington last year and says the biggest learning he took away was the importance of ensuring your business is always sale ready – structuring things so it’s efficient, attractive and resilient, regardless of whether a sale is imminent.
“We’re always about constant improvement, and this was another layer of refinement – further improving how we operate and make decisions.
“The Impact Return Model stood out as a powerful framework to evaluate where to focus our efforts for the greatest return and impact. It’s something we’ve already started applying internally.”
Asked whether he would recommend the programme to other local businesses, Aaran says, “definitely.”
“It’s a great chance to work on the business rather than just in it. The content is applicable no matter where you are in your journey.”
Leveraging AI
D/srupt uses AI to make strategic planning faster and more accessible for small to medium businesses.
“Our platform cuts through the complexity that often makes strategic planning feel overwhelming,” says D/srupt founder Debbie Humphrey.
“We combine practical guidance with technology to help turn big picture thinking into concrete action plans you can actually implement, and what might have taken a full day can now be done in minutes. For time-poor business owners constantly juggling priorities, this means strategic planning actually happens instead of being perpetually pushed to the bottom of the to-do list.”
The programme launched on 31 March with workshops in 16 locations from Whangārei to Invercargill, plus online options ensuring accessibility for businesses throughout New Zealand. It runs for 12 months and includes workshops reaching 1,400 businesses nationwide, access to D/srupt’s platform, funding guidance, and direct connection to BNZ’s banking expertise.
Supporting the regions
Gardner says the workshops are just one example of how BNZ is investing in its communities and being there for customers.
“We recognise that regional businesses are the lifeblood of our local economies, so we have dialled up our specialist support with our small business partners and agribusiness teams available to meet customers in branch.
“Since April this year, all our branches have been open at least five days a week, as we heard from our customers that they wanted more opportunities to talk to us face-to-face.
“We’re also investing in branches as part of our nation-wide upgrade project to improve the branch experience for our customers. Our refurbished branch at The Plaza Palmerston North reopened at the end of May, with our Fielding branch refurbishment kicking off this week (25 July), using New Zealand suppliers and materials to support local economies.”
The post BNZ Growth Academy to help Manawatū-Whanganui businesses drive greater growth appeared first on BNZ Debrief.
