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New Zealand’s business growth engine The ICEHOUSE is officially launching in Hawke’s Bay in mid-April.

In an effort to help more Kiwi organisations to lift their business performance, Hawke’s Bay is the first of a number of regions The ICEHOUSE will be operating from.

The ICEHOUSE will offer a range of tailored services and programmes for SMEs and start-ups.

ICEHOUSE CEO Andrew Hamilton says the combined offering in Hawke’s Bay is unique, but despite this, the key pillars of the organisation remain the same.

“We will be working alongside Hawke’s Bay businesses to help them grow. We do this through offering expertise, networking and funding – no matter what stage a business is at, we want to be involved,” he says.

“We are offering some of our existing programmes as well as some specially developed options tailored for Hawke’s Bay.”

The ICEHOUSE engaged with over 100 local businesses and a number of local stakeholders including Business Hawke’s Bay, Hawke’s Bay Chamber of Commerce, Local Council, NZTE Business Advisors and Local Ministers during the process it undertook to determine whether the move to Hawke’s Bay was viable.

The company is working with its long term partner BNZ to use its Partner Centre premises to run programmes and operations from.

“We’ve worked with BNZ for more than 10 years, we have a solid relationship and we wouldn’t be able to operate regionally without their support,” says Hamilton.

The enthusiasm from Hawke’s Bay locals has been overwhelming and Andrew Hamilton says this is why The ICEHOUSE is coming to the region.

“When people ask me, ‘Why Hawke’s Bay?’ the answer is very simple. Because they asked us. We wouldn’t be setting up in the region if there wasn’t strong support from the people who we are going to work with – the business owners.”

“We knew there was a strong alumni network in existence, but we are still so humbled by the warm welcome and engagement we’re already experiencing,” he says.

CEO of Furnware and ICEHOUSE alumni Hamish Whyte says The ICEHOUSE setting up permanently is a win for the region.

“This is the injection of energy our business community needs. Not only does this create a new excitement and encouragement for business growth in Hawke’s Bay it gives our business owners an invaluable resource at their fingertips.

“By having ICEHOUSE staff located regionally, it allows business owners immediate access to mentoring, provides easier implementation of business plans and creates a solid network to tap into,” he says.

Hamish Whyte says the goals of The ICEHOUSE will benefit the entire Hawke’s Bay region.

“The ICEHOUSE’s goal of business growth means economic growth which means more money into our region, and that’s good for everyone,” he says.

Day to day operations for ICEHOUSE Hawke’s Bay will be led by Michaela Vodanovich who will work closely with Business Hawke’s Bay and BNZ to deliver programmes.

To live up to the old cliché ‘work hard, play hard’ The ICEHOUSE will celebrate its launch officially with an event at Mission Estate in Napier.

The event will be held on 18 April and is open to all business people to attend. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased from the Hawke’s Bay Chamber website: www.hawkesbaychamber.co.nz/events

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Notes to the editor:

More information about The ICEHOUSE and The ICEHOUSE Hawke’s Bay can be found online: www.theicehouse.co.nz

About The ICEHOUSE:

Named one of the top 10 business growth hubs in the world by Forbes magazine, the ICEHOUSE is a business growth centre focused on developing owner-managers and entrepreneurs who will shape the future of New Zealand’s economy. The organisation provides advice and funding for start-ups, a series of learning & development & coaching programmes for owner managed businesses and access to networks and talent that enable the businesses to achieve their growth aspirations.

The ICEHOUSE is backed by the financial support and expertise of the University of Auckland Business School, BNZ, HP, NZTE, Gen-I, Telecom, Ernst & Young, A-Teed, KPMG, JB Were, Microsoft,  AJ Park, Paul Diver and Associates and Grafton Consulting Group. Since 2001 The ICEHOUSE has worked with over 4,500 ambitious owner managers – from start-ups to established multi-million dollar companies.

For more information visit www.theicehouse.co.nz

Contact:

Amy Davidson, The ICEHOUSE, [email protected] 09 308 6240

Michaela Vodanovich, The ICEHOUSE, [email protected]  021 365 678