If you think your business could benefit from partially subsidised training and coaching services, listed below is a description of the eligibility criteria and how the NZTE Capability Development Voucher Scheme process works:

Businesses are eligible if they meet the following criteria:

• Have fewer than 50 full time employees (a person working 30 hours or more per week is considered full time);
• Are operating in a commercial environment;
• Are registered for GST in NZ;
• Are personally owned by an individual or individuals; or are a Maori Trust or incorporation under the Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993 or similar organization managing Maori assets under multiple ownership; and
• Have undergone a capability assessment with Opportunity Hamilton

The Steps in the Process
There are six steps in the process

1. Registration of the client business
2. Assessment of their capability and identification of training needs by Opportunity Hamilton
3. Development of an action plan by Opportunity Hamilton
4. Issue of a voucher for capability building services
5. Validation of the voucher with the Capability Service Provider
6. Follow up with businesses 

Business owners will need to:

 Complete a Registration form which is available from the Regional Business Partner

Here is a link for a copy of the Registration Form:

(292K)

Participate in a one-on-one assessment with Opportunity Hamilton to assess the level of management capability, to identify gaps and to identify any training or coaching needs

Opportunity Hamilton will then:

• Develop an action plan for the business owner which will:
  - Identify the strengths and weaknesses of the business
  - Identify the priority areas for improvement
  - Specify action points (as agreed with the client)
• Identify other business assistance available including organisations to contact and websites for additional information, advice and resources.
• Provide referrals to relevant government organisations as relevant (eg Ministry of Science and Innovation, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Export NZ, Business Mentors NZ)
• May issue a voucher to a specified limit for capability development which may be either training and/or one-on-one coaching or mentoring

Vouchers

• The Regional Business Partner has the discretion to determine the value of vouchers up to a cap of $5000 (excluding GST) in any year
• Vouchers cover up to 50% of the cost of the course, workshop or coaching session.
• The business owner must provide matching funding of 50% of the value of the capability development service
• Only the business owner and their key managers are eligible for vouchers.
• Vouchers have an expiry date of three calendar months from date of issue. The expiry date refers to the date by which a voucher must have been used to book a service.  (Note:  The service itself does not need to be provided within the three months).
• A Capability Service Provider will validate the voucher with Opportunity Hamilton so a track can be kept of whether a business is acting on their action plan

Assessment Criteria for Issue of Vouchers
In considering if a business owner qualifies for a voucher, the following Assessment Criteria will be taken into account:

• The potential of the business for growth and innovation
• Commitment from the business to improving management capability
• There is an identified gap in the business's capability that can be addressed through management capability building and training.
• Relevance to the region and the regional economy

Follow up
Opportunity Hamilton will follow up with any business which has received an assessment or has been issued a voucher to ascertain if their training needs are being met by the Capability Service Providers, if they are able to take the actions identified in their action plans and to identify any changing needs.

For further information and to register with the scheme, contact:

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Phone 07 - 959 8693

Opportunity Hamilton

The Economic Development Agency for the City

If anyone is interesteing in becoming a service provider, please contact Robyn as above.