The last two years have been tough; so much has changed since COVID. We know that many businesses have been severely impacted by the pandemic and are struggling with debt. Navigating your way through business stress is hard but help and support is still available.
Working out how and where to get funds can be challenging and we are here to help if you need us. The Otago Business Partners Network (RBP) continues to provide support to local businesses through the ongoing effects of the pandemic, and there are up to one thousand businesses that may still be eligible for funding. You could be one of them.
The Tourism Communities: Support, Recovery and Re-set Plan is government funding that targets tourism businesses physically based in the Queenstown Lakes District.
Tourism businesses are those where 50 percent of operational output is/was purchased by either domestic or international tourists – including service businesses where output is purchased by tourism businesses.
The funding is administered by the RBP and includes business advisory support of up to $5,000 per business. The funding is to enable businesses to receive expert advice and support about whether to continue to hibernate your business, cease, or scale your business.
There is also an Implement Support of up to $5,000 per business, which is a grant for businesses to implement that business advice.
The funding for the types of advice you can access includes:
- Business strategy
- HR and employee relations and legal (e.g., contract law, legal requirements)
- Financial and cash flow management (e.g., budgeting, forecasting, scenario planning)
- Health and wellness (e.g., employee mental health and wellness, resilience building and stress management)
- Business continuity planning (e.g., workforce planning, risk management)
- Marketing strategy (e.g., digital marketing strategy, branding, digital advertising)
- Digital enablement strategy (e.g., website development, automated booking)
If your business is physically located within the Queenstown Lakes District and is considered to be a ‘tourism business’ and you are eligible, you can apply by registering with the RBP here.
If you’re already registered but would like to express your interest in the funding, please email support@otagorbp.co.nz or contact your Growth Advisor.
We’re also here to help if you need us - we provide a service in collaboration with the RBP. We can navigate and advise you on structure and obligations of your businesses in managing debt, creditors, staff, and other stakeholders. We’ll also review your current structure and advise on any restrictions for on-going viability to ensure your business obligations are met and your stakeholders are satisfied.