EVENTS EVENTS

Business Edge: Sharpen up your game Business Edge: Sharpen up your game

Date: 15 March 2012

This business improvement course has qualified for the NZTE Capability Development Voucher Scheme and is therefore eligible for voucher redemption. Gain a new business perspective and the confidence, skills and know-how to put progressive future plans in place.

The course comprises of four workshops and two one-on-one coaching sessions. All workshops run from 9am - 12.30pm. Follow up coaching sessions can be arranged independently and are typically conducted on your premises. Please note a subsidy for the entire Business Edge course is available for eligible businesses.

Week 1: Financial Masterclass (3hrs) - 15 March 2012

This workshop will assist business owner / managers not only to improve their ability to interpret financial information, but also how they use it to manage business performance, improve planning and ultimately make better business decisions.

Participant learning outcomes:

  • Implement  the basic systems and practices needed to operate a healthy business
  • Understand their profit drivers
  • Accurately interpret  financial statements to monitor the health of their business
  • Use financial ratios to analyse their business:
    • discover areas of weakness that require more focus
    • compare current performance to prior years - trends
    • compare current performance to industry  - benchmark
    • develop a workable operating strategy
  • Understand the key ratios built into banking covenants
  • Use financial data to develop business management strategies
  • Effectively manage their tax position

Participants will be supplied a workbook, encouraging them to practically apply what they have learnt. The workbook also includes a business case study which they will work through. Meet your presenters Mike Atkinson and Melanie Jenkin.

Week 2: Cash Flow Masterclass (3hrs) - 29 March 2012

Inadequate cash flow management is one of the major constraints to business growth and a common reason for business failure. Attendees will learn the importance of budgeting and cash flow planning in running a profitable business. They will also learn strategies to improve cash flow, as well as how to effectively manage growth. Meet your presenters Mike Atkinson and Melanie Jenkin.

Participant learning outcomes:

  • Understand the Financial Operating Cycle
  • Effectively manage working capital
  • Identify and remove cash blockages in the business
  • Improve cash flow planning and implement controls
  • Effectively set profit margins
  • Improve profitability through costing and pricing
  • Conduct sales, expense and balance sheet forecasting
  • Improve credit/debt management skills
  • Understand how much it costs to "grow" 
  • Ensure the business is deal ready and able to fund growth

Participants will be supplied a workbook, encouraging them to practically apply what they have learnt. The workbook also includes a business case study which they will work through.

Coaching: Finance and Cash Flow Coaching (1.5hrs)

This coaching session will focus on helping participants apply the new knowledge and skills obtained from attending the Finance and Cash Flow Masterclass workshops to their own businesses.

Week 3: Strategic Planning Masterclass (3hrs) - 12 April 2012

This workshop will assist business owner / managers not only improve their ability to think strategically but also plan for the future. Participants will leave with the skills and know-how to grow their business to levels that were previously thought to be out of reach.

Participant learning outcomes:  

  • Understand the business planning process: Where they are now, where do they want to be and how do they get there?
  • Set SMART goals and integrate personal goals with the goals of the business
  • Understand the business environment:
    • Perform a SWOT analysis
    • Perform a Stakeholder analysis
    • Effective customer segmentation
  • Build a sustainable competitive advantage
  • Identify growth strategies for the business
  • Establish action plans that fit with operational plans such as (HR, marketing, finance, IT)
  • Effectively  communicate the plan
  • Understand the growing importance of succession planning

Participants will leave with a clear understanding of the business planning process, how to apply it to their business and new business improvement plans. Meet your presenter Matthew Bellingham.

Week 4: Governance Masterclass (3hrs) - 26 April 2012

Traditionally, New Zealand SMEs have often discounted governance as expensive or complex without fully understanding or appreciating the benefits that this leadership discipline brings. Workshop participants will learn the importance of good governance, as well as how to use it to structure, operate and control their business with a view to achieving long-term strategic goals for shareholders and other stakeholders e.g. employees, customers and suppliers. 

Participant learning outcomes:

  • Understand the need for good governance
  • Understand their obligations under the Companies Act
  • Determine who should be on a Board
  • Distinguish between directing and managing a business
  • How to assign roles and responsibilities
  • How to achieve clarity of purpose
  • Establish a remuneration policy
  • Implement a governance or competency framework
  • Run effective board meetings
  • Understand why good governance matters to the bank
  • Understand the key functions of a Board
  • Understand the role of management in relation to the purpose and role of the board

Participants will leave with an initial governance strategy, as well as the knowledge and skills required to implement it. Meet your presenter Aaron Wallace.

Coaching : Strategy and Governance Coaching (1.5hrs)

This coaching session will focus on helping participants apply the new knowledge and skills obtained from attending the Strategic Planning and Governance Masterclass workshops to their own businesses.

Funding available for eligible businesses

This course has qualified for the NZTE Capability Development Voucher Scheme and is therefore eligible for voucher redemption. The Voucher Scheme is designed to support up to 50 percent of the cost of this service.

To be eligible for funding your business must:

  • have fewer than 50 full time employees
  • be operating in a commercial environment
  • be registered for GST in New Zealand
  • be privately owned, or a Maori Trust or incorporation under the Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993 or similar organisation managing Maori assets under multiple ownership
  • demonstrate a desire to innovate and grow, and
  • have undergone an assessment with the Auckland Tourism Events Economic Development.

RSVP Essential
DATE : 15 March 2012
VENUE : North Harbour Stadium, Albany, Auckland
TIME : 9.00am - 12.30pm
COST : $975 + GST per person (subsidy available for eligible businesses)

RSVP : damian.bennett@hayesknight.co.nz or call 09 379 7013

 

Right Side - Business Edge

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