Islanders' chance of lifetime

By ELLEN READ

A business development organisation, Work and Income and a nationwide property maintenance franchise have joined forces to give a group of Aucklanders the chance to go into business for themselves.

The Pacific Business Trust is the brains behind the idea, which aims to help five Pacific Islanders each buy their own Crew Cut lawn-mowing franchise.

The charitable trust, which promotes self-sufficiency among Pacific people by supporting business activity and ownership, began the programme this week with the start of a 10-to-12-week "Small Business Success" pilot scheme.

The participants will spend the next couple of months in a combination of business training at the trust's premises in Otahuhu and out on the job with Crewcut operators.

They will then buy their own franchises and start work.

Trust chief executive Jim Mather said partnership with a franchise was an obvious way to go.

"We chose Crewcut because it's a reputable franchise operator, with proven systems which provide guaranteed income levels.

"They provide full training and monitor the progress of their franchisees, and there are realistic opportunities to grow the business."

Mather said Work and Income would provide financial support and the trust would offer loans, support and budget advice to participants.

A Crewcut franchise costs $26,000. Work and Income is providing $11,000 through its enterprise allowance and the trust will provide participants with the $15,000 loan, repayable over five years.

Two pilot scheme participants, Peter Salanoa and Siona Ah-Sui, called it the opportunity of a lifetime.

"It's about wanting to be your own boss and be in control of my life," Salanoa said.

Ah-Sui said the future of other Pacific Island people rested on their shoulders because if the pilot scheme was a success, more might be offered.

There was also the chance to bring family and community members into any business they built up, he said.

Mather added that he believed the property maintenance business appealed to Pacific Islanders because it meant working outside and being your own boss.

While the initial programme is in Auckland, the trust hopes to make it nationwide. Crewcut is a national business and has a single master franchiser, David Serville, meaning less bureaucracy and hassle.

The trust is also extending its presence throughout the country.

Although two-thirds of New Zealand's Pacific Island population live in the Auckland region, Mather said there were significant communities in other places.

With this in mind, the trust is setting up an office in Porirua, near Wellington, in partnership with an organisation called Business Porirua.

Next year they hope to expand into the regions and the South Island.

Mather himself is new to the trust, having joined four months ago from an accounting and NZ Army background.

He has plans to refocus the trust as a one-stop business advice centre for Pacific people.

He hopes the Otahuhu premises will also attract lawyers and accountants so all services are available.

"We want to create an environment where if any New Zealander of Pacific descent was going to go into business, this would be the first place he or she would come."

Pacific Business Trust