Small businesses not alone

The economy's growth is in the hands of more than 300,000 small to medium-sized enterprises, but many do not realise how important they are.

That is the message small business expert Sarah Trotman is spreading as part of a nationwide Business Club roadshow which visited Auckland yesterday.

"The sector is performing well but many business owners are not aware of the significant resourcing - much of it free - that exists to support SMEs in their development," she said at the Ellerslie Convention Centre.

Money, ideas, mentoring, education and other support could be vital for growth. But finding these resources could be difficult.

She updated her audience on Industry New Zealand's small business initiatives and outlined new research titled "Firm Foundations - a Study of New Zealand Business Practices and Performance".

Trotman said organisations like Trade New Zealand and Industry New Zealand (which merge to become New Zealand Trade & Enterprise from Tuesday) offered fantastic support.

Support, research and business acceleration were also available from small business incubators like Auckland University's Icehouse.

Trotman ran her own successful small business before becoming chief executive for Business in the Community's free Business Mentor Programme.

The Business Club, hosted by local Chambers of Commerce with Telecom, Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard, is a series of 12 free nationwide business forums. It visits Whangarei, Christchurch and Nelson next week.

The Business Club