Hasting's economic programme Great Things Grow Here under review

Sam Jackman has left Great Things Grow Here. Photo / File.

Former Havelock North Business Association president Sam Jackman this week stepped down from his role as Great Things Grow Here economic development project officer to take up a new role with the Hawke's Bay Regional Council's Biodiversity Hawke's Bay programme.

Hastings District Council's group manager economic growth and organisation improvement Craig Cameron said the future of Great Things Grow Here, which acts as a economic development promotion platform, was being reviewed to ensure it continued to be an effective platform to support the business community and brand champions.

A review of the Great Things Grow Here Platform started several months ago.

"This is part of the regular work programme to assess whether council services are meeting their objectives and what changes may need to be made to enable continuous improvement in service delivery.

"We will ensure the platform remains relevant, and continues to enable the ongoing prosperity and economic growth of the region."

Jackman said his new role would involve developing sponsorship partnerships with Hawke's Bay businesses to show how biodiversity can benefit business, help develop a sponsor's brand and bottom line, while contributing to social and environmental benefits for the future of Hawke's Bay.

"I am very excited about my new role and am looking forward to this new challenge which I shall be doing under the auspices of my own consultancy agency.

"Great Things Grow Here is now a community of 316 Brand Champions – businesses, organisations, infrastructure providers, producers, manufactures, growers and artisans. Our businesses support their employees and their family's families. It is them who are the future of our region. Together, their future is in our hands.

"Being passionate about this amazing region, I will continue supporting and promoting the Great Things Grow Here brand."

However, after re-launching and promoting the Great Things Grow Here programme over the past two years plus, it had become "obvious" that biodiversity was essential.

"If we do not protect our biodiversity ecosystems, and our regional environment - great things will not grow here."