Numbers add up for opportunities

Whangarei's Heather and Robin Nitschke, of NZ Tamarillo Co-operative, say business clusters add value.

There is power in numbers, which is why companies across Northland are being encouraged to hunt in packs by developing business clusters.

Nelson-based cluster guru Ifor Ffowcs-Williams comes north next week to train industry players to play together and go to market in force.

The Northland Inc business growth team is holding a one-day workshop called Cluster 101 for Northland on Wednesday, July 15, in Whangarei.

The interactive workshop is being run by Ffowcs-Williams, , chief executive of Cluster Navigators.

The workshop is most suited to those from public agencies or private enterprise, industry associations, private sector chief executives, academic representatives, incubator and science park managers, policy managers and non-governmental organisations representatives.

Ifor Ffowcs-Williams says Northland companies should hunt in packs. Photo / Supplied

He said companies could identify their growth impediments and lean on each other's strengths.

"They might ask what are their freight costs, or packing costs? What common agenda do they have? What know-how or machinery can they share?

"It's about understanding what's holding industries back and where there is a commonality for growth."

Clusters are a natural occurrence, he says. His workshop in Whangarei will bring companies and government agencies together and formalise moves across the region to form collaborations.

Clusters often had an export focus and offered strength in international markets.

"It allows them to hunt in a pack, to diversify and grow to engage more effectively as a team."

Co-operative

Robin Nitschke is heading a co-operative of eight tamarillo growers north of Auckland and says he will be going to the workshop to help develop the organisation.

"We started the co-operative because we saw problems at the start of the supply chain with retailers playing tamarillo merchants off each other.

"At the end of the chain, we saw a demand for adding value to the products and now we produce relish and vinegar, which there is a massive demand for."

He said the industry had been fractured and growers had been struggling to cope with demand.

"Now, we have more structure and control over the supply chain. There are plenty of benefits."

Self-help

Ffowcs-Williams said clusters could also address skill shortages by engaging with local polytechs.

"Clusters are self-help organisations, with government agencies part of the collaboration."

While some firms were proactive in engaging with clusters, others were happy to "take the crumbs off the table".

"Some sit on the fence. They will still feel some benefits but won't be part of any discussion."

Ffowcs-Williams uses examples from international clusters and a 12-step cluster development process in his workshop.

In Canada, food industry players were developing food tourism. In Sweden, the forestry companies were focusing on bio-fuel and were working alongside public agencies.

Northland was fortunate, he said, that it had Northland Inc to work as a broker for clusters.

Joseph Stuart, general manager of business growth at Northland Inc, said the workshop would be beneficial to those with an interest, or direct involvement, in investment attraction, education and skills development, as well as innovation, technology transfer, export and economic development.

"There must be a willingness to work together," he said.

- For more information about the one-day workshop, and to register before tomorrow contact lisa@northlandinc.co.nz