A new strategic programme has been created to help Queenstown
companies become sustainable.
The Queenstown Lakes Sustainable Business Programme was
started by Otago Polytechnic last year with an introductory
programme of workshops and one-on-one advisory services.
Twenty-five companies attended.
This year, a more advanced course, for companies who have
already done some work on sustainable practice, has been
added.
The new course is more detailed, covering implementation of
strategies and empowerment of staff.
"Sustainability is about future-proofing the business. In
this programme, we work with the specific needs of each
company in the group," Head of School for the Centre for
Sustainable Practice, Steve Henry, said.
The programme is supported by the Ministry of Tourism and the
Ministry for the Environment as part of the Sustainable
Tourism Advisors in Regions programme.
It is overseen by a steering group with representatives from
Queenstown Lakes District Council, Destination Queenstown,
the Queenstown Chamber of Commerce and Otago Polytechnic.
It has been designed specifically for Queenstown Lakes
businesses.
"We have been working closely with Destination Queenstown to
tailor the programme for the needs of local companies.
"There are, for example, special conditions for procurement
for this region, and we are also looking at the special needs
for the many companies that work internationally out of
Queenstown," Mr Henry said.
Five group workshops comprise the core of the programme.
Between these are individual meetings with a business
adviser.
Mr Henry said the aim of the workshops was to share knowledge
and learn from presenting the companies' unique circumstances
to firms from different sectors.
"When managers have to articulate what their companies want
to achieve, it often helps them become clearer about their
own situation," he said.
Each company will also get a tailormade two-hour workshop
onsite for all its employees, to enable staff to take part in
the embedding of the strategy.
The number of adviser hours and the price of the programme
depends on the company's number of employees.
A maximum of 10 companies will be admitted to the programme
each year.
There are still a few spaces left for this year's programme,
which starts with a workshop on February 16.
Bookmark/Search this post with:
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.