Business Capability sessions aim to clarify Council processes and empower local business

Aseries of four Business Capability Sessions designed to enhance stakeholder engagement with council are being offered over the next few months. Developed by the Whangarei District Council in collaboration with NorthChamber and Northland Inc. the sessions have been designed to assist local businesses, contractors, developers and the public gain a better understanding of council process, procurement framework, joint ventures and best practice when submitting tenders to council. NorthChamber CEO, Steve Smith explains, “the sessions aim to grow participants business capability in the four key areas, ultimately to help potential stakeholders engage collaboratively and effectively improving the success rate when making applications to council.” The first of the four free Business Capability Sessions, Winning Tenders, launches December 16th at The Orchard in

Whangarei. Presented by Frank Aldridge, director of The Integral Group, Aldridge has over 22 years’ experience in consulting and training in tender process, procurement, and negotiation. The second in the line-up of Business Capability Sessions, Navigating Council Process, runs on December 21st presented by

Economic Development Facilitator Sonya Seutter, and accompanied by Murray McDonald (RMA Consents), Paul Cook (Building)

Tony Collins (District Development) and Robert Burgoyne (District Plan) from Whangarei District Council, who will provide subject matter expertise in the sessions. Seutter hopes that by clarifying regulations it will provide understanding around some of the perceived roadblocks that all too often frustrate the public. The presentations will be delivered over a two to three hour period with a break for refreshments and ample time for questions and answers at the end. Each session will be filmed and available as an ongoing resource available to the public. Two more sessions, covering off Presentations and Pitching Ideas and Joint Ventures respectively are planned for February 2021. Invitations and notifications will be sent out to the business community and various stakeholders of NorthChamber, Whangarei District Council and Northland Inc. These events are open to the public, and information and registrations can be accessed through the NorthChamber website events page -www.northchamber.co.nz/ events.

Sonya Seutter will lead the ‘Navigating Council Process workshop she has a background in economic development, strategic and infrastructure planning, data analysis and policy making, she has been awarded two Best Practice awards from the New Zealand Planning Institute.

Frank Aldridge will lead two of the Business Capability workshops, Winning Tenders on December 16 and the Presentations and Pitching Ideas workshop in February.