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The Government is actively pursuing a wide range of initiatives that provide the certainty and support the Small Business Advisory Group is calling for, Minister for Small Business John Banks said today.

Mr Banks has released the Government’s response to the Small Business Advisory Group’s 2012 report, addressing the eight recommendations the Group believed would make a difference to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The future is looking brighter for small business in New Zealand.  

Interest rates and inflation are at record lows.  

We are just starting to see the first positive signs of productivity growth since 2006.

New Zealand is faring a lot better than many other countries.

Recent surveys by the BNZ and ANZ have found small business owners are feeling more confident about their prospects in the year ahead.  

Announcing the appointment of the Small Business Development Group (formerly Small Business Advisory Group) today, Mr Banks welcomed twelve new members from a diverse range of industries in the economy and representing a number of regions.

“SMEs are the lifeblood of our economy, and the Small Business Development Group plays an important role providing the small business voice in business policy development,” Mr Banks said.

Small Business Minister John Banks today congratulated Business.govt.nz for winning the Government category at last night’s AUT Excellence in Business Support Awards.

Hosted by the AUT Business School, winners across 13 categories were announced to an audience of over 700 business leaders. This year saw a total of 47 finalists - the highest in the award’s seven-year history.

“This award highlights the value Business.govt.nz provides New Zealand’s small and medium enterprises,” Mr Banks said.

Small Business Minister John Banks has congratulated Business.govt.nz for winning their category at the NetGuide Web Awards for the second year running.

Business.govt.nz was judged the Best Site for Small Businesses in the 2012 NetGuide Web Awards, which acknowledges New Zealand’s best websites, based on 225,000 votes.

“This deserved award recognises the value Business.govt.nz provides small businesses in New Zealand,” Mr Banks said. 

It is a pleasure to be here today to award the supreme prize for www.business.govt.nz’s ANZ Flying Start Business Plan Competition.

More than 760 people put forward ideas for the ANZ Flying Start competition – the kind of ideas that show off the ingenuity and entrepreneurship that New Zealanders are renowned for. 

Many of these ideas, when partnered with a solid business plan, have the ingredients for success in New Zealand, and across the globe.

Minister for Small Business John Banks today congratulated Invert Robotics - an innovative Canterbury robotics firm - for winning Business.govt.nz’s ANZ Flying Start Business Plan Competition. 

Invert Robotics has created a world leading inspection solution for dairy factories and other users of stainless steel equipment.  Their remotely-operated climbing robots replace the existing abseil method, providing a fast, accurate and safer way of inspecting dairy equipment. 

Small Business Minister John Banks today congratulated the 51 entrepreneurs who have made it to the next stage of the Business.govt.nz Flying Start Business Plan Competition, sponsored by ANZ.

“More than 750 small and start-up business owners submitted their business plan proposals for a chance to win a share of $82,000 in prizes. Three finalists have been selected from each of the 17 regions,” Mr Banks said. 

Minister for Small Business John Banks today announced that new members are being sought for the Small Business Advisory Group (SBAG).

“Small and medium business are the foundation of the New Zealand economy.  The Government needs to hear what SME owners think so that we can make decisions that help, and not hinder their growth,” Mr Banks said.

Small Business Minister John Banks today launched the Business.govt.nz second annual ANZ Flying Start Business Plan competition, with more than $80,000 worth of prizes up for grabs. 

“The ANZ Flying Start Business Plan competition seeks out the best business plan from new or fledgling New Zealand enterprises, and helps them put their plans into action,” Mr Banks said. 

“Small and medium businesses drive the New Zealand economy, making up 97 per cent of all enterprises and employing over 500,000 Kiwis. 

Minister for Small Business John Banks welcomed the release of the Small Business Advisory Group (SBAG) report ‘Thriving and Surviving in a Seismic Environment’, which contains eight recommendations for the Government to consider. 

“Small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) have had a roller-coaster ride in the past few years with the 2008/2009 global recession, the effects of which were compounded for many in Christchurch with the series of devastating earthquakes,” Minister Banks said.

Minister for Small Business John Banks today launched ‘Start, Manage And Grow Your Business’, an updated publication to help small business owners get the best value from government services.

“Having been a business owner for many years, I understand how difficult it can be to constantly grapple with government regulation or to know what help is available,” Mr Banks said.

“Keeping up with compliance information distracts business owners from what they do best – running their business and growing our economy.