A “must-attend” free information evening in Tauranga this month aims to help business owners understand the role of advisory groups to help businesses thrive.

Thoje Hood from Advise Me organised ‘Advisory Groups for SME’s’ with help from Darren McGarvie from business growth centre Firestation and Sheldon Nesdale from Marketing First.

Advisory Groups are a panel of advisors from a range of industries and backgrounds to help guide the business owner to implement change and growth, provide access to key skills and networks, and overall strategic planning.  Advisory groups can meet from as little as four or up to twelve times a year.

“This event is trying to put advisory groups on the radar for all business-owners and for anyone who wants to learn more about advisory groups or boards.”

“We are excited to have serial entrepreneur and professional director Melissa Clark-Reynolds speak about her own experience with small businesses and the role of advisory groups to address challenges and realise opportunities,” Mr Hood said.

“The event is about making advisory groups appealing to SMEs and demonstrating the big difference they can make.”

“Unfortunately, many business owners don’t realise the power of advisory groups or boards and think they are only for large businesses and corporates. SMEs also don’t have the time, contacts or knowledge how to set one up,” Mr Hood said.

Advise Me wants to change this for Bay of Plenty businesses as well as provide an opportunity for aspiring professional directors.

“In New Zealand the opportunities for aspiring advisors and directors can be limited. We want to help the next generation of advisors and directors,” Mr Hood said.

“We urge business owners and professionals who want to become advisors to come along and see what advisory groups are all about,” he said.

The ‘Advisory Groups for SME’s’ evening is on Thursday 19th May from 5.00-7.00pm at the Tauranga Club. The event is free due to the generous sponsorship of Rodway Staples and Firestation. For more information or to RSVP go to www.bit.ly/SMEGov

More information

Advise Me

• Established in 2014 to:
  • To provide an easy, affordable way for business owners to access professional advice that will help their business thrive; and
  • To create opportunities for professionals to share their knowledge, develop governance skills and add value to the business community.
• In July, August and September Advise Me are providing a series of advisory groups where business owners are matched with three advisors who have expertise in a range of areas such as strategy, marketing, HR, IT, finance, accounting or leadership to help them take their business to the next level. One of the advisors will chair each session.
• Advise Me have partnered with Firestation to provide additional support throughout the process with one-on-one coaching sessions before and after each advisory session to hold the business owners accountable for actions agreed in the advisory sessions.

Melissa Clark-Reynolds:

• Described as a serial entrepreneur.
• Founder and chief executive of several technology businesses over a twenty-year period, including Looxie, MiniMonos, software firms PayGlobal, Intaz, GMV Associates (sold to Southern Cross) which became Fusion – the company which became New Zealand’s largest private accident compensation insurer and ACC consultancy.
• She is one of the few New Zealand women to raise investment money both nationally and internationally. In 2012 she was named one of the top-10 female company founders to watch by Forbes Magazine.
• The entrepreneur is also on the board of ACCURO Health Insurance, and a number of private technology companies, as well as being a member of the Ministry for Primary Industries’ PGP investment Advisory Panel.
• Appointed an Officer of The New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to the technology industry in 2015.