News
Launching eco-friendly inspired brands -
Wed 7th August – 1.00-1.45pm All organisations need to master telling their story and purpose. Melissa Woods, co-owner of award-winning brand agency Woods Brand Innovation will share her journey of launching Salt Bags NZ and weaving her purpose into the…
NZ Tech Business Success: From Launch to Sale. -
Wed 7th August – 2.00-3.00pm Hadleigh Ford is the founder of SwipedOn, an app based visitor management system. He will share his journey launching a business, securing $1million in angel investment and then successfully selling the business for $11 million…
Rotorua Innovation Festival: Keynote Speaker – Mark Lucas – Rotorua X Connect Event -
Wed 7th August – 5.30-7.00pm Ten years ago Rotorua X launched to provide a different type of business event that focused on connection and inspiration. An event for the future leaders of our town. In today’s entrepreneurial speak we disrupted…
Grant Panel Q&A -
Thurs 8th August – 9.30-10.30am Ever wondered how grants are decided? Wanted to ask the funding organisations questions to improve your grant application success? This session is your chance. We have a selection of Bay of Plenty grant organisation representatives…
Successful Sponsorship Pitches -
Thurs 8th August – 11.00-12.00pm Raising sponsorship can be hard, especially for smaller and newer social enterprises and charities. Rachael McGarvie trustee of Rotorua X and co-founder of Firestation will talk you through creating an effective sponsorship pitch deck and…
Rotorua Innovation Festival Close: Keynote Speaker Tiny Deane -
Thurs 8th Aug – 4.00-5.00pm To celebrate the closing of the inaugural Rotorua Innovation Festival Taiopenga Auaha 2019, we are thrilled to have Tiny Deane as our keynote speaker. Homelessness is an ever-increasing issue in New Zealand. Tiny Deane, from…
Get Ready for Online Marketing – 4hr workshop -
Many business owners make the mistake of thinking they can dive straight into using Facebook, Instagram and Google Ads without any sort of plan. It’s a real hit and miss strategy. Sometimes it can work, but a lot of the…
Online Marketing Course -
Online marketing is crucial to ALL businesses and social enterprises. But there are so many different components to marketing your business online it can be overwhelming. This online marketing course will go through each component one week at a time…
Subsidised business training in Rotorua – Applications open for March-April cohorts -
Applications are open for the next round of subsidised business training in Rotorua, suitable from people who have an idea for a business through to a small business that has been operating less than five years. ACTIVATE This is our…
INCUBATE Case Study – The Event Girl -
Rebekah had a boutique wedding and event planning services business for over three years when a friend urged her to apply for INCUBATE. She had only just left paid employment to focus fully on growing her business. “This course has…
INCUBATE Case Study – La More Sweets -
Linda and Ian had owned a sweets and ice-cream business in Tirau for eight months before signing up for the INCUBATE Programme. Their shop La More Sweets sells range of international sweets, old time favourites and a growing range of…
INCUBATE Case Study – Mayfair Court Motel -
Janita had owned and operated Mayfair Court Motel for five years when she applied for the INCUBATE programme. “I saw details about the programme on social media and thought it looked interesting. I often felt isolated and lonely as a…
Goal review time -
Business owners are renowned for setting pretty ambitious goals at the start of the year. While it is hard to believe, 2018 is already half over. With the year flying by at lightening speed it’s important to take stock of…
Mastery: Employment Essentials Business Training -
Join us for this employment essentials business training. This is a fast-paced session for businesses and charities on the 90 day trial period, using contractors and best practice employment agreements. Getting the distinction between employees and contractors wrong can have…
Applications open for Business Training South Waikato -
“There is nothing else delivered locally like these programmes. With the amazing support from SWIFT these programmes are ninety percent funded and subsidised” Firestation are seeking participants for Training Programmes South Waikato to help launch, grow and scale businesses and…
Successful tech founder to speak at Rotorua Tech Festival -
A successful tech entrepreneur will speak in Rotorua to share his journey of growing a successful global tech business from the regions. Hadleigh Ford is CEO and founder of SwipedOn, one of New Zealand’s fastest growing Software as a Service…
Firestation partner in Rotorua Tech Festival -
Rotorua’s newest tech festival will take place at the end of June to help launch, grow and scale digital businesses. The Taiopenga Hangarau Rotorua Tech Festival is a local initiative run in partnership with Rotorua Lakes Council, Firestation and Rotorua…
WANTED: Admin & Event Rockstar -
Position Vacant – Are you ready to join a fast-growing, dynamic business? This position is not for the faint of heart. We are looking for someone who thrives on variety, is pro-active and can effortlessly juggle many jobs and tasks. …
To blog or not to blog? -
If you are regularly writing a blog for your business – well done! It you’re not, then you are doing your business a disservice. Blogging is now a marketing essential; it should be a crucial part of your content marketing…
Succession planning for key roles -
New Zealand businesses are woefully unprepared for succession planning. Some business owners think succession planning doesn’t need to be on their radar, especially if they have no intention to exit the business in the next ten years or more. But…
Coworking: Is it for you? -
What is coworking and is it something you should be considering if you’re a small business or freelancer? Coworking delivers a working environment as a service. It goes beyond the shared office concept where businesses reside in one location, share…
Battle of the Businesses Games Day -
Firestation is challenging the local business community in a series of games with proceeds to go to the Rotorua Flood Relief. The BATTLE of the BUSINESSES GAMES DAY is on Friday 25th May from 12-3pm. Over an extended lunch we…
Video marketing is a must -
The world of marketing is continually evolving and it can be difficult for small and medium businesses to keep up with the trends. One area that can no longer be considered a trend, and should now be a marketing staple,…
Networking Tips -
While it is necessary to grow your online professional networks though the likes of LinkedIn, this should never replace face-to-face business networking. Networking is an essential part of building relationships, opening yourself up to new ideas or ways of thinking,…
ACCELERATE – Subsidised Business Programme: Medium Business – ROTORUA -
Helps established medium size businesses to triple their current rate of growth. Ideal for businesses with turnover up to $10 million and over five employees. ACCELERATE – Subsidised Business Programmes: Medium Business Get the knowledge, tools and advice to help…