The Orchard Business & Event Hub

22/08/2023

As business owners, we’re sure you understand that managing social media accounts and curating engaging content demands significant resources. With just a small team working behind the scenes here, we recognised the need for a more efficient solution from our end to serve you better.

So, we are excited to announce that we've decided to bring together all our efforts and unite our content with Northland Inc's over on that page.

As an initiative of Northland Inc that opened in 2016, The Orchard Business and Event Hub remains focused on fostering a strong community, connecting people, and supporting businesses to grow and thrive together. 🌱

Jump on over to the Northland Inc page to find updates about Northland Inc and all the cool things happening at our two co-working spaces, The Orchard and Mahinga Innovation Centre.

16/08/2023

📢 Some of our friends at The Orchard are hiring!

If you, or someone awesome you know is looking for a new role - take a look at these two roles currently being advertised by teams in our co-working community:

👉 Northland Inc: Destination Specialist (full time, fixed term)
This role provides specialist marketing and administration support within the destination management unit of Northland Inc. The role works to ensure the Taitokerau Northland region, the destination and its products, services and experiences gain maximum profile in international and domestic media, and placement in international holiday programmes which feature New Zealand as a destination. https://www.seek.co.nz/job/68966085?type=standard =fe8fb7418d5ef3b275e1d0417ab72005599d739b

👉 The Building Intelligence Group: Contracts Manager (full time)
As Contracts Manager you’ll take oversight of contract management processes - delivering consistent and accurate contract management and administration services https://www.seek.co.nz/job/69312343?type=standout =fd22af323b7b3d7b3d1fba7585b384e6e6c2618b

The primary function of this role is to provide specialist marketing and admin support within the destination management unit of Northland Inc.

16/08/2023

Today at The Orchard we had a 'just because' International theme shared lunch, and it did not disappoint!

Thanks to all our lovely Orchardists for bringing your favourite things to share, it was great having some proper sit-down social time with everyone - as well as being absolutely delicious!

And thanks to superstar Jan for pulling it all together 🤩 Look at all that food, and those happy faces!

&eventhub

09/08/2023

Happy International Co-working Day!

Today we're celebrating all our part-time, full-time, some-times co-workers who make up our community of 'Orchardsits' 🤩🥳

Thanks for being awesome and helping to make The Orchard the place it is!

01/08/2023

📢 The 11th of August is the cut-off date for category entries for the Northland Business Excellence Awards!

Find out how to get your business entry in via the Northland Business Excellence Awards website here: https://www.northlandbusinessawards.co.nz/enter/

📝 Why should your business enter? Well, for those who don't take out the title, the feedback about the entry process and the value it gives businesses is fantastic! And if you do win, the exposure for your business and the

The entry is loosely based on the International Baldridge Business Excellence Criteria which takes entrants through a robust and detailed ‘warrant of fitness’ on their business, helping develop capability and build resilience.

📅 Enter today

Northland Business Excellence Awards 2023 This form is a notification that you would like to be contacted regarding the entry process and upcoming FREE, 1 hour awards entry workshops for the 2023 Northland Business Excellence Awards. Would you like to challenge another business to enter the Northlan...

27/07/2023

📢 Calling health and beauty entrepreneurs! 🌿✨There are only a few days left to make your application for a trip to Indonesia to learn about export market opportunities and build connections.

The Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono is offering up to ten young New Zealand health and beauty entrepreneurs and business leaders the chance to visit Indonesia.

📝Who can apply:
- aged under 40.
- New Zealand citizens or have New Zealand permanent resident status, but can be based offshore.
- an entrepreneur or business leader at CEO or senior management level at a New - Zealand health and beauty business looking for market expansion opportunities in Asia. Outstanding start-up entrepreneurs or emerging entrepreneurs will also be considered.
- able to attend a pre-departure meeting approximately one month before the travel date.

💵 The Asia NZ Foundation will cover:
- a return economy airfare
- domestic transport
- accommodation
- most meals and miscellaneous expenses

📅Key Dates:
- applications close Monday 31st July
- Shortlisted applicants notified mid-August
- Pre-departure briefing mid-September
- Depart 8 October
- Return 15 October

Full details and how to apply here:

The Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono is offering up to ten young New Zealand health and beauty entrepreneurs and business leaders the chance to visit Indonesia.

19/07/2023

Starting out on your own, or setting up a new business can be such an exciting and rewarding time! NZ IRD has set up a couple of guides and checklists to make sure you have all your ducks in a row.
Understanding your responsibilities and setting things up well from the start can help save you money, and increase your chances of success.

Did you know IRD run free seminars and workshops across New Zealand on topics like getting started in business, GST, and becoming an employer? They've also made a series of seminars covering the most commonly asked questions from the small to medium sized business community.

There's loads of helpful stuff to make sure you're in the know:

How to start a business, what your responsibilities are.

17/07/2023

Kia ora! Looking to make the most of the social opportunities while you're co-working at The Orchard?
Here are some tips to help you make connections and friends while you're co-working:

🤝Introduce yourself: Start by introducing yourself to the people around you. Be friendly, approachable, and initiate conversations with those sitting nearby. A simple greeting can be all it takes to break the ice.

🍻 Attend coworking events: Take advantage of these opportunities to meet new people, network, and socialize. There are all sorts of events at The Orchard - professional networking and PD opportunities, and casual Social Club activities and get-togethers too!

🛋️Utilize shared spaces: Take breaks in common areas like the kitchen or on the couches. Be brave - say hi, strike up conversations with coworkers who are taking breaks or working in those areas. You might discover shared interests or hobbies.

👉Offer help and expertise: If you notice someone struggling with a task or discussing a topic you're knowledgeable about, offer your assistance or insights. Helping others can foster connections and it generally makes us feel pretty darn good too!

✉️Offer and accept invitations: If you receive invitations to join a lunch, coffee break, or after-work activity, accept them if you can. Similarly, extend invitations to coworkers for social outings or informal get-togethers.

12/07/2023

For lots of us, tax returns are finished for another year - wooohooo!

Now that is sorted, it can be a great time to do some planning for the financial year ahead - check your financial position, forecast your cashflow, and understand your business health: https://www.tools.business.govt.nz/cashflow-forecaster?_gl=1*umqw5f*_ga*NzYzMTkwMjI1LjE2ODYyNjk2NTA.*_ga_GYLE0HQMGJ*MTY4NjUxNjgyNC4yLjEuMTY4NjUxNjg5MC4wLjAuMA..

Cash flow describes your business health. This interactive tool helps you forecast cash flow from your current finances and expected changes.

07/07/2023

🌬️ Finding it hard to get going on these chilly mornings? Embrace some cozy productivity at The Orchard! ❄️

We're here to provide you with a warm and inviting space to fuel your productivity this winter! Here are the top three reasons why our co-working office is the perfect choice during the winter months:

1️⃣ Comfort: The Orchard has heating, cozy working spots, and bottomless coffee, tea, and hot chocolate! Escape the winter blues (and avoid increasing your home power bill, or sitting alone in the cold) and enjoy a comfortable work environment that boosts your productivity.

2️⃣ Community: When it's cold and dark early we can be reluctant to get out and about and can become a bit isolated. Winter is a great time to join our vibrant community of like-minded professionals who are passionate about collaboration and networking.

3️⃣ Flexibility: We offer flexible membership plans, including casual, part-time, and full-time options. Work your way with the flexibility to adapt your plan as the season progresses. Enjoy the freedom to work in a professional environment without the burden of long-term commitments.

Stay warm, productive, and connected at The Orchard, visit https://www.theorchard.co.nz/ for more information on how you can become a part of our winter-ready co-working community! ❄️

05/07/2023

Did you know there is a Funding Explorer tool on the Business.govt.nz website?

You put in a few quick details about your business situation, it shows different options for funding your business. There are quick reference visuals to show cost, risk and effort involved with each, and lots of helpful information and pros and cons of differnt funding types.

Looking to explore funding options to grow your business? Take a look here: https://www.tools.business.govt.nz/funding-explorer/

Should your finance come from a bank loan, other debt, equity, grants or something else? Explore the best funding options for your business.

01/07/2023

Looking to level up your business game? It might be time to do some AI dabbling - it is revolutionizing the way small businesses operate. Here's how you can use some simple tools to your advantage:

🤖 Automate Repetitive Tasks: Let AI handle mundane tasks like data entry, email responses, and appointment scheduling. Free up time for more important aspects of your business! ⏰📥

📊 Unlock Insights: AI-powered analytics can crunch mountains of data to provide valuable insights. Understand customer behavior, market trends, and operational efficiency like never before! 📈🔍

💬 Personalized Customer Experiences: AI chatbots deliver 24/7 support, answer FAQs, and provide personalized recommendations. Enhance customer satisfaction and engagement effortlessly! 💬😊

💼 Optimize Operations: AI can streamline processes, from inventory management to quality control. Boost efficiency and reduce costs for a smoother operation!
Embrace the power of AI and transform your small business into a well-oiled machine! 🔧💼💥

Check out this post highlighting great tools - their site has categorised lists of different AI for different applications to help you find what you're looking for:

Best Of 10 “Best” AI Tools for Business (June 2023) Updated on June 9, 2023 By Alex McFarland Table Of Contents Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have opened up countless new opportunities for every size business across the globe. AI is providing deep insights like never before, and it i...