A coffee with Elaine Reilly from Vision Manawatu

Who are Vision Manawatu? And what is your role?

Vision Manawatu is the region’s economic development agency specialising in business growth and support, as well as playing an active role in key economic sectors for the wider Manawatu region including Student City, the Manawatu Defence Hub and as a lead partner in the Regional Development Strategy.

"Elaine is quite humble and omitted to say that she is the CEO of Vision Manawatu"

What does your business do? How do you do it?

Vision runs the Westpac Manawatu Business Awards, regular economic forums, Manawatu Trades Graduation, Young Enterprise Scheme and sustainability and smart business acceleration programmes. Vision also delivers contracts through New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Regional Business Partners Network, the Ministry of Science and Innovation and acts as a first point of contact for investment and funding.

Vision gives business advice to new and emerging companies to help grow our region's talent, innovation and success and also supports the BCC’s Innovate Manawatu Competition and ANZ’s Flying Start Business Plan Competition. See http://www.innovatemanawatu.co.nz - the winners have been announced!

What industry sectors do you work with or in?

Distribution…. we are a naturally efficient hub as acknowledged by the long standing presence of Toyota, Ezibuy, Foodstuff, Brandlines and many many others.

Education – a critical sector that makes an enormous contribution to our region’s economy, and is a massive draw card for talent and innovative projects – there is excellence here in Trades, Design, Defence, Aviation, Engineering… the list goes on…

Agri business and Food, we are a powerful primary producer with some very smart innovations out there that are changing the New Zealand and world practices; plus we have a significant and growing base of over 600 world class food scientists here, as well as many companies who are developing innovative products.

Defence has a long track record here in the Manawatu, and this is growing further, with new positions here allowing more defence families benefiting from great professional opportunities as well as tremendous family advantages, not least of which are our great schools.

These sectors are important and also our support goes further - we are interested in any company based in the Horizons region who wishes to innovate and grow.  Sometimes the number-eight wire we are so famed for pops up in really unusual and quirky ways and we have many examples of niche market companies who are the top of their specialist industry sector. Our advisers will connect ambitious companies to the right sources of information and funding.  

What are the challenges you see most often when working within your industry?

Small business is hard yards, wherever in the world you operate.

An important role we play is to continually connect, encourage and inform business owners while working with industry groups to smooth the business environment as much as possible. Sometimes that is about helping them understand that collaborating with the ‘traditional competitor’ might actually reap rewards for both, by growing their collective pie.

 The tyranny of distance from markets remains relevant but is reducing in importance as broadband capacity and other technologies open up new opportunities and routes to market. Encouraging business owners to stop, and develop and think through strategies for the future is an on-going commitment from our team.

What makes Vision successful? What are the barriers (If any)?

Clear strategy, partnerships and priorities… supplemented by great people. My team are fantastic and never fail to impress me with their commitment and continued application to our cause of enhancing the region’s economy.

There are challenges all around. We are a small business, but through our partnerships are delighted to see the 10-year strategy gaining more and more ‘adoptive parents’ as we go.

Palmerston North Personnel work with great people every day – what comment can you make about the value people make to your business and/or the Manawatu business environment?

They make or break it.

Locally we are so fortunate to have some tremendous talent working in many important ways. I’m always impressed by some of the world-class research and innovation that comes out of our region – we have top people, who are smart, connected and who also acknowledge that the Manawatu lifestyle is for them and their families: minimal commute times, fantastic arts and recreation facilities, glorious scenic walkways and cycle tracks. Who would not be inspired and refreshed after a cycle or walk along the river front or over our country roads?

The success of our recent Business Accelerator programme and also the Innovate! Manawatu competition has underscored just how many people here in the Manawatu have ambitions to create new products and services and unleash their ‘entrepreneurial flair’. We see it every day and it is exciting, and always driven by passionate people!

See more at the links below.

Vision is a consultancy style organisation – how much impact do your staff have on your clients business?

Our role is economic development- and to do that we apply resources to the points where we believe we can make the most difference. I am continually delighted with the feedback we receive from users of our services. It is inspiring and enormously validating to see what a difference a Business Mentor or the right piece of advice or contact can make.

Elaine you and I discussed a threat to attracting and/or retaining key people within Manawatu organisations – what comment can you make on this and your personal experience.

This is a fantastic place, with a tremendous legacy of good business - the ingredients for that include location, access to talent via our extensive tertiary education establishment and strong business services - with the options of quality rural lifestyle or urban accessibility which attracts  all kinds of people at different stages of life.

Vision have had success with Welcome Plans for attracting and Welcoming non-residents to the region  - Welcome to Palmerston North and through strategic partnering with Destination Manawatu 

The challenge for us to attract and retain key people and companies in our region is influenced not just by the global economy, but by a number of factors locally too. We have a responsibility to showcase the very best of what the Manawatu has to offer in a confident and coordinated way. We’re already winning hearts and minds, and our economic results have been strong.

Our family have settled well here - we lived on a sheep farm about 12 miles south of Glasgow and so the decision to live in the suburbs has really been an easy transition as we feel close to open countryside, with the convenience of our children getting themselves around town on foot, bike or bus. We love the accessibility of so many options – music, drama, gymnastics, rugby and sports all feature in our lives and works well. We recently started a karate club at College Street School - both my husband Michael and I are blackbelts and there was no club of our style here, so we started Manawatu Shotokai. We aim to be New Zealand citizens by the end of the year, so I guess you could confidently say we are well bedded into the Manawatu community and lifestyle now!

Often the reason a family is in Manawatu is because a highly qualified specialist is employed into the region from other locations. Palmerston North Personnel regularly work with the partners of highly qualified specialists - in doing this we increase the likelihood the family unit stays in the region longer. If one or more of a family are "under-employed" there is a risk that under employed individuals are dissatisfied and pressure can be applied to high qualified employees to relocate. If your business employees "non-residents" consider proving the family access to Palmerston North Recruitment Specialists - its as easy as recommending  www.pnpersonnel.co.nz 

What recommendations or advice would you have for anyone considering sourcing or employing people, or growing their Manawatu business?

Come and see Vision…  and it is never too early to do so.

Sometimes the right heads up or connection early on, can make a massive difference. I would also encourage business to connect with our talented student population. There are all sorts of ways to work with students through internships as well as summer jobs, and these can often open up new thinking or opportunities for businesses and inject in new know-how and practices.

And as the authors I need to state the obvious "If you are wanting TOP TALENT then contact Palmerston North Personnel's Client Manager on 356 6091" ...or at least subscribe to the BLOG updates on the right. We have an option to receive updates on TOP TALENT we have interviewed and supprt! 

How do you feel the Manawatu business environment is performing through 2012 and beyond? And what impact if any do you feel the European community will have on Manawatu business?

We have held our own in so many areas. Smart businesses have either developed or are developing new strategies to be adaptive and embrace new markets, technology or ways of working. Adaptive management has been crucial and those businesses who are onto that, are doing well.

 The European situation is unprecedented and could go so many ways. Once again monitoring continuously and adapting in response will be critical.

In Summary:

Elaine Reilly is an energtic and enthusatisc head for Vision Manawatu our Economic Development specialists. She is fiercley proud of Vision Manawatu  and their success in Manawatu .

It can be as easy as thinking you want to grow your business - calling Vision and go see an Advisor.

Vision will work through the nature of your ambitions and goals, and discuss them and help you with action plans. Vision can help with up to date funding options, how to go about R & D (Research and Development) and they can also assist with Management Development including helping with marketing and developing strategic plans.

Vision and their extensive networks/relationship make sure they help you and your business with  Mentors, Funding/Grants and actionable plans. They have had some brilliant success with relationship partnering ...check them out online at http://www.visionmanawatu.org.nz/ 

And of course if you are wanting great people ...come and talk the Team at Palmerston North Personnel we are here to add expertise in sourcing the best talent available, with the most effective methods available. www.pnpersonnel.co.nz