Inspiring Women in business in New Zealand
New Zealand has the world’s highest rate of women entrepreneurs, according to the recent Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, a study of 29 countries. This is in addition to having one of the world’s top five general level of entrepreneurship and innovation according to a recent international report and the highest level of ‘senior’ entrepreneurship (over 35). And this is reflected by the high number of women entrepreneurs taking up opportunities at the Southern Innovation Centre in Invercargill, New Zealand, a 50/50 gender balance in the land of the “Southern Man”.
(PRWEB) May 7, 2002
New Zealand has the world’s highest rate of women entrepreneurs, according to the recent Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, a study of 29 countries. This is in addition to having one of the world’s top five general level of entrepreneurship and innovation according to a recent international report and the highest level of ‘senior’ entrepreneurship (over 35). And this is reflected by the high number of women entrepreneurs taking up opportunities at the Southern Innovation Centre in Invercargill, New Zealand, a 50/50 gender balance in the land of the “Southern Man”. The Southern Innovation Centre has being launched by Southern Institute of Technology, New Zealand.
It has two activities – a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Enterprise (PGBE), that started in February 2002 and a business incubator that will shortly be set up to help innovators and entrepreneurs to launch great businesses. The PGBE is an excellent choice for people wishing to set up their own businesses. It is an 18-month programme, of which the first seven consist of intensive group learning and academic study and the final eleven of action-based research and business planning.
New Zealand is recognised as one of the worldÂ’s most entrepreneurial countries. In the past, entrepreneurs in New Zealand have received less than adequate support and their failures have been harshly criticised whilst their successes often overlooked. This is changing rapidly as the economic and social benefits of innovation and new business growth are recognised by business, society and government alike. SouthlandÂ’s zero-fee education scheme has been an entrepreneurial success in its own right, attracting students for a range of programme to come to the deep South and enjoy a healthy and innovative lifestyle. Now the spirit of creativity and growth has extended to setting up the Southern Innovation Centre as a initiative to promote the values of entrepreneurship, to celebrate and support business talent, and to help create opportunity and prosperity in the region.
The director of the centre, Jonathan Foster-Pedley says: “ This is a golden opportunity for people of all ages in New Zealand who want to set their own businesses. They can do so in a managed and guided way, benefiting from the advice and support of academic staff, experienced business people and from collaborating with others on their programme. At the end, not only will graduates have an academic qualification, but will also have made many of their start-up errors in a safe, incubated environment. Why learn in the real world with real investors’ money when so much of that learning can be replicated under supported educational conditions? They’ll come out from the programme with full business and marketing plans, and a wealth of learning that might have taken them years of hard and expensive experience to get in business. And they don’t only have to come from South – all New Zealanders and Australians can come here to benefit from the zero fee scheme and share in the optimistic Southern energy”
Each participant is provided an office, phone, business and cash planning and computer facilities. Current businesses include graphic design; educational products; filmmaking; bookshops and knowledge services; restaurant and hospitality; bio-diesel research and manufacture; import; lifestyle, health and weight products and services.
For further information please contact j. foster-pedley@sit. ac. nz tel +63 3 218 1663
Http://www. sit. ac. nz (http://www. sit. ac. nz)
6 May 2002
