The Engine fires up in Auckland with free business training

The Engine fires up in Auckland with free business training for start-ups and SMEs

The Engine is a new initiative providing practical business support to Auckland's start-ups, and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). To celebrate its launch The Engine is offering free training workshops until the end of May, with proven strategies and practical advice being delivered by experienced business owners. Topics covered include sales & marketing, social media, legal, business planning, and health & safety.

SMEs are undoubtedly the backbone of New Zealand's economy, but business ownership is not for the faint hearted. It takes resilience and tenacity. The Engine aims to support SMEs with targeted training, and provide a single point of contact for all the expertise their business might require, via a team of specialist providers.

Co-founder, Angus Ogilvie, explains more. "The concept of The Engine was borne out of a real need to share pragmatic business knowledge. SMEs often have the technical skills they need to succeed, but lack business skills and experience. The idea is to equip our members with a solid foundation and give them a head start."

Co-founder, Nick Hodson, continues. "There's an old saying, 'you don't know what you don't know'. If you're starting out in business, how do you find out what you don't know? And, even if you realise that you need an accountant or a lawyer, whom do you choose and will they be any good? The Engine has assembled a team of specialists in their fields, all of whom have a genuine understanding of small businesses and achieving real results."

How does The Engine work? Its training workshops are open to everybody and – from 1st June – these will be keenly priced to keep them as accessible as possible. Likewise, the sessions are held in different locations around Auckland for attendees' convenience, and to ensure that time out of their business is kept to a minimum.

An online Business Health Check is available for anyone to gain an immediate snapshot of where their business is currently – to confirm what is running well, and identify the areas which may need attention.

Plus, SMEs may choose to join The Engine and enjoy membership benefits, such as regular networking events, and quarterly forums where they can showcase their business to an engaged audience. There are also financial savings to be gained through alliance partners including Noel Leeming, OfficeMax and Hertz, and the fuel discounts available could save members up to $410 per year (based on a $150 weekly spend).

Angus Ogilvie concludes, "Running a business can feel very lonely. We want our members to realise that they're not alone. Whether they're just starting out or thinking about succession planning, The Engine is here to power their business and drive it forward."

Full details of The Engine's free workshops can be found on the website under Business Training Calendar. The code ENG100 should be used to receive a 100% discount on the cost of a 2-hour workshop, and ENG50 should be used to receive a 50% discount on the cost of a 4-hour workshop.

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