Business Associations and Resources
The Thames-Coromandel is a great place to do business. If you're thinking about starting, investing in, or growing a business it's worth connecting with local business networks and resources.
Our Economic Development team is also always happy to connect you with the right people, opportunities, and resources to support your business. Please reach out if you would like to share your business voice or discuss a business idea, new venture or expansion plans.
Networks to support your business
Business Associations on the Coromandel Peninsula
Business associations play a role in creating a stronger business community through networking, advocacy, events, promotion, information sharing and capability building.
We recommend joining a business association or making contact with one to help you get a good understanding of the district, and to establish valuable business networks.
Growth advisors to support your business
Soda: Waikato Region’s Regional Business Partner Provider
Soda helps businesses grow. They have the people, experience, tools, resources and connections to make a tangible impact for you and your business.
As the Waikato region’s RBP provider, Soda have specialist Business Growth Advisors available to help business owners and key managers identify needs and opportunities to grow their business. They can provide advice, information, referrals and connections to businesses seeking support for their growth journey.
If you need business advice and support book an appointment with a Business Growth Advisor hello@sodainc.com or register online here and they will contact you.
Phone: +64 7 974 9111
Website: https://www.sodainc.com/
Tools and resources for business
If you’re looking to strengthen your organisation, you might benefit from accessing tools and resources that are readily available to New Zealand businesses. Some are free and some have a small fee.
General business advice, tools, and resources
Includes finance and legal resources
Business.govt.nz - tools and expert advice from government and industry, designed to help Kiwi businesses save time and succeed.
Connected – a central platform showing financial options and initiatives available to support your business and staff, particularly related to hiring and training employees.
Start Ups support
Startup NZ Entrepreneurs Programme (thinkific.com) – a 'first step' programme (online) to prepare new business owners mentally and emotionally for the business building journey - first three courses are free.
Ministry of Awesome - a force for high-growth startups and innovators in Aotearoa. They drive startup ambition, build capability, and support success for early-stage NZ founders and startups with global ambitions.
Startup Aotearoa – provides one-to-one support to startup founders, including free coaching sessions, tailored to the needs of the founder, but typically focuses on product-market fit, idea validation, pitch preparation, business planning and funding avenues.
Soda's Business Fundamentals platform has short online courses to help aspiring entrepreneurs and new business owners succeed. These courses provide the necessary tools and frameworks to guide aspiring entrepreneurs and new business owners through all the steps of being a business owner. Topics include: Your Business Vision & Goals, Market Validation & Fit, Money Matters, Crafting Your Brand & Competitive Edge, Marketing & Sales, Legal, Compliance & Future Planning.
See also for innovators and entrepreneurs – CreativeHQ, The Factory, and Soda Inc.
Training and mentoring support
Business Mentors New Zealand – an independent not-for-profit mentoring service committed to supporting the success of small business owners, start-up entrepreneurs and social enterprise decision-makers.
Soda Inc - helps businesses to grow, offering a range of services: 1-1 business capability training, group workshops, and speaker series.
Digital skills
Digital Boost– free learning hub with short videos, live events, and expert advice that you can implement straight away.
Workforce and employment support
Mayors Taskforce for Jobs – helping 15-24-year-olds in and into employment. Get in touch with workforce@tcdc.govt.nz if you would like assistance gaining subsidies for new young recruits, training opportunities for supervisors and employers of young people, or would like help sourcing work-ready candidates to interview.
Ministry of Social Development, Work and Income – has a range of services for employers and can help you recruit great people. Supports include recruitment services, support for new employees and redundancy support for employers.
Connected – a central place for information from the New Zealand Government, relating to Employment, Education and Training.
Recruitment agencies (ideally who are members of the RCSA) – these agencies can provide recruitment advice and staffing solutions.
Succession/selling your business
Talk to a business broker –Link is worth a look.
Council business support
If you have a business idea, new venture or expansion plans, our Economic Development Team can meet with you to discuss them and work on a pathway forward with you. Get in touch with Our Economic Development Team.
Our team also periodically runs capability workshops for businesses on topics such as AI, marketing, leadership, lean business practices, and customer service skills. If you have a business need reach out to our team to share you workshop idea or sign up to our newsletter to hear about upcoming workshops (tick 'Economic and social development').