Small Business Support Programme

Auckland’s City Rail Link is the country’s largest transport infrastructure project and will bring considerable benefits to Tāmaki Makaurau.

Building an underground train station in the middle of a city comes with significant challenges, and being a good neighbour is just as important as our construction.

Returning for a third year in 2023, Link Alliance’s Small Business Support Programme (SBSP) will again be available for those eligible at Karanga-a-Hape Station and Te Waihorotiu Station, where it will run alongside Auckland Council’s Midtown Small Business Support Programme.

Free

Programme overview

The SBSP provides an independent business connector to help businesses identify their needs and provides individualised, free, accessible support. Businesses are also eligible for a $3000 microgrant.

The SBSP is available for businesses in the Te Waihorotiu Station and Karanga-a-Hape Station communities. The programme has been developed with the support of Heart of the City and the Karangahape Road Business Association.

It forms part of a comprehensive approach to supporting businesses throughout construction, which includes wayfinding, advertising and activation, wellbeing support, artworks around site and best practice noise mitigation.

independent advice from a business connector to identify ways to boost resilience and adapt to a changing environment

Microgrant eligibility

To be eligible, you must be a small retail, service, or hospitality business within the Te Waihorotiu Station or Karanga-a-Hape Station area (see FAQs for detailed maps). The business must be located on the ground or first floor of your building.

Businesses may apply for a financial grant, offered across six suggested categories of support. The independent business connector works to help tailor the grant application according to the needs of individual businesses. For 2023, the grant amount is $3,000 per business (plus GST if applicable).

Microgrant categories:

a) Digital marketing

b) Outdoor dining

c) Business adaptation and innovation

d) Activations

e) Signage and advertising

f) Wellbeing

Success stories

In previous years of the programme, most businesses within the Te Waihorotiu and Karanga-a-Hape Station areas applied and were successful in their microgrant applications. Examples of successful applications include:

• Digital marketing advice and training

• Direct financial support for social media spend (e.g. Facebook or Google Ads)

• Equipment upgrades (e.g. refrigeration system, new hairdressing equipment, point-of-sale system upgrade)

• New business signage and shopfront or fitout upgrades

• Mini activations such as support for live music

The business connector will work with you to tailor your application to suit your needs.

Case Studies and Testimonials

We really love the new look of the salon, thanks to the SBSP support for improved shopfront branding and refurbishment. We feel it’s a lot more welcoming now to clients but also to people in the area. We hope it becomes a place where people will just pop by with their coffee for a natter on the couch.

Leonie Nicholls, Vada/Gilt Hair, Pitt Street

This business used the SBSP to upgrade its shopfront and refresh its branding.

Using the SBSP I was able to reach a wider audience, increasing my turnover. Sponsorship opportunities have also opened up for the shop which includes events, music and so on because more people are aware of my business through advertising from the SBSP. The programme is super beneficial for small businesses and I would love to participate in the programme again.

Daniel Jones, Howlin’ Wolf Cuts and Coffee, Wellesley Street West

This business used the SBSP to fund a new advertising campaign, involving a billboard and posters complemented by targeted and sponsored ads through social media platforms.

The SBSP was crucial in helping my business maintain profitability despite ongoing construction. The improved chiller unit has greatly helped me and my wife on a daily basis as we knew that the food would stay fresh till closing, and we are very encouraged by the large increase in compliments received from new and existing customers. William the SBSP independent business connector has been very helpful in giving encouraging business advice as well as taking care of the application process from start to finish.

Sam Shum, Peppers Café, Albert Street

This business used the SBSP to upgrade to a new chiller unit, which allowed the cafe to expand its food range to include more Asian food options.

Application process

Business connector meets with business to discuss needs and possible grant application

Business connector supports business to complete application form (with quote if applicable) and submits on business’ behalf to Link Alliance

If a business or supplier is not already setup in Link Alliance payment system, business connector provides these setup forms for the business to complete

Business connector provides Purchase Order number to business or supplier

Business or supplier to send invoice to Link Alliance for payment (see below for invoice instructions)

Link Alliance approves invoice for payment

Want to find out more or apply?

Please contact the independent business connector, William Keung on william@werkits.com or call 0274 908501.

If English is not your first language we can organise a translation of this information. Please contact us if you need this service.

Mēnā ehara te reo Pākehā i tō reo tuatahi ka whakarite mātou i tētahi whakamāoritanga o ēnei mōhiohio.

Tēnā whakapā mai mēnā e hiahia ana koe ki tēnei ratonga.

若英语不是您的第一语言，我们可以安排将本信息翻译成中文。

若您需要此项服务，请联系我们。

Kapau ʻoku ʻikai ko e lea ‘Ingilisi hoʻo fuofua lea´ ‘oku mau lava ke fokotu‘utu‘u hano liliulea ʻo e fakamatala´ ni´.

Kātaki ʻo fetuʻutaki mai kiate kimautolu´ ‘o kapau ʻoku ke fiemaʻu ʻa e sēvesi ko ʻeni´.

영어가 모국어가 아닌 분들께는 본 정보의 번역본을 제공해드립니다.

번역본이 필요하신 분은 연락주시기 바랍니다.

Afai e lē o sau gagana muamua le faʻa-Peretania e mafai ona matou fesoasoani atu e faʻatulaga se faʻaliliuga o lenei pepa o fa‘amatalaga.

Faʻamolemole faʻafesoʻotaʻi mai i matou pe afai e te manaʻomia lenei auaunaga.

Business Connector, William Keung

FAQS

What is the eligibility criteria?

• Small businesses within the Te Waihorotiu Station and Karanga-a-Hape Station perimeters. Businesses who are eligible for Auckland Council’s Midtown Small Business Support Programme cannot also apply for the Link Alliance Small Business Support Programme. See below for specific eligibility maps

• Small businesses employing fewer than 20 full-time equivalent employees or contractors

• Must be a retail, service, or hospitality business

• Business is situated on the ground or first floor of the building

• Business should complete the necessary procurement paperwork as a registered Link Alliance supplier

• The grant is used and complete within 12 months of application

• The successful applicant completes a Link Alliance survey about the programme

• Grant approval is at the sole discretion of the Link Alliance

The Small Business Support Programme first ran in 2021.

What was the uptake and how successful was the programme?

The majority of businesses in both the Te Waihorotiu and Karanga-a-Hape Station areas successfully applied and participated in the 2021 programme.

In 2022, approximately sixty businesses applied and were successful in their applications.

46%

In the evaluation survey of the first year of the programme 89% of respondents found the programme somewhat, or very useful in helping their business and almost all businesses indicated they would apply again. To reflect feedback from participants, the grant amount was increased from $2000 in 2021 to $3000 in 2022.

89% of respondents found the programme helped their business

93% 89%

What are the support categories available to businesses?

Funding is provided across six suggested categories of support listed below

a) Digital marketing

• Development of e-commerce and social commerce platforms

• Social media strategy

• Social media advertising

c) Business adaptation and innovation

• Review opportunities with regards to change in demographic of customers

• Encourage Link Alliance staff and contractors to frequent local businesses via targeted promotions

• Digital adaptation such as point of sale, e-commerce, finance and digital business management tools

b) Outdoor dining

• Space utilisation and attractiveness of outdoor area

• Funding for items to facilitate outdoor dining. For example, businesses may need to acquire new equipment or undertake minor works

d) Activation

• Co-ordinated activations with other neighbouring businesses to attract customers to the area

• Leverage promotion of businesses as part of area-wide destination marketing initiatives

e) Signage and advertising

• Street poster campaign

• Improved business signage to gain better visibility

• Promoting marketing initiatives

f) Wellbeing

• Additional counselling support

• Mindfulness training

• Yoga sessions, or other identified mental stress, physical resilience type activities

How must your invoice be addressed?

Your invoice must:

• Be addressed to CRL Construction JV, 12 Morgan Street, Newmarket, Auckland

• Include the following Purchase Order number, which is a five digit number preceded by PUR (e.g. PURxxxxx)

• Show a Tax Invoice Number

• Show the GST portion

Email invoice to invoices@linkalliance.co.nz and copy in william@werkits.com and either aotea@linkalliance.co.nz or karangahape@linkalliance.co.nz

If your invoice does not follow these instructions, unfortunately the Link Alliance payment team will be unable to process the payment. Please note the payment process can take up to eight weeks.

How is the Link Alliance Small Business Support Programme different from the CRL Targeted Hardship fund? Can businesses apply for both?

The Targeted Hardship Fund (THF) is a $12m ex gratia financial support fund to help businesses affected by construction on City Rail Link’s main contract of works. The THF is governed by criteria set by project Sponsors - the NZ Government and Auckland Council - and is administered by third party consultants TSA Management. The THF is completely separate from the Link Alliance Small Business Support programme – and businesses can apply for both schemes if eligible. If you receive a Link Alliance grant this will not affect your THF application in any way. For more information on the THF visit www.cityraillink.co.nz/targetedhardshipfund

How is the Link Alliance Small Business Support Programme different from the Auckland Council Midtown Small Business Support Programme? Can businesses apply for both?

As other streetscape upgrades programmes get underway (e.g. Te Hā Noa Victoria Street, Wellesley Street Bus Improvements, Watercare wastewater upgrade project), Auckland Council has launched a Midtown Small Business Support Programme. This programme has a similar offering to the Link Alliance programme (e.g. the same grant amount, the same business connector). Depending on where they are located, businesses can only apply for one programme. If you are outside the Link Alliance area, please visit www.progressakl.co.nz to confirm if you are eligible for the wider midtown programme.

Te Waihorotiu Station – eligible business areas highlighted

If your business is not in this area, you may be eligible for Auckland Council’s midtown business support programme. Please visit www.progressakl.co.nz/midtown to find out more.

Karanga-a-Hape Station – eligible business areas highlighted

Microgrant Application Form

Date of application

Registered business name

Company # / NZBN #

Address

Telephone Email

Website Contact person and title

Support category (please select one)

l Outdoor dining

l Activation

l Wellbeing

l Business adaptation and Innovation

l Signage and advertising

l Other (please state)

Purpose of grant (100 words max)

Grant request (up to $3000). Include a supplier quote to support your application, if applicable.