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Enterprise North Canterbury’s 20 years supporting locals
Enterprise North Canterbury reflects on 20 years of supporting local
It’s been 20 years since Enterprise North Canterbury (ENC) was launched by the Waimakariri and Hurunui District Councils with the aim of promoting economic development in North Canterbury and developing an innovative and prosperous region.
The agency is using its recent 20th anniversary to look back on the events and successes that have shaped the organisation to date. “Right from the get-go, ENC has been all about supporting local,” chief executive Heather Warwick explains, who has been with the agency since 2003.
The ENC Team 2022 from left to right (front row) Amelia Norman (online editor), Anna Western-Bell (business centre co-ordinator and i-SITE manager), Heather Warwick (chief executive), Janine Rogers (Visit Waimakariri product development). From left to right (back row) Guy Graham (Business Growth Advisor), Miles Dalton (Business Support Manager) and Alissa Wilson (Food & Beverage Business Development Manager).
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“We have stuck to this across the board over the past two decades, supporting new and existing local businesses with our economic development team, supporting tourism in the region through the establishment and operation of Visit Waimakariri, and more recently, supporting local food and beverage producers with the creation of the Made North Canterbury brand,” she says. Despite a clear remit laid out in 2002, nobody could have predicted the sheer number of businesses that would need help and support from the agency in the coming years. “The past 20 years have thrown a significant number of challenges our way,” Heather explains. “In September 2010 we experienced the first of the ongoing series of Canterbury earthquakes. This initial jolt significantly impacted Kaiapoi and we are still seeing redevelopments going on from that today. “So many of our local businesses needed support to rebuild and recover from that catastrophic event, which was of course followed by aftershocks and more major earthquakes in 2011 and then again in 2016.” Partnering with the Ministry of Social Development, ENC were able to assist the hundreds of businesses affected by the earthquakes and provide support, advice, information and funding. March 2020 presented a whole new challenge as Covid-19 forced the country into lockdown, effectively shutting down business for countless local operators. “This was an unprecedented event for our business community and we had to pull together our small team to process and support over 900 local businesses as they struggled with the impact of this event. “We created an award-winning triage system that allowed us to efficiently connect hundreds of businesses to the support systems and funding streams that they needed.” Major challenges aside, ENC has continued to thrive, turning out new projects and partnerships in the name of supporting local.
The ENC Business Development team receiving a commendation at the 2021 Economic Development New Zealand (EDNZ) Awards for their Covid-19 response in support of businesses. From left to right: Susan Houston (EDNZ chief executive officer), Heather Warwick (ENC chief executive), Guy Graham (ENC business growth advisor), and Miles Dalton (ENC business support manager).
“Over the years we have been involved in so many key projects and events that have bolstered our local communities and business operators. “From the Hurunui Water Project back in 2004 to the inception of our very own North Canterbury Business Awards which have been running every second year since 2008, the establishment of the ENC Business Centre in Kaiapoi and the launch of our own provenance brand – Made North Canterbury, we are so proud of all that we have achieved as an organisation,” Heather says. “And of course, on a day-to-day basis we are on the ground providing advice, support, connection and training opportunities to our local businesses so that North Canterbury continues to be a thriving and prosperous region.” Visit www.northcanterbury.co.nz to find out more about ENC.
Enterprise North Canterbury 143 Williams Street Kaiapoi North Canterbury (03) 327 3135 office@enterprisenc.co.nz enterprisenorthcanterbury.co.nz
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