Business programme makes a difference in Cromwell

A small Cromwell business is singing the praises of a business planning programme that seeks to improve the sustainability of Central Otago businesses.

Provisions of Central Otago produces a range of contemporary gourmet preserves and baking and signed up to the Make a Difference course in February.

Founding partners Jane Shaw and Pauline Murphy say the programme really helped get their business on track.

"We could never have carried out this level of analysis and strategic planning without guidance from the Make a Difference programme. The objective, educated advice has been invaluable," says Jane.

The Make a Difference programme is a result of Tourism Central Otago and the Otago Polytechnic Centre for Sustainable Practice working together to deliver a Ministry for Tourism funded initiative. The programme is designed to build understanding of the demand and supply chain and to address demand with sustainable practice.

The programme is specifically designed for Central Otago businesses and has been carefully aligned with Central Otago’s World of Difference brand. It supports businesses through a detailed systems analysis covering all aspects of business. Following analysis, the programme provides advice for adopting sustainable practices in relation to their environmental performance, social responsibilities and financial viability.

Working with Advisor Ella Lawton, participants design achievable tailor-made solutions and action plans towards a strategic, future-focused approach. Ms Lawton says the Make a Difference programme is designed to suit any business.

“Some businesses have high resource use and need a programme that develops improved profitability by creating efficiencies that reduce their physical demands for resources such as water and energy. Others can enjoy huge benefits by undertaking analysis which studies the systems used to identify efficiencies.”

Further information: http://www.otagopolytechnic.ac.nz/about/sustainable-practice/centre-for-sustainable-practice/make-a-difference-programme.html