03 687 2733
South Canterbury COVID-19 Support Team Business Assistance
The South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce is the official South Canterbury Covid-19 Response Team for business advice and funding support.
This page brings together information relating to COVID-19, how it may affect your business and how you can stay up to date as new information becomes available.
CONTACT THE SOUTH CANTERBURY CHAMBER: +64 3 687 2733 or email your contact details to: enquiries@scchamber.org.nz
COVID-19 Update
-
Official COVD-19 website - covid19.govt.nz - This website has everything you need to know about Covid-19 in one place. Find out what help is available and get the latest updates.
-
Ministry of Health - This section provides the latest updates, information and advice on COVID-19, as well as information in other languages and formats.
-
COVID-19 ALERT SYSTEM Find links to the government updates here:
Please contact us at the SC Chamber of Commerce for any further advice.
Regional Business Partner Programme
The South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce is the pathway to, and administrator of the government funded Regional Business Partner Network (RBP) for South Canterbury businesses. We're here to support your business recovery and growth.
The Regional Business Partner Network is a gateway that connects you to the right advice, people and resources. The Covid-19 Advisory Fund and Tourism Transitions Programme Fund are currently fully allocated in the South Canterbury Region. The Capability Development Fund is active, although there may be a Wait-list.
For more information please contact Fiona Stevens on 03 687 2733 or email fiona@scchamber.org.nz
Venture Timaru Professional Services Grants (PSG)
Business assessment, service matching and administration by the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce.
To support the Timaru District’s small-medium enterprises (SMEs) affected by the impacts of COVID-19, a $400 grant plus $400 of support from Advisors contribution has been made available by Venture Timaru to enable SMEs to access professional advice and support. Find out more here.
COVID-19 Resources
Business Support:
-
COVID-19: Information for businesses - This is the New Zealand government’s central resource for COVID-19 business information.
-
SBCS – COVID-19 Small Business Cashflow Scheme - Inland Revenue administered. Applications for the SBCS loan have been extended until the end of 2023. Businesses and organisations that have fully repaid their loan before end of 2023, can re-borrow one further time.
-
www.connected.govt.nz MSD site - Connecting New Zealanders to Employment, Education and Training.
-
Workplace change & restructuring – Latest policies and processes for Employers who want to make a change in their workplace affecting structure and people’s roles. Steps in the change process
-
Flexi-wage Subsidy - information for employers - If you're interested in hiring someone, and they need support to gain the required job skills, MSD may be able to help with in-work support, training or a wage contribution.
-
Short-Term Absence Payment – is available for businesses, including self-employed people, to help pay their workers who cannot work from home while they wait for a COVID-19 test result. Available from 9th February 2021.
-
Covid-19 Leave Support Scheme - is available for employers, including self-employed people, to help pay their employees who need to self-isolate and can't work from home.
-
Digital Boost – government funded. Learn the digital skills to boost your business and work smarter for optimum results. FREE education and digital support including videos, online courses, all taught by experts.
-
Redundancy information for employers- MSD can provide support and advice for your staff when you need to consider redundancies.
-
Temporary Loss Carry-Back Scheme- Tax changes to help businesses through the impact of COVID-19. Businesses expecting to make a loss in either the 2020 year or the 2021 year can use that loss to offset profits they made the year before.
-
Business Debt Hibernation- Business debt hibernation helps companies and other entities affected by COVID-19 manage their existing debts until they can start trading normally again.
Contact Tracing:
-
Contact tracing for COVID-19 - Contact tracing for COVID-19 Information about how the Ministry of Health and district health boards trace contacts of identified cases.
Export Advice:
-
NZTE: Advice for exporters - This site is a resource for New Zealand exporters to help them mitigate the impacts of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
-
Immigration New Zealand COVID-19 Guidance – information and Key Updates about support for all travellers, Visa holders, migrant workers and employers.
-
Visitor & Employer-assisted Work Visas extended - Employed holders of certain Visas expiring from 1stJanuary 2021 to 30 June 2021 will be able to stay and work longer.
-
Emergency benefit for Temporary Visa holders – (extended from 28 February to 31st August 2021) if you can’t work, support yourself or return home due to COVID-19 an Emergency Benefit may be available through Work & Income from 1 December 2020 to 31 August 2021.
-
Changes to Temporary Work Visas - After mid-2021, INZ is introducing a new 3-check visa application system and replacing six temporary work visas with one. The new Employer-assisted Work Visa application process will involve 3 checks before an employer can hire a migrant worker.
View Webinars - The South Canterbury COVID-19 Response Team is bringing all businesses FREE Online Workshops that you can either join remotely or watch on-demand.
Promote your business on the South Canterbury Market Place www.southcanterbury.org.nz regional website.
