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

  • Ministry of Health - This section provides the latest updates, information and advice on COVID-19, as well as information in other languages and formats.

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 fully allocated in the South Canterbury Region. The Capability Development Fund is active, although there may be a wait-list.

Business Mentors New Zealand

Accessing the help of a business mentor is a great way to get ongoing support as you work through the challenges of COVID-19. Mentors can provide ears and eyes across your business, to help steer you in the right direction and provide a valuable sounding board in tough times (read more).
We can facilitate direct introductions or you can register on the BMNZ website. ($295 for 12 months).

For more information please contact Fiona Stevens on 03 687 2733 or email fiona@scchamber.org.nz

 

COVID-19 Resources

Business Support:

  • COVID-19: Information for businesses - This is the New Zealand government’s central resource for COVID-19 business information.

  • Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS) is available nationally when there is a regional or national move to Alert Levels 3 and 4 for a period of seven days and helps eligible businesses keep paying staff and protect jobs. On 17th August, rates were raised to $600 per week per full-time equivalent employee, and $359 per week per part-time employee. 

    Applications for the initial two-week Wage Subsidy August 2021, which opened on 20 August 2021, have now closed. Applications for a second round of Wage Subsidy - known as Wage Subsidy August 2021 #2 - opened at 9.00am on Friday 3 September. 

  • Resurgence Support Payment (RSP) is available if firms incur a loss of 30 percent of revenue as a result of the Alert Level increase introduced 17th August. Applications for the first payment are still open. Applications for the second payment open at 8am on Friday 17 September on Inland Revenue's website, ird.govt.nz. The second payment will remain as $1,500 plus $400 per full-time equivalent (FTE) employee up to a maximum of 50 FTEs, or four times the actual revenue decline experienced by the applicant, whichever is less.  

    Leave Support Scheme (LSS) - is available for employers, including self-employed people, to help pay their employees who need to self-isolate and can't work from home. Provides a two-week lump sum payment of either $585.80 per week for full-time workers, or $350 per week for part-time workers, who must self-isolate and cannot work from home. 

  • 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. 

  • SBCS – COVID-19 Small Business Cashflow Scheme - Inland Revenue administered. Applications for the SBCS loan have been extended until the end of 2023. 

  • 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.

  • Redundancy information for employers- MSD can provide support and advice for your staff when you need to consider redundancies.

  • Business Debt Hibernation- Business debt hibernation helps companies and other entities affected by COVID-19 manage their debts.

  • Temporary Loss Carry-Back Scheme- Tax changes to help businesses through the impact of COVID-19. 

  • Tenancy Services - Coronavirus (COVID-19) –  All Alert Levels: what landlords and tenants need to know

  • 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.

  • www.connected.govt.nz MSD site - Connecting New Zealanders to Employment, Education and Training.

Contact Tracing:

Export Advice:

Immigration Advice:

Support our mission to keep all businesses supported through this difficult time by signing our petition to Government HERE.

 

COVID-19 Business Assistance Webinars
Free business support webinars available on demand HERE

 

Promote your business on the South Canterbury Market Place www.southcanterbury.org.nz regional website.

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