Reboot with The Engine – Receive up to $5000 co-funded support

Reboot with The Engine – Receive up to $5000 co-funded support

by | Jun 20, 2024 | Newsletter

At The Engine, we don’t just coach; we dive into the pool swimming alongside you! No two businesses are the same, each facing their own unique challenges. Our approach to business support is uniquely collaborative, designed to make a real impact. We start by listening closely to your challenges and aspirations because you know your business best. However, before we go further, it’s important we do a 360 deep dive with your clients, employees and other stakeholders as we know where to find the blind spots and disconnects that are holding you back.

We listen intently to your challenges and aspirations. Together, we’ll take a step back, press pause, and take a fresh look at your business. We’ll identify the obstacles hindering your growth and pinpoint practical solutions to overcome them. Our advice is bespoke and more often or not during this 360 review we are also jumping in to help with imminent needs – right now that is typically leaning up such as restructures, IRD conversations, cashflow needs and more.

Your business is our business. Our goal is to leverage your competitive edge and ensure you stand out in your industry. Depending on the size of your business, we have a business support option for you and you may be eligible for co-funding up to $5000 for our services.

Book your funding call for coaching.

Mention this newsletter for a special deal!

Navigate by clicking on the far right or left of the pages below. 

– Catherine Cooke
Founder and Leading Business Advisor 

Book your funding call for coaching

Get your staffing mix right

by | Jun 19, 2024

Your staffing cost is pretty much the single biggest cost centre in the vast majority of businesses, so getting the mix wrong can have a huge impact on your profitability. 

What you need will vary according to seasonal variations, age and stage of the company, economic climate etc.

Navigating tough times with smart savings

Navigating tough times with smart savings

by | Jun 13, 2024

The most effective
business support
membership toolkit
for growth-minded
business owners
who want smart savings.

The Engine Business Membership – A business lifeline in your pocket

Book your FREE savings call

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Hi, I’m Catherine Cooke – Founder of The Engine

I built my first company from the ground up, to multiple companies with a staff number of 90. I almost lost everything when another business venture was derailed by circumstances out of my control. 

It’s safe to say I understand growing pains and adversity well and have seen what happens when a business goes well … and not so well. 

I’ve been a business advisor for the last seven years, with an extensive track record in helping businesses grow. 

I’m absolutely passionate about seeing businesses thrive, so I’ve pulled together a team of very talented Business Advisors. Advisors who have walked in your shoes as business owners and built the kind of company you want to build or grow – many times.

Together we’ve helped hundreds of businesses grow and have supported many through the COVID turmoil.

Save thousands of dollars by avoiding simple but often-overlooked business mistakes

  When you’re starting out in business – you don’t know what you don’t know.    And it’s the not knowing that can catch you out and cost you a lot of money.

Strategic marketing advice that provides clarity and moves the needle forward

Advice on implementing or streamlining systems and processes to help you grow 

HR advice to help you work through any tricky staffing or hiring issues

Advice on business continuity issues or succession planning so you can see a way through

Cash is the life-blood of a business – get advice on how to manage and improve cash flow

Advice to see if you qualify for business funding support through the Regional Partners Network Programme

What The Engine’s helped other businesses achieve

Lesley Dobson, It’s Organic Darling

We invested in products destined for airports and airlines and we know what happened there. In came Catherine. She just knows everyone, she doesn’t procrastinate and her background in business has been hugely helpful. 

 

Darrell Smith, Landsmiths

We’ve accomplished quite a few things through collaboration with other businesses. Catherine has introduced me to many businesses. The whole business has grown and we’ve cemented in some really good stuff. 

 

How our COMPLIMENTARY 30 minute business advice sessions work

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Reignite Your Business Amidst the Economic Chaos

Reignite Your Business Amidst the Economic Chaos

by | May 8, 2024 | Newsletter

Each week we have businesses queuing to discuss the downturn in sales and stress of keeping the wolves at bay. If this does not reasonate with you then we’d say you either are very lucky or you won the lottery. The majority of businesses are in chaos and they turn to us, sometimes too late.

At The Engine, our Advisors, along with our specialist provider community we focus on the action and ROI. We reignite your business and achieve business success – such is our track record. In these challenging times, there are three essential things your business needs right now, along with one crucial action that can save you & your staff money and provide your staff value.

1. Cash is paramount.
It’s crucial to review your business and personal expenditures & lean up, make tough decisions about retaining team members, and strategise to replace lost sales revenue. Seeking help to strategise and possibly restructure is key, and our previous newsletters on addressing tough realities struck a chord with many of our readers.

2. Visibility is vital.
Despite the temptation to cut marketing to reduce costs, it’s important to consider whether all team members are required. Neglecting marketing can lead to your business becoming the best-kept secret, while competitors gain ground. Yes it’s tough to lean up and cut, but without proven key startegies you may be staring at a different barrell. No sales, no visibility = no business.

3. Experience.
If you’re serious about surviving this economic downturn, having experienced advisors is essential. At The Engine, we bring a proven track record of working with businesses from various industries. Our Advisors have been in your shoes (still are), actively involved, and have successfully built and grown companies similar to your aspirations numerous times. Success & survival depend on the expertise you have with you, and our specialist community has the strategic guidance needed for your business and our approach brings about accountability, ensuring that your plans are executed with precision and effectiveness. *Your business may be eligible for capability funding too.

Lastly, join the many businesses with The Engine’s Business Membership – the most sought-after membership in this economic crisis. There is no other business membership that provides cost savings to you and your team. With significant financial pressures facing businesses, our membership offers valuable savings for businesses of all sizes as well as could be the value you need to keep your team when you can’t afford pay increases. Each membership includes a 2-hour coaching session to assess your needs and provide tailored suggestions.

Navigate by clicking on the far right or left of the pages below. 

– Catherine Cooke
Founder and Leading Business Advisor 

Book your 30 min Free Triage & Funding with one of our Advisors.

6 myth busters about Employment Agreements

by | May 7, 2024

Whether you are employing a new person, or adjusting your employment agreements to build greater flexibility into your workforce, “Which contract should I use?” is probably the most common question I’m asked.

And here are a few Myth busters:

  1. Zero hours contracts are Illegal.

In 2016 there were a lot of headlines about Zero-hours contracts.  At the time the Employment Relations Amendment Act 2016 was introduced and this made it a requirement for employers to:

  1. Include an availability provision, i.e. when you need them to be available to you.
  2. Have genuine business reasons for including that availability provision.
  3. Give the ability for the employee to refuse work – i.e. you can’t require the employee to be available 24/7 in case you have a shift for them, so, in return they must have the right to refuse offered work without penalty.
  4. Include details about the compensation for that availability, i.e. how much they will be paid for cancelled shifts, how much notice will be given for cancelled shifts etc.