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Welcome to the Franklin Focus Summer 2007 Edition.

2007 is shaping up to be a very exciting year for Enterprise Franklin Development Trust.

Among the many highlights we have to look forward to are:
- the biannual Stevenson Franklin Country Business Awards where Franklin's finest businesses showcase their success;

- the start of the MIT RaceQual qualification in February addressing the motorsport skills shortage in Pukekohe;

- the first New Zealand Sporthorse Sales and Expo to be held at Abderry Agistment Centre on 28th & 29th April.

- a continuation in the high calibre speakers entertaining and educating attendees at the Campbell Tyson Cooper White Business Breakfasts and the Diva Business Women's Network meetings;

- BetterBusiness workshops covering strategic planning, financial planning, human resources and marketing;

- an increase in the number of mentors available for Franklin businesses;

- exciting new initiatives from the Business Associations;

- and a continuation in the economic growth and prosperity of the Franklin district.

Wishing you all a prosperous year.
Astrid Lambert,
CEO, Enterprise Franklin Development Trust.
Visit our website www.enterprisefranklin.co.nz

Motorsport Hub Update

RaceQual

Unique to Manukau Institute of Technology the Racequal Certificate in Motorsport (level 2) offers students practical and specialized training that includes the modification of a vehicle to participate in the local club racing circuit. Commencing this February, the programme will be taught at a MIT satellite facility in Pukekohe, so students will be close to the action and could even end up working in pit crews for existing racing teams.

The programme is designed to introduce participants to the world of managed motorsport events and driver training. As well as gathering the skills required to modify a vehicle for participation in motorsport, this certificate also gives participants the opportunity to move into other areas in automotive engineering, automotive electrical, motor body and vehicle finishing trades.

RaceQual Programme Leader, Trevor Henessey says they have been overwhelmed with both the number and standard of applicants for the first course. He says this is testament to the buzz this exciting industry generates and hopes the course will go a long way to addressing the current skills shortage that exists.

Youth2Work

EFDT, in association with the Ministry of Social Development, have developed the Youth2Work scheme to enable young people wanting to enter the motor industry gain education and work experience.

If you have a business in this industry and could provide work experience in the fabrication, panel beating, car painting, engine tuning, mechanical repairs, tyre technology, chassis alignment or auto electrical fields contact Dennis Webb: 09 237 0452.

For more information visit www.motorplexnz.org

Featured Franklin Business - Car Valet Services

Iconic Pukekohe landmark, the eight metre purple giraffe in Adams Drive is home to Car Valet Services, a team of cleaning dynamos who can transform anything from boats, bikes, and trucks, to campervans, horse floats, hot rods, under bodies and even kitchen vents!

Owners Aaron & Monique purchased the established business two years ago. Originally an engineer, born perfectionist Aaron has always had a passion for cars. Coupled with Monique who has a background in beauty therapy, it made perfect sense to merge both talents and form a business that they describe as ‘automotive beauty therapy’.

Testament to the high standards they deliver, Car Valet Services have held the contract for cleaning the BMW driver training fleet for the last 2 years.

Monique says you would be amazed at what they find in a days work. Often with stains, spillages and vomit, people try to clean it up for themselves and end up just diluting it and pushing it further into the fabric, resulting in nasty smells that won’t go away.

Points of difference that make the business unique include the pick up and drop off service in the local area – ideal if you want your car cleaned while you work, shop, or lunch. There is also a courtesy car available if you need to stay on the move, and competitive discounts are offered for fleet and frequent users.

For more information call 09 238 5487 or 027 438 5487.

GVR Steam and Vintage Festival 2007

What is shaping up to be the biggest steam and vintage event ever held in the Auckland region will be the highlight of Glenbrook Vintage Railway's calendar for 2007.

The Steam and Vintage Festival, celebrating GVR's 30 years of operation will be held on the weekend of February 10th and 11th 2007.

The centrepiece, and the catalyst, for this event will be the appearance, for the first and only time ever in New Zealand's North Island, of a magnificent Scenic Showman's Traction Engine "Quo Vadis", and 1898 Savages "Three Abreast Gallopers" carousel (merry-go-round) complete with fairground organ, currently visiting this country from the UK.

This is a unique opportunity to see and ride on classic British fairground equipment from the steam age. Showman’s engines hauled the fairground attractions from village to village, and provided the power to drive and illuminate the rides.

The GVR Steam and Vintage Festival will run from 9 - 5 on both days and will feature a large variety of other vintage machinery and vehicles, including:

- A variety of steam locomotives, some visiting, hauling vintage passenger trains on the Railway,

- The largest ever gathering of traction engines in the Auckland region,

- Steam boats operating on the adjacent farm lake, a Vintage Tiger Moth aircraft, steam threshing, chaffcutting and sawing demonstrations, Clydesdale horses and wagons as well as musical entertainment, rides and a variety of food for sale.

A night session, with all the lights on Quo Vadis and the gallopers illuminated, will be held on Saturday night, from 8.30 pm until 10.00pm

For more information visit www.railfan.org.nz/

End of an Era Pukekohe V8s

April this year will see the end of an era with the New Zealand round of the Australian V8s transferring to Hamilton in 2008.

Not surprisingly, the team behind the famous V8 Parade wants to ensure Pukekohe sees the V8s out in style. Business Manager Wendy Voegelin is already organising the ultimate V8 Parade which she says will be bigger and better than ever.

The Parade, scheduled for Friday 20th April will be preceded by a flyover of the RNZAF's Red Checkers (weather permitting) and then it will be on to the main event starting at an earlier time of 6pm. Says Wendy, "This year we really want to showcase Pukekohe as the home of motorsport and we want all those motorsport enthusiasts who have vehicles which reflect this to join in this final parade".

The V8s also presents a great opportunity to market Pukekohe and the wider Franklin area to Auckland and beyond and so the Pukekohe Business Association will be working to ensure that the districts other attributes are marketed to race goers during our time in the spotlight.

For more information and entry forms visit the V8s website www.teampukekohe.co.nz

More Business Mentors for Franklin

Late November 2006 saw the relaunch of Business Mentors NZ in the Franklin area. Since then 13 new mentors have come forward in the Franklin area to lend their expertise to local businesses.

Business Mentors NZ have operated in NZ since 1991. This has been an extremely successful initiative with research indicating that mentoring is the key ingredient in small business success.

The Business Mentor programme steers people (who may not otherwise seek professional advice) towards professional advice, thereby reducing business failure rates and enhancing business growth.

Local accounting firm, Campbell Tyson Cooper White was instrumental in the push to give this programme a higher profile in the Franklin area. The growth in the number of small businesses in the area is huge and the reality is that many of them are working in isolation with no one to bounce ideas off.

A Business Mentor is a person with extensive business experience and skills who provides voluntary, one-on-one guidance to people in small business. They need to have empathy for small business owners and be able to communicate and win the confidence of others.

Business Mentors are providers of opinions and ideas NOT professional services. They are coaches NOT consultants.

Errol Heywood, the Business Growth Initiatives Manager at Enterprise Franklin has been a Business Mentor for 12 years and in that time he has worked with many small businesses helping them to grow. Errol says that being a mentor is a rewarding and satisfying experience which has enabled him to develop new and existing business skills. For more information on becoming a mentor call Errol: 09 237 0453.

If you have been in business for 12 months or more and employ less that 25 employees and you could benefit from the advice of a Business Mentor call Colin Aiken, the South Auckland co-ordinator for Business Mentors NZ on 0800 103 400.

For more information visit www.businessmentor.org.nz


What's Up Tuakau

The Ministry of Social Development have funded $50,000 to enhance programs for young people in Tuakau.

This will be a joint project with Tuakau Homebuilders Family Support & Budgeting Service Trust, Tuakau Youth Centre and the Franklin District Council.

The project, called ‘What's up Tuakau’ fits in well with Enterprise Franklin Development Trust's (EFDT) upcoming Youth Innovator Initiative, Counties Manukau Sports activities and the Tuakau & Districts Development Assoc. (TDDA) marketing plan for the area.

Danielle Oakes, Service Manager Tuakau Homebuilders said the benefits to the community will be huge. "This funding represents an opportunity for Tuakau young people to participate in positive activities that will build their leadership potential and we think it is just fantastic. What's Up Tuakau will result in young people being an even more valuable contribution to the community".

For more information contact Danielle at: tuakauhb@hotmail.com  or 09 239 1550.

Thanks to our Sponsors

FMG has been New Zealand’s leading provider of rural insurance for over 100 years and we are proud to support the summer edition of the Franklin Focus. It pays to use the right people to do the right job and like Enterprise Franklin, our friendly, local knowledge sets us apart from the competition. This has also allowed us to tailor our products to meet the needs of our clients and the changing face of their businesses.

Our insurance policies cover all your rural needs from the farm buildings to tractors, while our business and domestic products address other aspects of our lifestyle. As well as a wide range of insurance products we also offer risk protection in the form of life insurance and disability assistance, finance options and an investment advisory team to help you achieve the best possible lifestyle in the future.

To discuss your insurance, finance and investment needs call our local Pukekohe office today on

09 237 1107

Visit our website www.fmg.co.nz