Do I have to be a former refugee or migrant to apply?

Yes. At this time, we are only accepting individuals (or their spouse) who arrived to NZ through one of these pathways - 

• Refugee quota programme

• Refugee family support sponsorship category

• Community organisation refugee sponsorship category

• Convention refugee

We are also accepting individuals from ethnic communities who consider themselves disadvantaged migrants where it is unsuitable or they are unable to access mainstream services, such as other business programmes or getting a loan from the bank.

Unfortunately we are unable to accept asylum seekers who are not eligible to start a business and be self-employed in NZ yet.

My English is not very good. Can I still join the programme? 

Our programmes are taught in English and good English proficiency is recommended. However, if you lack English skills, we may be able to provide you with an interpreter for the programme but you must be willing to study English. We recommend contacting English Language Partners for free English lessons.

What topics will be covered in the programme?

Our programmes are designed to give you enough knowledge, confidence, skills and resources for you to take the next step in your entrepreneurship journey. 

Our workshops cover topics such as business mindsets, skills assessment, knowing your customers, feasibility assessment, building a team, strategy, branding, marketing, visual communications, legal compliance, business structure, financial and business planning. 

Our one-on-one coaching will be tailored towards your personal needs, challenges and goals. Our coaches are experts in a variety of business focuses and will work with you to plan a roadmap for what you want to achieve over the course of 12 weeks.

How much time do I have to commit to the programme?

Participants joining the NEST programme must be able to commit 3 hours per week for a total of 12 consecutive weeks to attend all the group workshops, held on a Saturday morning. You are also required to commit another 2-4 hours during the week to review what you have learned, complete homework and develop your business plan.

Participants joining the SOAR programme must be able to commit at least 10-15 hours per week for a total of 12 consecutive weeks to meet with your business coach every Saturday and to work on your business during the week.

Will I be able to get a grant or a loan to help startup my business?

If you are attending or have graduated from our SOAR programme, you will be able to apply for a microfinance loan to help startup or grow your business if you are unable to get funding elsewhere. Our microfinance loans are free of interest and fees but you will need to repay what you borrow within a timeframe. Your loan manager will work with you on a repayment plan that is affordable for your budget. You will need to ensure you meet this criteria.

We do not provide any grants at this time.

How often will I need to meet up with my business coach? 

If you are participating in the SOAR programme, you (and your team) will meet with your assigned business coach once a week for a total of 12 weeks. In addition to this, you are expected to commit at least 10- 15 hours per week to make progress on your business plan or your business.

Once you complete the SOAR programme, you have the option to meet with a personal business mentor once a month for up to 18 months to support your business development.

What is the difference between a business coach and a business mentor?

A business coach will journey with you for a short period of time (12 weeks) to equip and empower you to launch or grow your business. Your coach will focus on specific goals and tasks for example, registering your business, launching a website, refining your customers, refining your sales and marketing strategy, setting up social media, budgeting and forecasting, expanding your product/ service to a new market, sourcing funding and more.

A business mentor will journey with you for a longer period of time (up to 18 months) to encourage, up-skill and guide you as you are running your business. Your mentor will be a sounding board for working through decisions and can offer advice for any new ideas and challenges you may have. They can also help connect you with other resources and opportunities.

What makes your programmes different to other business programmes in Auckland?

We understand the needs and aspirations of migrants who face systemic barriers and disadvantages. Our programmes are tailored to give you the right level of resources you need to pursue your entrepreneurial dreams and to build a thriving livelihood for your family. 

We have the following features that may not be available at other programmes:

• Delivered by migrant-background facilitators and coaches who have cultural competency and can adapt to language challenges 

• Support for language, childminding, personal debt and other barriers 

• Access to microfinance loan to help startup or grow your business 

• Access to personal financial mentoring to help you/ your family’s budgeting

• Peer support and networking with other aspiring entrepreneurs from migrant communities

• Ongoing business mentoring once your business is setup

• Connection to other support services  

How many other participants will be in my group in the NEST Programme?

There may be 20 - 30 participants doing the group workshops. However, when you progress to SOAR, you / your team will be meeting with your business coach one-on-one. You will still be able to network with your peers at the monthly networking events.

Can I participant as a team with others I want to start a business with?

Yes certainly, you can form a team with family members or friends (up to 3 people) if you want to startup a business together. If you are already in a business partnership with others, up to 3 of your business team can join together.