Want to discuss your business or start up idea with us?
Meet our client adviser to discuss your business or start up idea in confidence. Gain free resources, helpful tools & tips, connections to business leaders and network meetings.
Gain objective advice to help challenge your thinking, set new goals and achieve success. Mentoring is available for trading businesses, start ups and community non-profits.
Inspirational, practical, valuable opportunities to connect with other business owners, share ideas, learn more about business from local experts and grow your business network.
Attend one of our workshops, helping you to unlock the secrets of business success, to plan a winning business and avoid the business failure trap.
Our upcoming events
ICIB BizBreak - April 2024 - Special edition!
- 24 Apr 2024
- 10:00 am - 11:00 am
- Rust Kitchen and Eatery, 228 Rutherford Street, Nelson, Nelson, 7010, New Zealand
Grab a cuppa and connect with like-minded local business owners. Network in a relaxed and down to earth setting. Bring your business cards, brochures or flyers.
Lunch & Learn Mapua - How To Network Effectively - with Stephen Caunter
- 8 May 2024
- 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
- Mapua Community Hall, 72 Aranui Road, Mapua, 7005, New Zealand
Join us for our next Lunch & Learn in Mapua to build skills and confidence for networking facilitated by Stephen Caunter. BYO Lunch & coffee, and meet with other entrepreneurs.
Solutions Workshop for Mentees only
- 9 May 2024
- 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
- Pūtangitangi Greenmeadows Centre, Main Road Stoke, Nelson, 7011, New Zealand
We are excited to invite all Business Assist Mentees to join for a special workshop! The focus: finding solutions for your current business challenge with a group of like-minded entrepreneurs. This is a great opportunity to get a broader range of solutions from business owners who may experience similar problems. This group will be limited to 18 people so we can provide space for participation.
NBS Lunch & Learn - Authentic Social Media Made Fun & Easy - with Bea Pole-Bokor
- 14 May 2024
- 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
- Kotuku Room, Pūtangitangi Greenmeadows Centre, Cnr Main Road and Songer St, Stoke, Nelson, Nelson, 7011, New Zealand
How is your relationship with Social Media? Is marketing your services, putting yourself out there on social media easy or scary? You know you "should" be doing it but... Join us for this interactive session to explore how promoting your business can become much easier & comfortable with these simple tips. Bea will also bring a live case study on what she does at Business Assist!
About Business Assist...
The Nelson Tasman Business Trust has been supporting local businesses since 1993.
We provide free, confidential, independent assistance for business owners or those planning to start a business: free training, monthly network meetings and mentoring for Nelson and Tasman as an Agency for Business Mentors NZ.
What people are saying
We love to work with Gael. She is helping us in all areas of our business plan. Working with her makes the process so much easier. Thank you.
Tatiana and Pat Baker from Hell's Fire Forges
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I would like to thank Gael Gordon for taking the time to meet with me to discuss my business ideas. I found her very encouraging and a good listener, and she gave me very good advice, Thank you so much Gael.
Deborah O’Leary
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I don't like standard formulas. When I had my first meeting with NTBT seven years ago they asked me to bring my business plan. I pulled out colourful A3 diagram, a little like a mind map, Sarah asked if she could photocopy it as an example for others. I knew then that my idea for NZ Textile Experiences had potential. Being believed that I was onto something unique gave me the incentive to explore, learn and action my ideas.
Since that time NZ Textile Experiences has had hundreds and hundreds of people come from all over the world, around New Zealand and locally, to attend our hands-on creative workshops and learn from our wonderful team of tutors who are all experienced at hosting our art textile and fibre craft experiences. Winning the International Creative Tourism Award (Barcelona) in 2020 for Best Creative Experience was the icing on the cake. There are many more opportunities to grow and expand, and knowing NTBT are there to help source information and bounce around ideas is nothing short of fantastic!
Colleen Plank/NZ Textile Experiences
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We reached out to the Nelson Tasman Business Trust and Sarah and the team have been so welcoming, warm, helpful and supportive. They have provided us with excellent networking opportunities and connected us with other experienced individuals which has enabled us to grow and learn much faster than we would of otherwise. We would recommend anyone in any stage of business to reach out and meet them, and participate in the Nelson Tasman Business Trust community.Lisa Crockett, Jamu
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