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Smarter business with new workshop series
‘Business as usual’ may be tricky for many in the current economic climate. WITT’s new series of short courses offer smart, accessible tools and insights to bolster local businesses wanting to lift their game and become more resilient.
Supporting local businesses to succeed by smartening up skills, strategies and know-how is the drive behind the new series, says Deputy Director Kieran McKendry.
How to manage workplace change, or master Microsoft 365 tools, or understand data-driven decisions or use research to improve business efficiency are topics covered in workshops and lectures launching this month, with the first one free and starting June 13.
WITT’s business team tuned into the local business scene through meetings with the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce. “We found there were some gaps that we had the skillset to fill to benefit the business community. We also identified that in our current economic climate, people could only commit short amounts of time to their professional development,” says Kieran.
He is excited about the opportunity the courses offer to businesses, many of whom are facing tough times with financial pressures and navigating economic uncertainty.
“The Research for Business Success is free and delivered in three workshops that build on each other. It’s designed to equip businesses with practical research skills to identify challenges, gather and analyse data, and apply insights to make smarter, evidence-based decisions that drive real-world business success,” he says. “It also allows us to explore opportunities on how we can have our students help local business with their research projects.”
Courses are designed and facilitated by WITT’s team of highly experienced tutors with real-world business experience and academic smarts. Courses are suited for business owners, managers, marketers, contractors – from trades to tech, retail and services - who want further development but can’t commit to full-time study.
“Our expert tutors have plenty to offer by way of injecting fresh ideas, tools and strategies into the local business scene. Education that supports the community is what we’re all about," says Kieran.
Information on WITT short business courses:
Identify key issues, define core problems, and set your research direction, learn tailored research methods and how to gather data that drives strategy and turn data into actionable insights and develop practical business solutions.
Learn to create and apply formulas, streamline data analysis, and automate tasks for greater efficiency. Ideal for professionals at any level, this session focuses on real-world Excel use to save time and improve accuracy.
Learn to extract, clean, and analyse Microsoft Teams data in Power BI to drive smarter decisions.
By the end of this workshop, participants will confidently use core Microsoft 365 tools—Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneDrive—to enhance workflow efficiency and team collaboration.
Learn how to understand and address resistance, develop a clear change management plan, and implement proven techniques to support smooth, successful transitions. Ideal for leaders and managers navigating ongoing change.
Caption: (left to right) WITT's ace business tutor team: Melissa Kinera, Mary-Ellen Batchelor, Phillipa Watt (standing) and Carol Curtin.
More information here.
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