Hastings District is the centre for employment and economic growth and ready to strengthen its position as the economic powerhouse of Hawke’s Bay.
Hastings District Council economic development manager Lee Neville says the thriving primary sector district has a new wave of industry and business launching from the solid economic foundations on offer.
Lee points to Foodeast, a $18 million food innovation hub that will be established in Ellwood Road, Hastings, a Hawke’s Bay business hub in the Hastings CBD and new marketing campaign targeting new businesses, talent and investors to the district.
“Recently we have been building the profile of what Hastings has to offer those that may consider moving to Hastings, either to relocate their business, move here to work for a local business or to invest.”
The council has created materials for employers to use when recruiting along with a digital campaign called ‘Hastings – Like a Big City But Better’, and a dedicated website –
www.hastingsnz.com
Lee says the campaign idea came out of talking to local businesses and hearing they were short-staffed.
“We decided to do a campaign that could be used to attract business, investment and talent to Hastings district.”
“While there are businesses already doing this themselves, through this campaign we have provided free collateral they can use to support their own initiatives and contribute to a thriving district.”
Hastings. Like a Big City, But Better was launched at the inaugural Focus on Business held at Functions on Hastings at the end of March.
The guest speaker was Kraft Heinz Company-Australia & NZ non-executive chairman Mike Pretty, who spoke about innovation, rising to challenges, and the future of food.
The Focus on Business events will be a quarterly series aimed at supporting local businesses to network and succeed.
Lee says said the material has been accessed and used by the likes of a company wanting to support their recruitment campaign, to a business with an office in China that used a video to aid its storytelling about its provenance.
Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said business was the lifeblood of Hawke’s Bay – and especially of the Hastings district.
“Because business is central to the Bay, it’s central to us in local government. Councils have a role in supporting business, and in Hastings our economic development team has been set up to help ensure that it’s easy to do business here.
“What’s good for business, is good for the economy, and good for all of us.”
