Support that turns growth into action
Ready to grow your business and boost productivity?
We connect you with the support that will have the biggest impact and it starts with a short business assessment called the Accelerator.
This assessment helps us understand your goals, challenges, and growth stage, so we can guide you toward the right opportunities and resources.
Also introducing our new services; become Business South Endorsed and/or get referrals by becoming an Accredited Service Partner.
Is the Accelerator right for you?
The Business South Accelerator is for organisations who are serious about growth and want support that’s practical, affordable, and backed by real insight. It's aligned with proven best practice and tailored to all businesses across the region.
We understand the realities of doing business here; seasonal pressure, workforce challenges, regulation, and the opportunities unique to the South.
The Accelerator is here to cut through the uncertainty and give you clarity on what to do next.
4 simple steps
Get your business snapshot
A quick online assessment using our Accelerator diagnostic tool; structured, straightforward, and easy to complete in your own time. It gives us a clear baseline of strengths, gaps, and opportunities.
Turn insights into clarity
You'll join a focused 30-minute workshop with Business South advisors quick, practical, and efficient to unpack the results and identify the levers that will drive the biggest impact for your business.
Map your growth path
Together, we’ll build a focused set of high-value priorities mapping out what needs to happen, who’s responsible, and the timelines that make sense for your business.
Move forward with backed support
We don’t just hand over a plan and walk away. You’ll have access to follow-up support, connections, and (where relevant) other Business South programmes, including Accredited Service Partner and Business South Endorsed
Once you’ve worked through your Discovery Session and gained clarity on where your business is heading, you might decide to take the next step. Each one offers a different way to strengthen your impact across the South, build credibility, and connect with the people who need what you do most. Besides being a referral partner or being a endorsed by Business South, we offer a wide range of support including;
- Learning and development
- Legal advice
- Networking events
- Promotional opportunities (sponsorship / advertisement)
- Advocacy
- Support from RBP through funding or discounted training
- Mentoring services
- Export services
- Internship or job matching
- R&D funding and much more.
Explore where you could go from here.
Do you need more referrals?
Join us as an referral partner and put your expertise in front of more Southern businesses that genuinely need it. It’s a simple way to build credibility, open doors to new clients, and align your brand with a trusted regional business network.
Learn more
Strengthen your brand with us
Our endorsement is more than a tick. It’s a seal of approval that tells Southern businesses you deliver what you promise. Becoming Business South Endorsed strengthens your brand, boosts visibility, and gives customers one more reason to choose you with confidence.
Learn moreWhat’s in it for you
You’ll walk away with:
- Clarity on where to focus: A clear, data-driven picture of what’s working in your business, and what’s holding you back.
- A practical, prioritised action plan: Not a 50-page report. A focused plan you can actually implement in the next 3–12 months.
- Expert guidance and local support: Access to Business South advisors and University of Otago expertise, alongside peers who understand the local business landscape.
- Tools you can reuse: Frameworks, diagnostics, and resources you can use again as your business grows and changes.
- Stronger leadership and alignment: Get your leadership team (or key people) on the same page about direction, priorities, and next steps.
FAQ's
The Accelerator programme is suited for both start-ups and established businesses who want to grow, change direction, or improve performance. If you’re at idea stage or very early start-up, contact our team to find out more.
We’ve designed the programme for busy business owners. The assesment takes max 30 minutes and will follow up with face-to-face session to talk about your business. After that it's up to you about how much you put in to grow your business.
We work with a wide range of businesses, from professional services and tourism to manufacturing, tech, and primary sector businesses. The common thread is leadership that’s ready to take action.
Yes. The Accelerator is designed to complement existing support. Many businesses use the insights and action plan to shape the work they do with other advisors.
We will contact you to go over the results and you will leave with a clear action plan. The assesement uses best practice and is made with the help of Otago University. Also, our Navigators also come with a wealth of knowledge and depending on your needs we might introduce you to connections or mentioning services that might help grow your business. Or talk to you about workforce support, advocacy, or sector-specific programmes.
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