Business Workshop - Screen Sector

SPECIAL EDITION - BUSINESS WORKSHOP - SCREEN SECTOR

The New Zealand Screen Council wants to help you take your screen production business to the next level....

Business Workshop - Screen Sector

The New Zealand Screen Council is proud to present a two day workshop that provides business training, specifically tailored for sole traders, independent contractors, partnerships and small companies working in the screen production sector, giving them the tools to run and to grow sustainable, profitable businesses.

Course outline:

Give your screen business a competitive edge by attending this popular, and fully funded (free to you) Enterprise Training Workshop. Previous participants have enjoyed the wide range of topics and the opportunity to share their own specific situations with others in the same industry. They also enjoyed the interactive nature of the workshop and having the opportunity to ask questions that will directly assist in improving their own business and management performance.

Course Content This two day workshop will cover the following topics in a forum that allows for participants to share information, explore the specifics of their own situations and receive a valuable resource of information in the presentation and manual.

Structuring The way in which businesses are structured from the outset is key and yet often not well thought out, particularly in the creative sectors. Asset protection, the nature of the business operations (often project based, sometimes high risk for screen), future exiting of the business, along with factors to consider for new ventures is discussed. Attendees will be encouraged to speak to their own specific situation and ask questions to ascertain if their business is structured optimally.

Taxation Taxation issues specific to the industry will be explored. Key areas of reference will be provided and online functions available on the IRD website discussed. The ability to claim a tax deduction for expenditure in the area of entertainment, motor vehicles and home office costs will also be discussed, along with key taxation payment dates to remember.

ACC An explanation of the various ACC levies will be provided, including discussions around how ACC applies to new businesses and the timing of payment of ACC premiums.

Budgeting & Cashflow Planning Budgeting and cashflow techniques will be discussed, with the emphasis being "keep it simple and meaningful to you". The importance of cashflow planning and cash management will also be covered with an overall objective being to understand how to manage during times of little or no cash inflows.

Business Performance This section covers the necessity of receiving regular information on business (and in particular, financial) performance. Skills to analyse and interpret financial information will be covered, along with areas to focus on to improve profitability. Effective costing and pricing techniques are also explored.

Business Planning Business planning will be discussed as a means to encourage a more considered approach to achieving growth for each of the businesses attending. Simple planning techniques are provided with a view to achieving and identifying sustainable profit-making activities - particularly useful given the fluctuations in a changing and often fickle industry such as screen.

Exit Planning Highlighted in this section will be the importance of systems and processes in adding value to screen businesses. We will cover how owners can build value into their business to enable them options for exiting including selling to key employees, stepping back but retaining ownership and selling to third parties.

Performance Management and Conflict Resolution Getting the best from contractors and permanent staff requires a systematic approach to communication, feedback, delegation and providing clear guidelines. Common challenges facing the screen industry include the high number of contractors used, the lack of continuity of employment agreements, dealing with deadline driven behaviour and more. Participants will learn how to deal with conflict professionally and within the law.

Management vs Leadership Participants will develop awareness for their own management and leadership styles, their strengths and weakness and how these styles will ultimately be influencing the performance of their businesses.

Employment Law Key aspects of employment law will be covered to enable participants to gain an understanding of employer obligations and key legislation.

Occupational Health & Safety (OSH) Points of reference for OSH requirements specific to the screen industry are provided, along with other useful reference points for legal and operational guidance specific to those in this industry.

COURSE LOCATIONS AND TIMES

Auckland: 7th and 8th of November - starting at 10am and finishing at approximately 6pm (location tbc) Auckland: 6th and 7th of December - starting at 10am and finishing at approximately 6pm (location tbc)

Car-parking will be available.

Course dates and locations will be provided for Wellington, Christchurch and the Otago region shortly.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The Business Workshop is designed for individuals that are currently working in the industry. It is pitched at all sectors of the industry and applications are invited from actors, crew members, directors, producers and writers alike. It is part of the New Zealand Screen Council's business training initiatives, which have included, Enterprise Tasman and ScreenBiz and will include marketing training with the Australian Film, Television and Radio School next year.

There is NO COURSE FEE. The course is fully funded as part of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise's 'Enterprise Training Programme'.

Spaces are limited so applicants are asked to register as soon as possible. A registration form is attached to this email. All information collected by the Screen Council and its training providers will be held in the strictest confidence.

If you are interested in attending, please complete the attached registration form and fax it to (09) 914 7882.

Applications close on:

30th October for the 7th November course; and 22nd November for the 6th of December course.

Successful applicants will be notified by:

1st of November for the 7th November course; and 29th of November for the 6th December course.

ENDS

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