PopUp Business School is back

This November, PopUp Business School is coming back to Porirua, with a free 10-day course to help people start their business and get their ideas off the ground instantly.

PopUp Business Schools have been running in the UK for around seven years and last year they chose Porirua as their place to launch their Aotearoa courses.

Porirua Mayor Mike Tana says last year’s course was a huge success and he’s rapt to see them returning this year.

“People in Porirua have the opportunity to find out more about running a business, test the waters with their ideas, and make it happen. It’s a win-win for them and for Porirua, and I’m stoked that PopUp Business School is coming back.”

“We’ve seen some great success stories coming out of the business school and I can’t wait to see what the next round will bring.”

The course covers how to:

• start a business with no money

• build a website for free

• make money doing what you love.

Each day will feature talks from some of Porirua’s most successful small business owners about how they got started and things that helped make them succeed, such as social media, growing sustainably and pitching their business to others to gain new customers.

Darryn Grant Acting General Manager of City Growth and Partnerships says it’s been great seeing the positive outcomes from the last PopUp Business School, with several businesses establishing themselves in Porirua.

“Watching participants transform from the first day to the last with growing confidence was amazing to see. There has already been a lot of interest in this year’s programme and we’re looking forward to seeing some great new businesses setting up in our community as a result,” says Mr Grant.

PopUp Business School founder Tony Henderson-Newport says the team is excited about the new businesses that will be brought to life in Porirua during the 10 days of the PopUp Business School.

“We already have 36 registrations with great business ideas, including Māori resources for tamariki, food businesses, coaching, and retail.

“We’re looking forward to returning to Porirua and re-connecting with the start-up business community. A year on from our first course we have seen our alumni moving their businesses forward and also working closely with the Porirua City Council to help grow their businesses,” he says.

Esther Hutton, one of the participants from the first PopUp Business School in Porirua, encourages others to come along, “No matter where you are with your business idea, every entrepreneur will benefit from this free two-week course. The networking and collaboration opportunities alone make it very worthwhile.”

PopUp Business School Porirua has been made possible with funding from Porirua City Council, Wellington Region Economic Development Agency (WREDA) and Ministry of Social Development.

Since last year’s October course in Porirua, PopUp Business School has run courses in Whanganui, Upper Hutt, Kāpiti Coast, Tairāwhiti Gisborne and Auckland.

The 10-day course runs from 5–16 November from 9.30am to 2.30pm each day – and there are limited free spaces available. Registrations are open – visit popupbusinessschool.nz/Porirua1

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