Certificate in Small Business

• Weekly classes and workshops (5 hours per week)

 Your structured class and group times include: 

• Face-to-face with your kaiako or other presenters 

• Wānanga or online sessions 

• Practice, revision, and assessment activities 

Wānanga (workshops): 

• 1 x 6-hour wānanga

Dates, venue and details will be confirmed by your kaiako. 

Plan for around 28 hours of study in your own time each week.

Tasks and activities you’ll complete outside of class include: 

• Working through programme resources (such as workbooks, audio, video, or online activities) 

• Completing aromatawai (assessments) and required reading 

• Practising your new skills

• Doing research, reflection, or group study

iAkoranga (our digital platform)

iAkoranga is our online learning space where you’ll access resources, activities and support throughout your programme. 

Keen to know how study fits around work and home? Our Enrolment Support and Study Experience section can help.

You’ll need to have access to: 

• A computer or laptop 

• A reliable internet connection

You’ll be introduced to small business, starting with foundational values such as mission, vision, and purpose. You’ll cover small business structures, descriptions, strategies, and internal and external analysis, including strategic profiles and sources of information and support. You’ll use the lean canvas as a simple overview tool, and explore professional, ethical, social, and cultural responsibilities as they relate to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and multiculturalism in Aotearoa. You’ll contribute these elements toward components of a business plan by the end of the programme.

You’ll develop operations-related plans that help complete a section of your business plan. You’ll plan operations and human resource aspects including employment responsibilities and create an assets and information technology plan. You’ll communicate with internal and external stakeholders to establish or improve relationships to meet stakeholder requirements. You’ll set an operations goal with objectives for business improvement and begin implementation, with completion required in Kōnae Ako 5 (Business Planning).

You’ll cover fundamental marketing concepts including target markets, positioning, and the marketing mix. You’ll prepare a research brief and create a marketing plan with a marketing goal and objectives to improve business performance. You’ll also develop a customer relationship management plan that meets stakeholder requirements.

You’ll learn the practical aspects of small business accounting and bookkeeping. You’ll complete accurate record keeping, GST returns, and meet income tax and depreciation requirements, and you’ll build on your understanding of financial reports. You’ll create a financial plan that includes a cashflow and profit forecast and identify the financing needs of the business.

You’ll explore future personal and professional growth opportunities to improve business performance. You’ll develop a risk management plan as the final segment of your business plan. You’ll combine all work from the programme to finalise your business plan, prepare a stakeholder presentation resource using presentation software for future use, and give a short presentation.