Local company steps up for Canterbury - Spanbild
On 23 February 2011, the Prime Minister of New Zealand and the captain of
the team that would go into battle for the Rugby World Cup were due to visit
Spanbild, a Christchurch headquartered company that was gearing up post
the September 2010 earthquake.
And then came 12.51pm on 22 February 2011 and everything changed for
Christchurch and Canterbury. But it also changed for Christchurch owned
Spanbild Holdings Ltd, which houses the brands, Totalspan, Versatile, Ideal,
Portabuild, Spanbilt and the Spanbild projects division.
Spanbild has reinvented itself to play a big role in the rebuild of Christchurch,
particularly in the provision of new homes and temporary buildings solutions.
One year on, the Prime Minister and Versatile Brand Ambassador, Richie
McCaw, are coming back to Spanbild's Hornby operation this Thursday 23
February to see for themselves how this New Zealand owned company has
stepped up to be sufficiently flexible to change its range and designs and also
gain an appreciation for the way it will carry out its business in order to play a
significant part in the rebuild story.
Spanbild have made important changes so they can meet the new needs of
the Canterbury market. Chief executive Peter Jensen is excited at how the
business is progressing and believes Spanbild has what it takes to support
the rebuild of Canterbury. “We understand Christchurch and Canterburyʼs
unique landscape, climatic and post-earthquake environment and are ready
and willing to support the community as they look to rebuild.”
Spanbild stepped up after last Februaryʼs devastating earthquake and were
part of important rebuild projects such as the development of the Department
of Building and Housing temporary villages at Kaiapoi and Linwood. In
addition to this, Spanbild were also part of the creation of over 100 temporary
lecture theatre buildings at the University of Canterbury, as well as the
provisional buildings solutions to a number of leading schools, business
entities and Government departments across the region.
Spanbild are currently part of many exciting projects including a significant
role in the new temporary stadium build at Addington, and they are partnering
with like minded Canterbury companies to ensure the best possible services
are in place for the rebuild. This includes the newly formed Canterbury
Rebuild Alliance with Hawkins Construction that has pulled resources together
and provides a supply chain capable of delivering up to 300 new home builds
per annum. This will play a vital role in getting Canterbury people into new
homes.
Spanbildʼs brands offer a range that consolidates the companyʼs leadership
position in Canterbury and New Zealand, providing quality, affordable
buildings – built for life.
23 February 2012.
Canterbury's 'Powerhouse' wins National Business Incubator Association Innovation of the Year 2011
CHRISTCHURCH, 14 April 2011 – Christchurch-based seed stage investment and business incubation company, Powerhouse Ventures, has been awarded the 2011 NBIA Incubator Innovation of the Year Award at the recent National Business Incubator Association Conference held in San José, California.
The National Business Incubator Association (NBIA) presented the award in recognition of Powerhouse Ventures’ Venture Out student programme held bi-annually at Lincoln University.
“We are extremely pleased to receive the award”, says Dr Stephen Hampson, Managing Partner of Powerhouse Ventures. “The Venture Out program has increased the quality and quantity of research-based deal flow coming out of New Zealand’s universities and its government-owned, Crown Research Institutes. It gives us recognition for the work we do in shaping early stage ventures, and highlights that our regional innovation system is something we should be proud of.”
With the NBIA Award recognising innovative incubation from all over the world, Powerhouse Ventures was one of two international finalists, including runner up University of North Dakota Center for Innovation. Key evaluation criteria included incubation that develops and implements innovative activities that help them better serve their clients or more effectively accomplish their missions.
The award was part of the NBIA's 25th International Conference on Business Incubation held in San Jose, California, 10-13 April 2011.
About Powerhouse Ventures Ltd
PowerHouse is a specialist venture development company, working with entrepreneurs, researchers and investors to develop high growth technology companies by providing capital and expertise. Working within the following business sectors - bio-technology and agri-science; engineering and clean technology; software and mobile applications; medical technology and innovative foods - PowerHouse brings a powerful investment model, networks and sector knowledge together with world-class research and local industry expertise to fund and grow the profitable, international technology companies that Canterbury, and New Zealand as a whole, needs.
www.powerhouse-ventures.co.nz
