PLATO™ is an international business mentoring and peer support programme that is being introduced to New Zealand for the first time in mid 2008 as a pilot in the Auckland region.

PLATO™ brings together small to medium sized businesses with large corporates and is based on a programme that was first introduced in Belgium in 1988. Similar programmes are now underway throughout the world, including the UK and Ireland.

The programme offers owners and managers of small and medium sized business a unique opportunity to receive training and mentoring alongside like-minded companies. It is designed to complement some of the existing training and mentoring programmes already available.

One of the unique aspects of PLATO™ is that while the programme covers the key elements of running a successful business, the overall direction of each network is determined by the participants involved and their group leaders. This approach means that specific training and mentoring needs of participants will be met.

The Auckland pilot will include two groups of 10-12 participants. One group will be comprised of people from the ICT sector, the other a general mix of industries. Each group will have two group leaders from corporate organisations who will provide training, mentoring and expert advice. Each group will meet monthly throughout the course of the 2 year pilot and participants will also have the opportunity to attend additional events and seminars as part of the programme.

Who's involved?

• A steering group with representatives from the private and public sector has been appointed to oversee the pilot and will provide direction and leadership
• Ministry of Economic Development hold the licence to run PLATO™ in New Zealand
• AucklandPlus are responsible for the overall delivery of the programme
• WHK Gosling Chapman will provide the training and facilitation needed for the programme.

More Information

How do I apply?

If you answer yes to the following questions you are eligible to apply to participate in the PLATO™ New Zealand pilot:

• Are you the owner-manager of a business with less than 19 full-time employees?
• Has your business been trading for at least 3 years?
• Are you willing to commit time and energy in order to grow your business?
• Are you willing to share your business experiences and learn from others?

To apply, please download this application form and return by fax or email to Emma Robertson (fax) 09 914 7882; plato@whkgoslingchapman.com or email for more information.

Key Objectives

Objectives for the Zealand pilot programme:

• To improve the understanding of the role that learning and peer support networks can play in building management capability in New Zealand
• To ascertain the sustainability of learning networks in New Zealand
• To implement a proven learning network methodology in New Zealand
• To measure the benefits of implementing that methodology

Goals of the PLATO™ Network Concept:

• To provide a platform for long-term sustainable and trustworthy exchange of experiences between its participants (managers/owners and group leaders/facilitators)
• To stimulate the transfer of management know-how from big companies’ staff members to SMEs
• To make an exchange of experiences possible between SMEs in different PLATO-groups
• To create a network of small and big companies where information, contacts and business opportunities are the issue