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Canterbury firms say their region's year-old software cluster is helping
them win business.
Hairy Lemon Web Solutions co-owner Graham Dockrill says thanks to the
cluster, a group of 70 registered IT firms and around 120 others formed
a year ago with the aim of boosting software business in the region and
the country, his firm is working with other Christchurch firms to nail
down major deals producing web-training CDs for a London bank and Japanese
firms.
It has also led to website work for the Canterbury regional council and
more local companies sharing and passing on work.
Dockrill praises seminars given at the related Canterbury Incubator on
legal matters, setting budgets and cashflow analysis, in addition to the
networking opportunities the cluster brings. "We can't blow that
trumpet hard enough."
Nigel Presland of software and web development company South Pacific
Information Services says with big companies like Jade and Alchemy involved,
the cluster is "very, very good" for finding advice needed to
succeed. "It helps us get there [in achieving orders]," he says.
Presland highlights an online forum where firms with a business problem
can give out details and other cluster members will reply with advice.
"If we have a problem, we can rely on people from the cluster,"
he says.
The cluster has linked with similar software associations in Wellington
and the national New Zealand Software Association. Further support has
come from Trade New Zealand, the Canterbury Development Corporation and
Industry New Zealand.
Auckland-based NZSA president Rollo Gillespie says the cluster is going
well and doing many good things. "They are setting a good example
for the rest of the country."
A cluster co-founder, Jade software business manager Keith Cowan, says
the mentoring, networking and other activities involving the cluster has
helped some Christchurch firms achieve "six-figure deals".
"Some of the assistance they are getting is helping them be more
successful. It gives firms more confidence and they are going out more
prepared and able to do things," he says.
In its first year, the cluster has launched a website, which now features
job boards for employers and job-seekers, has staged regular workshops
and become famous for its Friday BBQs. Members of the cluster have also
attended trade shows in San Francisco and Australia.
"We did not expect we would get all 200 software companies in Christchurch
involved," says Cowan, who is also an NZSA committee member.
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