(e) Quality. This is aimed at improving the applicant's overall approach to quality, and includes review of the quality management strategy and systems. This includes the Excellenz Total Quality Management "How To" approach.

(f) Operations management. This assists the applicant to develop and implement an overall operations management strategy which will lead to increased productivity through improvements in planning and control of production methods, systems and techniques.

(g) Research and development. This assists the applicant to develop an overall research and development strategy.

(h) Human resources management. This assists the applicant to be a good employer and ensure productivity through the development of strategies and programmes which will attract, develop and retain staff, pay staff appropriately, and contribute to staff training and development.

(i) Financial and information systems. This assists the applicant to develop a financial and information systems strategy where there is not one in place, or review an existing strategy. This involves determining information requirements and improving the use of information in the company's decision-making processes.

EAGS Conditions

In offering a grant to successful applicants each Board must use the prescribed approval letter which lists all 10 of the scheme's conditions.

16. Enterprise Growth Development Scheme

Scheme Philosophy

The scheme aims to assist businesses to improve their international competitiveness - to assist them to improve performance in all areas of their business so as to become more efficient and effective in marketing their goods and services.

Assistance Available

EGDS offers a maximum grant of $20,000 to any one applicant under this scheme or, this scheme and EAGS combined in any July-June year; it provides 50 percent of approved qualifying costs up to this maximum.

Under the terms of the ANZCERTA, assistance cannot be provided under this scheme for activities directed to the Australian market.

Assistance is not available for activities directed at South African markets.

The scheme offers assistance in seven areas - each of these has a maximum grant component. These are:

Component 1 : Market Research - 50 percent of qualifying costs to a maximum grant of $5,000.

Component 2 : Exploration Visits to New Markets - 50 percent of qualifying costs to a maximum grant of $7,500.

Component 3 : Trade Fair Participation - 50 percent of qualifying costs to a maximum grant of $10,000.

Component 4 : Promotion/Advertising in New Markets - 50 percent of qualifying costs to a maximum grant of $4,000.

Component 5 : Protection of Intellectual Property Rights - 50 percent of qualifying costs to a maximum grant of $2,000.

Component 6 : Proposal Costs for Development Projects, After Shortlisting - 50 percent of qualifying costs to a maximum grant of $5,000.

Component 7 : Costs of Undertaking Quality Assurance Audits/Accreditation - 50 percent of qualifying costs to a maximum grant of $3,500.

Applicants may lodge more than one application under any one of the scheme's components, but the maximum grant per component cannot be exceeded.

Eligibility Criteria

Any individual, business or organisation resident in New Zealand and registered for either income tax or goods and services tax purposes meeting the following three criteria is eligible to apply:

1 Deals in internationally tradeable goods and services. This is defined as the production (goods) or provision (services) of goods and services which compete on the international market (either already competing or which show potential to compete). This encompasses both businesses which are selling or intending to sell in overseas markets and those who are selling their goods and services in competition with imports; and

2 Has been trading for not less than 18 months; and

3 The good or service for which assistance is sought under this scheme is being produced or provided by the applicant in New Zealand.