Northland Inc, the region's economic development agency, has received accolades from its peers at the Inaugural Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Awards for its ground breaking and best practice initiative, The Orchard Business and Events Hub.

The initiative won the attention of the Awards panel because of its innovative delivery strategy.

In creating the Orchard, the initiative brought together the region's business support services under one roof.

The event space has delivered a heartbeat and a pulse for innovation and entrepreneurship in the region, with over 3000 locals attending events in the space over a period of just three months.

Joseph Stuart, the Orchard project leader, says “The delivery model of the Orchard is unique. We have developed a hybrid approach from the investigation of best practice models internationally and have delivered a strong intervention to support the business community in our region.

“The collaborative approach started with the strategic planning and has just got stronger as we progress, proving to be a catalyst for new options to expand the Orchard's foot print from 950sqm to 1500sqm with a new focus on tertiary partnerships, digital hubs and incubators.

The Orchard is a collaborative business and event space for the growing community of entrepreneurs, startups and already established business professionals in Northland.

It offers the facilities of a premium office fit-out, a creative environment and a thriving community of like minds.

The Orchard also has the advantage of direct access to expert business advice, tools and professional support networks under one roof.

Its vision is to be a place where people share knowledge, get inspired and cultivate change. The environment supports the next generation of enterprise where dreams and ideas become a commercial reality.