Professional services company GHD is passionate about the Bay of Plenty region, and providing lasting benefit within communities it operates in.
GHD’s Tauranga office’s employee-owners say they are committed to supporting the region’s people and economy.
That approach drove GHD’s reemergence in the Bay of Plenty region, when they reestablished a local office in 2017. Their local presence has since enabled a greater understanding of the community’s challenges and opportunities, which has created improved outcomes and meaningful relationships with local clients.
The move led to them debut Smart Seeds Tauranga in 2019, a design-led innovation programme. Senior industry mentors supported emerging leaders to tackle The Bay of Plenty’s most pressing social, economic, and environmental challenges, through developing innovation, presentation, and teamwork skills.
The GHD-led programme brought together change-makers, innovators, and future-focused thinkers. Smart Seeds nurtures collective creativity and problem-solving.
Staying true to its local ethos, GHD is now supporting the local economy and is among those companies fostering a sense of community by shopping local. Following on from the “Buy Local” campaign, GHD will add a number of additional office supplies to the list of products sourced from local suppliers.
“Supporting our local economy is as important to us as individuals, as it is as a business. We’re committed to the Bay of Plenty, so are transitioning to as many local suppliers as possible,” said Ryan Orr, manager – Bay of Plenty.
It takes lots of energy to deliver innovative projects across local water, environment, property and buildings, and transport markets, and the team can expect a good brew from Ground Zero Coffee once they return to the office.
“The quality of local products, and the service from the suppliers we’ve contacted has been outstanding, which has made buying local an easy decision,” says Ryan.
“We’ve had products personally delivered within hours of purchasing, which you just wouldn’t get sourcing things from elsewhere. There’s a real sense of community too. I enjoy supporting our neighbours, and knowing that what we spend is going directly back into a local business.”
“Our vision was to create a hub for passionate locals to experience the full spectrum of coffee, in a positive and uplifting environment,” says Taylor, co-owner of Ground Zero Coffee.
“Our ability to directly engage with our local customers, and receive and act on feedback gives us huge satisfaction.”
GHD uses supplies and services from a variety of other local businesses, including weekly deliveries of milk and fruit from My Greengrocer, catering from Blank Canvas Catering, and plants hired from Living Décor in Katikati.
They’re encouraging other corporates to consider their supply chain, and make the change to buying local. GDH believes that with businesses open again, economic stimulus will come from profits flowing back into local economies.
