The committee of CBC has resolved to channel the income from fines paid by members at luncheons into a fund for the payment of grants to selected business people to enable them to improve their business or occupational performance through gaining business education, training or coaching. The committee feels that, as we are a business club, this course of action is more relevant for our club and our members than the charitable donations that have been made in the past.

The purpose of the grants is to enable recipients to improve their business or occupational performance through gaining business education, training, or coaching.

It is intended to make 3 grants of up to $1,000 in 2015, and one grant of $1,000 each year thereafter. Should the fund exceed or be in deficit of $1,000 in any year the committee will make adjustments accordingly. The recipients of the grants will be determined by the CBC committee on the recommendation of a sub-committee established for that purpose.

Notice of invitation to apply for a grant will be notified to all members of CBC annually. CBC members will be encouraged to invite any suitable business person to apply. Applications are not age restricted. In order to avoid any hint of cronyism, Club members are not eligible to apply, however successful applicants will be encouraged to become members of our Club on completion of the training/coaching for which the grant is made. Applications must be made in writing to the secretary of CBC when applications are called for.

Click here to see Grant Award Criteria.

Click here to see & download Grant Application Form.

In 2017, the following outstanding individuals were awarded with Education & Training Awards by The Christchurch Business Club Inc.

Chris Ferguson

Profile Photo (Cropped) (1)

While completing his studies at the University of Canterbury, Chris landed a position at New Zealand Cricket to promote the game to young Kiwis, while working with district associations and cricket clubs around the country on their governance and operations.

The overall goal was to see more young Kiwis play cricket across New Zealand, and they achieved that goal by taking small, practical steps with each school, cricket club and association around the country.

During Chris’ time with New Zealand Cricket, they became world sporting leaders in strategic management, running health checks and assisting clubs and associations to form their own governance plans.

In 2011 Chris joined the International Cricket Council, developing and implementing strategy to grow the sport across it’s 95 associate and affiliate member countries. In most of these nations cricket is a minority sport, but as a direct result of Chris’ strategic planning, global participation grew from 500,000 to 1.4 million in just four years.

These big results for the ICC were usually achieved with minimal budgets, which goes to show that with proper strategic planning and execution, just about anything is possible.

With Strategic Management NZ, Chris Ferguson’s mission is to provide small businesses the functionality of big business, within a small business budget. He can cater for any industry and build a plan around your goals.

Since launching the company in early 2017, Chris has worked with a range of businesses. His ‘Profit Maximisation Check’ is a free service which provides details of any gaps in an organisation.

Chris’s one-on-one workshops with the client makes the daunting proposition of developing a strategic plan very simple. He helps businesses grow or consolidate and look into the future for what could be achieved and assists them in developing their own journey of success.

While he has been focusing on the hospitality and manufacturing sectors in Christchurch, 2018 will be a year of expansion for Chris, beginning to work with Auckland based businesses.

The club president for 2015, Mr Murray Winder, said, “The Christchurch Businessmen’s Club has long been a supporter of Canterbury organisations that make a positive contribution to our community through their social programmes.
“This year the club committee decided to change tack towards support of young emerging leaders who are already making a real difference in their initiatives and encourage them in their ongoing personal development.”
“The 2015 programme attracted several excellent applications and the final selection, this year of three applicants to provide immediate impetus to the new theme, was very exacting.
“Each has chosen a business path that requires serious personal commitment and we’re confident they’ll continue to excel.”

In 2015, the following three outstanding individuals were awarded with Education & Training Awards by the Christchurch Business Club.

Inaugural CBC Awards
Three outstanding individuals were awarded with 2015 Education & Training Awards by the Christchurch Businessmen’s Club, two contributing in their business activities to the regeneration of Christchurch and the other pioneering a sports-based international business.
A strong entry highlighted the inaugural 2015 Awards. To mark the commencement of the new programme with its emphasis on individual skills training that can be turned back into business-building, the club offered three awards, each worth $1,000 cash contribution to training costs.
Each winner spoke at CBC luncheon meetings about their business career objectives.
The 2015 recipients are:

Deon Swiggs

Deon Swiggs – the founder of rebuild Christchurch an independent organisation informing the residents of Christchurch, impacted from the effects of the multitude of earthquakes. Deon identified that there was a need for the public to be able to access relevant and helpful information which could be found in one place.  Deon is studying for a Bachelor of Applied Management with CPIT while working full-time on Rebuild Christchurch www.rebuildchristchurch.co.nz .

Alex Reese

Alex Reese – the founder of Alex Reese Cricket, a sports training business and co-founder of the NZ non-profit Cricket Live Foundation, that through cricket aims  to develop the life skills and education of underprivileged children from marginalised communities in Sri Lanka and India, and provide them with a pathway for their futures. Whilst playing in the Canterbury U17 team, the NZ titleholders of 2008, Alex was selected for the Willows U17 Secondary Schools tour to India, and the UAE. In 2010 he played a season in the Kent Premier League and then travelled to India, where at the Global Cricket School, based in Mumbai he taught how to train and play ‘The Indian Way!” It ignited a passion for coaching the game. Speaking to a recent CBC luncheon he said ‘Cricket Live’ has completed its 4th academy and has now coached its 300th student.

Reece McCaffrey

Reece McCaffrey – the founder of the personal training business called [re:] create. His training formula that incorporates strength training, infused with circuit training and interval training in one workout. After completing school in Marlborough, Reece studied a Diploma in Applied Sport. Early on in his career, he learned the importance of quality over quantity when it comes to training and getting results.  On a rugby scholarship to Lincoln University through the Canterbury Rugby Union, he gained a degree in Sports Management, majoring in exercise and health. http://www.recreate.co.nz