Are you a New Zealand-based family business leader looking to grow your skills and take your business to the next level? Family Business Association (FBA) is offering a $5,000 partial scholarship to support your place in the highly regarded Icehouse Owner Manager Programme.
Submit Your Entry | Before 30 Sept
This is an investment in you, your leadership and your family business’ future.
The scholarship will be presented to the winning recipient at
the Family Business Insights NZ Conference on 16 October 2025.
What is the Owner Manager Programme?
The Owner Manager Programme (OMP) will give you the confidence to put progressive plans in place for you and your business. You’ll refine and develop your skills through sessions with The Icehouse facilitators, external experts and fellow Owner Managers.
Throughout this programme, you will discover a new perspective on your business, a better understanding of yourself as an individual and a business owner, and a clearer sense of where you are going and how you will get there while maintaining a better work-life balance.
OMP is a 16-day programme that takes you out of your business to focus on your learning. It is held over five months, in blocks of three off-site (residential) days per month where you will stay together with your fellow programme attendees. This is followed by a single-day implementation workshop approximately three months later.
The teaching format of the Owner Manager Programme includes small and large group sessions, as well as one-on-one discussions. Case Studies and real-world examples are used to complement academic theory.
To assist you in focusing on particular areas of growth or development, you’ll have access to a dedicated business coach for five one-on-one sessions prior to attending, during attendance or following block five. You'll be matched with someone from Icehouse's wide selection of specialist business coaches who can help you focus on the areas most important to you.
What will you get from joining the programme?
- Ownership Methodology: Review the key fundamentals of running and growing a business.
- Enhanced Effectiveness: Explore leverage points for productivity and efficiency.
- Seize the Moment: Identify growth opportunities and ways to handle changes.
- Manage Growth: Learn how to manage growth transitions, capacity and resources.
- Reach the Next Level: Understand and implement strategies for 'Significant Growth'.
- Grow Yourself: Harness the tools for confidence, motivation and enhanced leadership.
What's Included?
The partial scholarship, provided through Family Business Association, is valued at $5,000 and goes towards the total programme cost of $35,975 excl GST. (NB: the $5,000 scholarship is deducated from this total investment)
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A 25% deposit is required to secure your place.
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Payment plans can be arranged.
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You may also be eligible for Management Capability Development Funding through your Regional Business Partner – contact your Regional Business Growth Advisor to find out more.
Earn 1 Airpoints Dollar™ for every $50 spent towards the Owner Manager Programme. Plus, you’ll receive a bonus 500 Airpoints Dollars™ when you complete the Owner Manager Programme (OMP).
Your choice of two OMP timings, as outlined below:
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Option 1: Auckland-Based | February - July Attend six in-person sessions, scheduled as follows |
Option 2: Travelling | May - September Attend six in-person sessions, scheduled as follows |
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Block 1: 18 - 20 February 2026, Auckland Block 2: 25 - 27 March 2026, Auckland Block 3: 29 April - 1 May 2026, Auckland Block 4: 27 - 19 May 2026, Auckland Block 5: 1 - 4 July 2026, Auckland Implementation: TBC |
Block 1: 20 - 22 May 2026, Christchurch Block 2: 17 - 19 June 2026, South Island Block 3: 22 - 24 July 2026, Auckland Block 4: 19 - 21 August 2026, South Island Block 5: 16 - 18 September 2026, Auckland Implementation: TBC |
Who Can Apply?
To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
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Business turnover of $3 million or more
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Be a current Family Business Member of Family Business Association
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Based in New Zealand
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Able to commit to 16 days across 6 in-person sessions
If that sounds like you, we strongly encourage you to apply.
How to Enter?
Applying is simple. Complete our short questionnaire with your details and answer two key questions:
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Why do you want to do the Icehouse Owner Manager Programme?
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How would this opportunity benefit both you and your family business in a meaningful way?
We recommend providing thoughtful, honest and specific answers. Your responses will form the basis of your application.
Submit Your Entry | Before 30 Sept
All entries must be submitted by 30 September 2025 at 11:59 PM NZT. Late submissions will not be accepted, so don’t leave it to the last minute!
Judging Process
All scholarship nominations will be reviewed by an independent panel of three non-biased judges.
Submissions are presented anonymously and assessed against set criteria, with a focus on impact and merit. This ensures a fair and transparent evaluation process for all applicants.
Once submission close on 30 September 2025, judging will commence and conclude by Wednesday 8 October 2025. The winning recipient will be notified by Friday 10 October via a phone call and will then be publicly announced at the Family Business Insights NZ Conference on 16 October 2025.
Questions?
If you have any questions or need further information, please contact Nicole Pluck, NZ Manager at npluck@familybusiness.org.nz.
