Business Link Pacific Launches New Certificate in Business Advisory Skills

Business Link Pacific is proud to announce the launch of the Business Link Pacific Certificate in Business Advisory Skills for BLP Business Advisors throughout the Pacific Islands. 

The BLP Certificate is unique to the region and  offers a clear path for professional development to business advisors with all levels of expertise, while enhancing the confidence of businesses who are looking to engage advisory services. 

The Certificate is designed to recognise a range of  advisory skills required to be an expert BLP Business Advisor. Skills include the understanding of the Small and Medium-sized (SME) sector, robust advisory processes and consulting practices. 

Candidates need to be approved in at least one of BLP’s 15 business advisory service areas in order to go on to complete the Advisory Skills Certificate. 

Using case studies and examples of their work, business advisors are required to demonstrate a range of skills, knowledge and expertise to a professional panel of judges in order to become certified. 

Since the launch, Steve Knapp, Director of Business Link Pacific, says seven BLP Business Advisors have achieved the BLP Certificate and many other advisors are continuing to work through the requirements.

Approved Business Advisors like Chris Lombardo from Chris Digital Solutions, Pius Kuku from PK Business Advisors and Belinda Botha from Dive Munda – COVID-19 Human Capital Consulting Services are the trailblazers of our network.

They’ve not only demonstrated that they have the skill-set to move up a level of recognition but have also found the process a great way to learn where they might need to upskill and future-proof their businesses, which is just as important for our team at Business Link Pacific.”

Talking through the steps it took to become certified, Chris Lombardo from Chris Digital Solutions is filled with enthusiasm and pride.

It took around three months to become BLP Certified and involved presenting recent and past case studies of businesses I had helped across advertising promotions, social and marketing solutions.

 

The BLP Certification process was an excellent way for me to reflect on successful collaborations with previous clients, as well as continue refining my skills and diversifying my services to support a wider range of business owners in the Pacific, says Chris.

While all the approved business advisors in the BLP Advisor network have gone through  BLP’s quality assurance program guaranteeing the skill set and knowledge in their areas of business services, the BLP Certificate adds another level of credibility due to the advisor demonstrating their further expertise.

The “BLP Certificate” is a mark of excellence in providing advisory services and can be seen as a learning process for advisors as it not only provides them with recognition of the areas that the business thrives in but also helps advisors make improvements to their practice,” says Barbara Wilkinson, Business Link Pacific’s Professional Development Advisor.

Knapp adds,

The Gold badge on their BLP portal profile shows an advisor is Certified and highlights that they have an ability to work across a range of different clients.  From startups and female-led businesses to SMEs who need guidance with literacy and accountability.

Knapp goes on to emphasise that the process of becoming certified is not about a pass or fail, rather it’s a professional development process that assists advisors to identify where they may need further experience or upskilling.

We hope advisors in the BLP network can use this time, in which business is a little slower than normal, to upskill and achieve the BLP Certificate in Business Advisory Skills in order to win more business in the future,” he adds.

Over the next couple of months, we look forward to sharing more information about Chris Digital Solutions and other BLP Certified Advisors who have recently received the BLP Certificate. 

The Business Link Pacific Certificate in Business Advisory Skills is another level of skill recognition that BLP Business Advisors can work towards once they become approved. The process is available online and is supported by a panel of expert assessors at Business Link Pacific.

BLP Business Advisors who have received the BLP Certificate so far are: