Contented is awarded Canterbury Trusted status.

Contented has been awarded Canterbury Trusted status by our local Chamber of Commerce, Business Canterbury. It's a real moment for us, and a reflection of our ties to the Canterbury business community.

How we got here

We first crossed paths with Business Canterbury (then the Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commerce) in mid-2023. We gave a presentation on making AI accessible for their strategic partners and members, which caught the attention of CEO Leanne Watson. She was particularly taken by our user-friendly branded workspace.

From there it became a partnership. We've worked closely with their communications, advocacy, and service delivery teams, supported their members, and become part of the Business Canterbury family.

"Business Canterbury not only saw the potential of AI early on, they believed in us, a small team in Christchurch with a big vision for transforming how businesses work. Their early support and insights were instrumental in shaping Contented into the platform it is today. So this feels like a full circle moment." Lucy Pink, Co-founder of Contented.

The vetting process

Canterbury Trusted isn't a participation trophy. The application takes around two months and includes:

1. Multiple reference checks.
2. Conversations with our customers, suppliers, and staff.
3. Reviews of our accounting and legal practices.
4. Assessment of our policies and procedures.
5. A thorough look at how we operate day to day.

Every part of the business goes under the microscope. The bar to meet (and exceed) Business Canterbury's standards is high.

Getting the call

When the news came through, the whole team was over the moon. Our Software Engineer Mia had been part of the reference checks and knew first-hand how detailed the process was.

Julian and Kiley from Business Canterbury came to the office to hand over the award and a hamper.

Being one of just a few Canterbury organisations to make it through the process means a lot. The values it recognises (trust, reliability, a human-centred way of working) are the ones we try to live by every day.

What it means for our clients

Being Canterbury Trusted is more than a framed certificate. For clients and partners, it means:

1. Independent verification of our commitment to quality and ethical practices.
2. The confidence of working with a business that's been thoroughly vetted by a respected organisation.
3. A signal of our commitment to the Canterbury business community and its growth.

The recognition is motivating. We're growing a startup in a community that values and recognises this kind of work, and we want to keep delivering on it, locally and internationally.

A big thank you to our team, clients, and partners who've been part of this journey.

If you're thinking about applying for Canterbury Trusted, we'd recommend it. The process itself is worth doing, even before the badge at the end.

To apply or learn more, message Kiley at kileyc@cecc.org.nz