Practical approach to training preferred by small businesses

Tuesday, 23 April, 2002 - 22:00
MARKETING and financial management are the key areas of development identified by small business operators, according to a recent survey undertaken by the Small Business Development Corporation.

“Our research consistently proves that marketing, financial management and computing are the top three areas identified by small business operators for further skills development,” SBDC managing director George Etrelezis said.

But results of the corporation’s latest Ready Response Network survey indicate that many busi-nesses spend less than one week training on identified weaknesses.

“According to the RRN results, 37 per cent of respondents undertook training of between one day and less than a week in the preceding year,” Mr Etrelezis said.

The survey found that when small business accessed training, they did so from a wide variety of sources – self-learning, business and industry associations, private training providers and local business enterprise centres.

Mr Etrelezis said informal research revealed small businesses wanted short sessions of practical workshops at a low-cost.