5 July 2006

More businesses to access Enterprise Training

A wider range of New Zealand businesses are now eligible for management training through the government’s Enterprise Training Programme, Economic Development Minister Trevor Mallard said today.

The Enterprise Training Programme is now open to businesses that employ up to 50 full-time equivalent employees, compared to the previous maximum limit of 20 full-time staff.

"The Enterprise Training Programme is a management up-skilling programme aimed at helping the owners and operators of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to develop and grow their firms. A recent evaluation found it worked well - both in terms of training and also by giving firms good opportunities to network with each other," Trevor Mallard said.

"The Labour-led government is committed to growing more firms that are competitive in global markets, as part of our economic transformation agenda. This training programme is one level of government-funded support that we are giving to kiwi businesses with that aim in mind," Trevor Mallard said.

"The programme is delivered mainly through group training in 15 regions. As such it provides participants with an opportunity to network with their peers and learn through the shared experiences of other businesses," Trevor Mallard said.

The New Zealand Trade and Enterprise programme assists around 15,000 individuals from around 12,000 businesses each year.

Feedback from the regions indicated that a change in eligibility would allow larger firms that have few specialised management staff, for example, to also benefit.

The Enterprise Training Programme (ETP) is delivered by specialist training providers throughout New Zealand through workshops, seminars or courses (group training) with the option of receiving follow-up coaching.

General subjects include business planning, marketing, finance, business systems, managing resources and exporting. Specialist training includes Maori Trustee training, Investment Ready training and, in the case of Pacific People's, pre-business training. Training can also be made available through distance learning.

For more information see www.nzte.govt.nz/section/11733.aspx

ENDS

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