Opening of small business management training centre at Carine

8/9/94

The State Government has announced a further initiative to ensure that the more than 21,000 new businesses started in this State each year get maximum support to ensure they survive and thrive.

Employment and Training Minister Norman Moore yesterday opened a new small business management training centre in Carine aimed at improving the prospects of success for small business proprietors and minimising the likelihood of failure.

Mr Moore said the Carine Centre of Small Business, located on North Metropolitan College of TAFE's Carine campus, focussed on delivering world class small business training programs.

"With slightly more than half the people in this State either owning or working in small business - a figure expected to rise by 60 per cent by the year 2000 - this centre has a crucial role to play in the economic development of this State," the Minister said.

"The main cause of business failures, according to international, national and local research, is the lack of small business management training.

"This centre will seek to ensure that new small businesses survive and that emerging businesses receive the best training programs available to assist their development."

The Minister said the centre placed particular emphasis on export skills training.  It was Australia's first specialised small business training facility drawing on international best practice courses and linking with the best Australian programs.

The programs had been developed in conjunction with Durham University in the UK and Curtin University's Business School.

The centre was open seven days a week and delivered integrated short and medium-term small business training programs on a fee-for-service basis. Programs were flexible and self-paced and available both on and off campus to clients in metropolitan and regional areas.

Mr Moore said the centre was led by an advisory committee comprising eminent and successful small business proprietors and senior Government and education and training experts.

Media contact: Ross Storey  321 1444  222 9595