Small businesses will be offered $3000 of training and mentoring, with a specific focus on financial management, under a new initiative spearheaded by the Australian Retailers Association (ARA).
The new nationally accredited program – called RAPID (retail accredited productivity improvement development) – is planned to commence in April 2008 with workshops in Sydney and Melbourne and is the first of its kind in Australia.
ARA senior retail consultant, Garry Terrill, says the comprehensive program is designed to support and strengthen retail businesses with practical improvement and execution strategies.
“Each participant is supported by a program of education, mentoring and structured networking groups with fellow retailers through both workshops and on-site visits.”
RAPID is an Australian Government funded initiative under the Building Entrepreneurship in Small Business program. Administered through Ausindustry, the project targets business owners and senior managers in the fashion and apparel, gifts and homeware, and hardware and paint segments of the retail sector.
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