Free TAFE courses through NSW Government’s $30m skills for business program
Media release | 6 April 2018
Deputy Premier, Minister for Skills and Minister for Small Business, John Barilaro joined the Minister responsible for TAFE NSW Adam Marshall yesterday to announce NSW small businesses and their staff now have access to free business skills training thanks to a new $30 million skills initiative.
Mr Barilaro said the new Skills for Business program meant local businesses and their staff could undertake free TAFE NSW qualifications in subjects including digital and financial literacy, cybersecurity and general business management.
“Our economy is now the strongest in the nation, and as a government we want to be doing everything we can to support small business owners – the very people who take on great risks, to create job opportunities for others,” Mr Barilaro said.
“This isn’t just about investing in the future of our small businesses, it’s about investing in people – the skills, careers and wellbeing of the men and women who run businesses, and work in them.
“We need a workforce that will continue to underpin NSW as the nation’s leading economy, and the strongest workforce is one that’s continually learning, upskilling, and keeping up to date with new technologies.
“Small businesses represent almost 98 per cent of all NSW businesses. They employ about 1.56 million people – almost half the state’s workforce – and generate $47 billion in annual wages and salaries.
“As a former small business owner and I know first-hand how hard it can be to keep a business afloat, and that is why we are funding the Skills for Business program, to give small businesses the very best chance of success,” he said.
Minister responsible for TAFE NSW Adam Marshall said TAFE would work closely with State Government partners to deliver targeted training to meet the needs of small businesses.
“Skills for Business will leverage TAFE NSW’s strong industry connections and world-class teaching to offer NSW SMEs fully subsidised training in digital and financial literacy, cybersecurity and general business management,” Mr Marshall said.
“Businesses and employees throughout NSW will benefit from TAFE NSW’s strong digital footprint to access training anywhere, anytime and at a pace that suits them.
“TAFE will work closely with the NSW Government’s Business Connect advisory service and the State’s 11 university partners in the $18 million Boosting Business Innovation Program to deliver the training to small businesses,” he said.
The program is open to all small to medium sized businesses operating within NSW with up to 199 employees, but priority will be given to businesses with fewer than 19 employees.
For more information visit: www.tafensw.edu.au/skillsforbusiness