NSW offers $30m towards TAFE programs for SMEs

The New South Wales state government has announced a new $30 million skills initiative that offers SMEs in the state access to free TAFE business skills training programs for their staff.

The new scheme 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.

The State’s minister for skills John Barilaro said the new Skills for Business program would allow local businesses and their staff to study for free TAFE NSW qualifications in a range of subjects including digital and financial literacy, cyber security and general business management.

“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,” Barilaro said in launching the initiative, stressing the importance of SMEs to the regional economy.

Adam Marshall, the state minister responsible for TAFE NSW, promised that 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, cyber security and general business management,” 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”.