Westpac will pair up with TAFE NSW to provide free courses to 1000 SMEs, in a scheme aimed at helping them to get back on their feet after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 12-week course will be available for small businesses around Australia, particularly those who were poorly prepared for the pandemic and are now struggling to recover.
The course, which will be called the “Small Business Growth Series” is set to focus on adaptation, digital transformation, innovation and managing risk.
“We’re really committed to seeing our small business customers recover from the pandemic and one of the ways we’re helping is by funding a national education course for 1000 small business customers through TAFE NSW,” said Guil Lima, Westpac Business Division’s Chief Exectuve. “We want our customers to have the latest skills and business knowledge so they can meet the challenges of the pandemic head on and to start to grow again.”
“I would encourage brokers with Westpac small business customers on the books to reach out to their clients and let them know about this initiative. These courses are practical and cover topics like going digital, understanding business risk and how to find growth opportunities in the current market.”
“Westpac ran a pilot last year for Victorian small business customers hit hard by lockdowns and it was really well received – that’s why we wanted to roll it out nationally. We know that small business owners are some of the busiest people in Australia, what’s great about this course is that it is run online, and you can do it in your own time.”
“This course compliments our other strategies to help customers recover from the pandemic including low rates for businesses looking to grow again and tailored support for customers doing it tough. We are also supportive of the Federal Government’s SME Guarantee Loan Scheme and the SME Recovery Loan Scheme announced last week.”
