DUBAI // Live, online workshops will offer free training to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from next month.
Classes in the three-month SME Evolution Programme, set up to nurture SMEs in the region, start on March 14 and will run every Monday and Wednesday evening for one hour.
Shadi Banna, a managing partner of Potential, a consultancy service for start-up businesses, is organising the programme.
"The benefit of the programme when you do it in a live interactive format is that it becomes low-cost," said Mr Banna. "You're also able to bring in a lot of expertise from all over the place so you can basically hook up people in a very cost-effective way."
The programme will tutor SME owners in areas such as human resources, online presence and e-commerce.
The programme's regional partners, which include Aramex, Google and Zawya, will provide expertise on logistics and market research.
Mr Banna said that classes would be split into two. The first half would be covered by one of the programme's consultants and would include a brainstorming session and other exercises. Participants would be able to ask questions. The second half would be dedicated to an entrepreneurial guest speaker.
Ivan Kraemer, another partner at Potential, said: "This live interactive learning is a higher quality than e-learning because it's as close to being there as it can possibly get.
"It reaches people and no one's been able to do this before due to a lack of technology."
Potential is also launching the programme in Lebanon and Qatar.
"We've divided the programme into waves until September 2011," said Mr Banna. "After that we will expand to other countries in the Mena region."
Adnan Ghanem, 47, a Jordanian entrepreneur who has been in Dubai for 20 years and owns the information technology company Pronet, is one of those who have signed up for the first class in Dubai. "I think it's a very good idea because, first of all, people are shy to say they need help and advice and the programme gives you everything you require to make sure you are on the right track," he said.
"It's definitely needed for SMEs here because 85 per cent of the market in Dubai is made up of SMEs so people realise they cannot ignore this sector. It's what is making the economy here and this is why the government is supporting it."
Mr Kraemer said: "The buzz of SMEs is starting now. There are too many people and not enough jobs."
Interested companies must have been established at least two years and can register at www.potential.com to receive a curriculum.
cmalek@thenational.ae
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
Shubh Mangal Saavdhan
Directed by: RS Prasanna
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar
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Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Brief scores:
Toss: Rajputs, elected to field first
Sindhis 94-6 (10 ov)
Watson 42; Munaf 3-20
Rajputs 96-0 (4 ov)
Shahzad 74 not out
Company%20Profile
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Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.