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The 2011/12 SME Mentorship Programme will be open for application from tomorrow (February 18). The programme provides an invaluable opportunity for entrepreneurs of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) who are at their early stage of business to learn from and be guided by accomplished entrepreneurs, senior executives and professionals through one-on-one free counselling.
The SME Mentorship Programme is organised by the Support and Consultation Centre for SMEs (SUCCESS) of the Trade and Industry Department (TID), with 65 leading industrial and trade organisations and professional and academic bodies as co-organisers.
"Through the programme, SME entrepreneurs can learn entrepreneurial skills, raise their competitiveness, widen their exposure and expand their business connections. Each SME mentee will be matched with an experienced mentor and start a 12-month mentorship period. Mentors will listen to mentees' views and problems in running their business, share with mentees their thinking and experience, and give them advice," said a TID spokesman.
"Apart from meetings between mentors and mentees, SUCCESS will also organise various activities such as seminars, workshops and visits for mentees to enhance their business knowledge and broaden their business network," the spokesman added.
Since the launch of the first round of the SME Mentorship Programme in 2000, six rounds of the programme have been organised. Over 430 volunteer mentors have participated in the programme, providing free counselling to more than 900 mentees.
SME entrepreneurs who own and actively run a company that is legally registered in Hong Kong, has been established for less than five years and employs fewer than 20 employees in Hong Kong, are eligible to apply. Application forms and programme details are available from SUCCESS and its website (www.success.tid.gov.hk), co-organisers' offices and District Offices of the Home Affairs Department.
Completed application forms and the supporting documents should be returned in person or by mail on or before March 18 to SUCCESS (address: M/F, Trade and Industry Department Tower, 700 Nathan Road, Kowloon; opening hours: Mondays to Fridays, 8.45am - 6pm).
For enquiries, please call 2398 5133 or e-mail success@tid.gov.hk.
Ends/Thursday, February 17, 2011
Issued at HKT 11:01
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