HUNDREDS of youth are set to benefit from training following the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) by The Institute for Workforce Education & Development (IWED) — the training arm of Manpower & Maintenance Services Group (MMS) — and the Young Entrepreneurs Association of Jamaica (YEA).

Under the partnership, the IWED will offer a suite of professional courses to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as other customer service-oriented organisations.

Cordell Williams-Graham, president of the YEA, said the partnership will help to further the association’s mandate of creating opportunities for people 45 years and under, exposing particularly entrepreneurs to mentorship, coaching, training, skills and other services even as they are provided the tools needed to access financing and to streamline and scale their operations.

“The collaboration with IWED will facilitate expanded workforce development through training and technical services,” she stated.

The MOU, which paves the way for the offering of short professional courses that are demand-driven, Williams-Graham said will also unlock avenues for upskilling and building capacity for young professionals and entrepreneurs. This, as it also enhances competence on the job and positions individuals for growth and advancement in their respective fields.

Garth Hinchcliffe, deputy chief executive officer (CEO) of MMS, said the three-year arrangement seeks to “expand the pool of skilled workers in Jamaica and to strengthen the workforce for business growth and development”.

IWED Director of Education and Training Verica Bennett-Davidson said the partnership will also expose participants to a wide cross section of training across the areas of information systems/digital transformation; strategic planning; business process improvement; crisis management and resilience; project management; leadership and team building; financial management and communication, among others.

IWED, which in recent times has been moving to expand training opportunities for more classes of individuals, has also announced plans which could in the near future see the entity offering more customised professional services up to the tertiary level.

“This partnership forms a critical part of IWED’s future growth and development strategy as the institute will be responsible for training a number of individuals in various areas,” Bennett-Davidson said.