May 2008, vol. 10, no. 1 - Recent Developments

SME Workshop on Skills Development

In partnership with Industry Canada, Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) hosted a workshop on March 20, 2008, entitled "Creating a Competitive Edge for SMEs Through Skills Development." The goal of the workshop was to increase overall understanding of the role of skills development in the success of small and medium-sized enterprises. Key barriers to skills development for SMEs identified during the workshop included: availability of knowledge and training options, lack of "awareness" on the importance of training, inability to develop a tailor-made training program and loss of trained employees.

The workshop was a result of a commitment between Industry Canada and HRSDC to jointly examine skills issues faced by SMEs in Canada.

International Council for Small Business World Conference

The 53rd International Council for Small Business (ICSB) World Conference will be held at the World Trade and Convention Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, June 22–25, 2008. Held each year in different locations, the conference attracts researchers, educators, policy-makers, business service providers, students and business owners with an interest in the areas of small business and/or entrepreneurship. This year's theme, "Advancing Small Business and Entrepreneurship: From Research to Results," will focus on bridging the gap between research and action.

The 2008 ICSB conference offers an opportunity to:

• meet with leading international researchers;
• engage in dialogue on the latest research, policy issues and development trends in small business and entrepreneurship support; and
• network with SME/entrepreneurship organizations, institutions and experts from around the world.

For more information on the conference, and registration details, please visit www.icsb2008.org.

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