SMART Myanmar project partners have conducted a capacity building programs, through the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce of United Kingdom (UK), for the Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) Consultants in order to capacitate them and improve their business acumen in the areas of business planning, business diagnostics and occupational health and safety (OHS).

The training was all classroom based, delivered to the full group, and the content had all been used effectively in the past to provide training to similar groups of consultants and entrepreneurs in the UK. It was, however, adapted somewhat to suit the audience with reference made to the Myanmar economy, backed up by statistics gleaned from desk research prior to the visit.

The sessions were all linked so that the structure empowered each consultant in order to improve their knowledge and skills base. While each consultant is highly qualified and conversant in terms of technical engineering ability, their business acumen has to be improved to be fully armed with the fundamental business knowledge and the “tool kit” available when interviewing factory owners and carrying out factory audits.

These workshops were an introduction to all the topics required to improve SCP Consultant’s skills base and more detailed knowledge is required such as balance sheets, key performance indicators (KPI’)s and ratios relating to profitability. All participants received training certificates to show that they had participated in the courses, which will help communicate to third parties that they have received the appropriate personal development.

The resource person of this event was Anthony Gee, Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Industry