Govt funds start-up class

Govt funds start-up class

• Source: Global Times
• [09:09 March 14 2011]
• Comments

By Zhang Hui

A business start-up training course kicked off at a night school in Changping district Sunday, marking the first time government-subsidized business classes were conducted by private training centers.

About 50 students, most in their mid thirties, attended their first class Sunday afternoon.

Many are employees and senior management of large companies looking to learn new business and marketing strategies, Li Xin, instructor and manager of the Donglicang training center, told the Global Times Sunday.

The 500 yuan ($76) tuition for 44 hours of classes over two months will be refunded upon finishing the course and passing the examination.

"It's not the first time the government has offered training on starting a new business, but it's the first time we've involved private training centers," Li Wenbo, vice chairman of the Beijing Changping Communist Youth League, which funded the classes, told the Global Times Sunday.

Outstanding students will qualify to start up their businesses in the Changping district high-tech industrial zone and be provided with equipment, Li said.

Zheng Shijie, 34, trainee and owner of an educational company dealing in toy robots, told the Global Times that he was looking forward to learning new marketing strategies.

"I want to foster innovation in children by helping them construct robots with different looks and functions," Zheng said, "But I've only worked with several schools so far, and most people haven't heard of my company or what I do."

"I was satisfied with the first class this afternoon and hope to learn more professional strategies," Zheng added.