A select number of medium, small, and micro enterprises are benefiting from free business enhancement training sponsored by the Caribbean Digital Transformation Project and coordinated by the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC). Over 180 businesses are projected to benefit from the productivity training scheduled to conclude in 2026.
The NCPC completed the first of three rounds of specialised training to improve productivity and drive economic growth. The Enhancing Business Productivity Training Programme designed by the NCPC specifically targets Medium, Small, and Micro Enterprises (MSMEs). Lisa Florent-Montoute, Director of the NCPC emphasised that the training programme highlights the importance of data collection for effective decision-making while introducing participants to the Protool, the NCPC’s productivity measuring tool which promotes a culture of continuous improvement for business success.
“At the NCPC we have introduced a Protool. It is a web-based analytical tool that your business can use to measure your productivity level and it provides recommendations on areas of weakness for remedial action that you can take for enhancing your productivity,” Montoute said.
The Community Tourism Agency (CTA) which recently partnered with the NCPC via a Memorandum of Understanding encouraged its members to take full advantage of the Enhancing Business Productivity training and the impact it can have on the success of their businesses.
“I really thought our partners can benefit from such an important tool that actually measures your productivity when it comes to inputs, when it comes to work and of course what do you expect out of it,” Montoute said.
Funding this training programme is the Caribbean Digital Transformation Project whose Project Coordinator, Francilia Solomon said the project has also collaborated with the NCPC on similar ventures such as improving the sales productivity of vendors via the use of point-of-sale machines and ICT training.
“As we know Micro, Medium and Small Enterprises are the lifeblood of any economy especially here in Saint Lucia and irrespective of your small size you make a very big impact on the economy,” Solomon said.
The training programme, facilitated by Betty Combie of MOZ Inc. and a team of regional trainers experienced in business development, offers participants hands-on practical exercises in focus areas such as data collection and analysis, planning for quality, and establishing a framework for enhancing business productivity.
“We’re expecting that during this training session, you are going to be equipped to be able to identify the productivity gaps in your particular business. And, last of all we want to ensure that when you leave here, you leave here understanding the importance of promoting a culture of continuous improvement in your business,” Combie said.
The following are statements from some of those who attended the training programme. They articulated the value they received from the training programme.
“It would provide the necessary skills and expertise to make better decisions within the business,” one participant said.
“Getting to know your customers’ expectations, really helps you get an understanding of what the customers are expecting from you,” said another.
“Now I am equipped enough to go out there and share that information,” another participant commented.
“And the amount of information that was shared here today would pretty much help in any part of the business. It would help you effectively and help you improve the consistency of the business,” said another.
The training incorporated on location visits to the individual businesses by the facilitator and a certificate of completion was presented to the successful participants. An open call has already gone out for the next cohort for the Enhancing Business Productivity Training.