Sands Procurement Academy Now Accepting Enrolments for 15th Intake
Over 520 local SME suppliers have joined to date
(Macao, Sep 1, 2024) – The Sands Procurement Academy is now accepting enrolment applications for its 15th intake, open to local SME suppliers. The registration deadline is Sept. 6, with the upcoming session taking place weekly from Sept. 17 to Oct. 15 at The Venetian® Macao's Adelson Advanced Education Centre.
A free training programme for local SME suppliers co-organised by Sands China Ltd., the Macao Chamber of Commerce (MCC) and the Macau Productivity and Technology Centre (CPTTM), the Sands Procurement Academy has trained over 520 small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to date. Through the sharing of business knowledge and skills, it helps local SME suppliers gain experience and capacity for working with large-scale international corporations like Sands China. While open to all local SME suppliers, the programme specifically targets the development of micro-enterprises, Macao young entrepreneurs, and "Made-in-Macao" enterprises.
Charlie Cai, vice president of procurement and sustainability for Sands China Ltd., said: "Over the years, Sands China has been rendering support to the development of local SMEs, and this is the eighth consecutive year we are offering the Sands Procurement Academy programme, aimed at equipping SMEs with a deeper understanding of international corporations' standards and requirements. We are excited about this latest session of the academy, as we are debuting a new course on the Xiaohongshu (RED) Operations Strategy for Enterprises to share various influencer techniques to help SMEs stay current and improve their business. Furthermore, a business matching session, where participants are able to meet some of Sands China's procurement department buyers face-to-face, will help create potential future business opportunities for the SMEs. Our thanks go to the academy's course facilitators for their invaluable contributions and to the Macao Chamber of Commerce and CPTTM for their collaboration."
The Sands Procurement Academy is a first-of-its-kind industry training and focuses on delivering practical knowledge to participating SMEs. After graduating, suppliers earn a completion certificate and receive preference for procurement opportunities with Sands China under otherwise equal circumstances.
The academy's practical training modules are tailor-made and presented by lecturers with diverse areas of expertise. In addition to the RED module, four other topics are covered: Macao labour law fundamentals, procurement process and system overview, supplier code of conduct, and procurement contract basics.
The upcoming Sept. 17 to Oct. 15 training session will take place weekly at the Adelson Advanced Education Centre. Enrolment will be capped at 40 participants. If the number of applicants exceeds capacity, lots will be drawn for selection. Applicants that are not selected will receive priority enrolment for the academy's 16th intake.
Interested SMEs should visit https://www.sandschina.com/the-company/sands-procurement-academy.html to complete the enrolment form and return it to SME_Info@sands.com.mo on or before Sept. 6, 2024. For enquiries, please contact Eva Wong at +853 8118 7866.
The Sands Procurement Academy supports the third pillar of Sands China's F.I.T. programme for local SME suppliers, which offers Financial Support, Invitational Matching, and Training and Development. F.I.T. targets both existing and new local Sands China suppliers as part of Sands China's Local Small, Medium and Micro Suppliers Support Programme. The programme seeks to continually increase and strengthen procurement between Sands China and local SME suppliers by enhancing their capabilities.
Sands China's Local Small, Medium and Micro Suppliers Support Programme is in line with the Macao government's initiative to "buy local" and demonstrates Sands China's commitment to support local enterprises as part of the company's corporate social responsibility efforts. It is part of Sands China's supplier relationship management strategy, which guides the company's long-standing effort to support local suppliers, whom it views as its strategic partners.
