Enrolment Now Open for 13th Intake of Sands Procurement Academy

Nearly 420 local SME suppliers have graduated to date

(Macao, Aug 9, 2023) – Enrolment for the 13th intake of the Sands Procurement Academy is now open, and local SME suppliers can apply to join the free training programme until the deadline of Aug. 28. The upcoming session takes place weekly from Sept. 28 to Oct. 26 at The Venetian^® Macao's Adelson Advanced Education Centre.

The Sands Procurement Academy is a training programme for local SME suppliers that is co-organised by Sands China Ltd., the Macao Chamber of Commerce (MCC) and the Macau Productivity and Technology Centre (CPTTM). 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 suppliers, the programme specifically targets the development of local small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), especially micro-enterprises, Macao young entrepreneurs, and "Made-in-Macao" enterprises.

Charlie Cai, vice president of procurement and sustainability for Sands China Ltd., said: "With nearly 420 local SME suppliers having graduated from the Sands Procurement Academy since its launch in 2017, we are immensely grateful for the positive feedback from our local SMEs over the years. We expect that the latest class of the academy will empower more local suppliers with the most up-to-date knowledge and skills, thereby equipping them with the expertise needed to forge connections with large-scale international corporations. Our thanks and gratitude go to our co-organisers MCC and CPTTM."

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. The modules cover logistics management, sustainability, quality assurance, procurement process and system overview, supplier code of conduct, procurement contract basics, and Macao labour law fundamentals.

The upcoming Sept. 28-Oct 26 training session takes place every Thursday at the Adelson Advanced Education Centre, 2:30-5:30 p.m. 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 14th 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 Aug. 28, 2023. 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.

Photo caption: Enrolment in the 13th intake of the Sands Procurement Academy is now open to local SME suppliers until Aug. 28. The training programme is free of charge and will take place Sept. 28-Oct 26 at The Venetian Macao's Adelson Advanced Education Centre.