Increasing small business participation in VET: a “hard ask”

Governments in Australia, like those in other countries, have sought to increase small business participation in vocation education and training (VET). Given concerns about business sustainability and small businesses’ contribution to employment and economic performance, governments have sought VET responses that are commensurate with small business needs. However, given small business reluctance and resistance to participate in structured VET programs, the task of increasing participation remains a particularly difficult request; a “hard ask”. Taking an Australian perspective, it is proposed that achieving this goal will require changes to the orientation of VET provisions, enhanced support and facilitation instead of market‐based provisions. Furthermore, a broadening of both the pedagogy and definition of structured VET are probably needed to increase participation by small business.