Centum Learning Limited, the training, education and skill-building solution arm of Sunil Mittal led-Bharti Group, is planning to expand its presence in the higher education space. Besides, it is looking at adding new verticals like hospitality, automotive and healthcare,
The company, which has 150 training centres in the higher education space across 90 cities, would add 50 more in the next one year. “We are planning to take the number to 200 by the end of this financial year," Kamini Prasad, chief operating officer (professional education & training), Centum Learning, told Business Standard.
This apart, it would train 10,000 people in the proposed 50 centres, taking its total number of trained students to 40,000 per annum in this space.
Prasad said of the total populations pass out every year, only 8-9 per cent was employable. The rest needed various training to be industry-ready. "There is a huge market out there to tap," she said.
The company operates under four major verticals — retail, financial, IT & ITeS and electronics. It plans to add new verticals including hospitality, healthcare and automotive. “We are in discussion with major players from these three sectors to provide training. We will come up with a plan and training model in a few months,” she said.
Last month, Centum had partnered real estate developer Emaar MGF to train managers. It has tied up with Bharti Airtel, Bharti Walmart, Ignou, Whistling Woods International, and Annamalai University. It has also formed a joint venture with the National Skill Development Corporation to train 11.5 million individuals over the next 10 years.
Ties up with AP govt
Besides, in February the company had tied up with the Andhra Pradesh government under the Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Area (MEPMA) scheme to provide free livelihood training in areas like telecom, DTH, retail and sales for urban youth to prepare them with hands-on skills for employment.
“We have already trained 100 people under the MEPMA programme and are targeting to train 10,000 people in the current financial year,” Prasad said. Centum Learning plans to cover all the 23 districts of AP under its three-year agreement with the state government.
