Small retailers face problems in finding the time and money for training, according to a government commissioned report on local shops. The Better Regulation Task Force report says training take up by small shops is low because of the prevalence of part-time workers and lack of funds. Convenience businesses tend to operate on a shoestring and resources cannot easily be found, even for a couple of hours cover ­ someone is always needed to "mind the shop". The report adds that the sector regards traditional classroom training as largely irrelevant because shopkeepers need advice tailored to individual circumstances. And there is a lack of recognised expertise for small retailers to draw on in areas such as changing shop layout, increasing turnover or stock merchandising and management. Ram Gidoomal, who chaired the task force, said: "More than 30 years ago I ran a corner shop in Shepherds Bush. I know from that experience that training sessions need to be organised outside shop opening hours ­ and not too far away from the store if retailers are to have any chance of attending." The report says there are signs that more provision of training is becoming available to the sector. But that provision is coming through individual initiatives rather than a centrally co-ordinated policy. The task force recommends that the Small Business Service, set up by the government two years ago, should address the advice and training needs of the sector through initiatives such as a free central web site and information database. - See news analysis, page 18 {{PEOPLE MOVES }}