Boom time for Employability Training Cos.

Business Today has an article on how South India-based Employability Training companies are now getting businesses from colleges desperate to place their students successfully.

Cracking that job interview is the most important goal—but most edu-trainers who have tapped this market initially are now scaling up by introducing newer modules. Engineering colleges, in particular, are willing takers after a tough placement season, realising slowdown-hit corporates don’t have the patience or moolah to invest in employability training.

...Chennai-based N. Raj Mohan, a behavioural scientist running skill development outfit ‘Bodhi’ since 1998, is a veteran of sorts in the edutrainer market. In early years he focussed on corporates and now the market has turned bigger for him with colleges and schools beginning to show interest. Mohan expects a growth of at least 15 per cent in the current year from employability training in colleges for his business and expects the entire industry to grow.

Most of the edutrainers-entrepreneurs charge varying fees but the variation is not stark. Some entrepreneurs charge Rs 700 for a 60-hour module on average; others charge Rs 2,000 for a 100-hour module.

According to industry estimates, such ventures are only scratching the surface; the employability market potential is big. Vouches Amit Bansal, CEO, Purple Leap—part of Educomp and now Pearson—who understood the scope for employability trainers since starting Purple Leap in 2007 in Bangalore with three other professionals. Last year, the outfit trained 2,000 students; this year, it’s targeting at least 5,000 and will touch base with at least a 100 colleges.

Arun Natarajan is the Founder & CEO of Venture Intelligence, the leading provider of data and analysis on private equity, venture capital and M&A deals in India. View free samples of Venture Intelligence newsletters and reports. Email the author at arun@ventureintelligence.in