WHEN a new swanky Orchard Road mall opens next year, it will have something no other shopping centre offers: A training centre for service staff.

Retailers at 313@Somerset will be able to send their staff for training to get them up to speed on the finer points of dealing with customers, without forking out a cent.

At the centre, they can choose from 10 courses, ranging from topics like retailer safety to delivering superior customer service.

The courses, approved by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency, are largely aimed at front-line service staff from all levels.

At least 60 per cent of the $1 million initial investment - to set up and run the centre for the first year - will be borne by the mall's landlord, Land Lease Retail Singapore.

The Australian-based company is in talks with government agencies here to cover the remaining cost.

The centre will start operating by mid-2009, about six months ahead of the mall's scheduled opening in the fourth quarter.

It will operate out of Faber House initially, before moving to the top floor of the mall when it opens.

Its aim: To set the mall apart with top-notch service, and to help retailers defray costs.

'At the end of the day it is about raising service standards and to provide excellence at every touch point,' said 313@Somerset's development director Michael Kenderes. 'This will also help retailers who have admitted that cost is a major issue given the current economic situation.'

The amount each retailer will save: About $3,000 per employee enrolled.

About 1,000 training spots will be available in the first year, with priority given to 313@Somerset's 180 retailers. However, any spare places will be offered to anyone in the retail industry.

Criteria for enrolment is still under discussion and will be announced at a later date, said Mr Kenderes.

The eight-storey high mall, across the street from Centrepoint, is on track to open on time.

Already, 50 per cent of the mall's total shop space has either been leased or reserved.

Retail management lecturer Sarah Lim from Singapore Polytechnic thinks that this will be the start of a new trend.

She said: 'It is a very competitive environment, when one mall starts value-adding other malls usually follow-suit. No one wants to lose out.'