The institute specialises in providing retraining for staff from the retail and service sector.

Applicants fall into two main groups: Those sponsored by their companies in a bid to upgrade skills of their staff, and job seekers upping their employability.

The Workforce Development Agency subsidises all the courses by up to 90 per cent.

Already, the it is seeing a rise of 20 per cent in demand for its courses in the past four months, compared to a year ago.

There are now some 10,500 participants, making up 70 per cent of their 15,000 student capacity.

More companies are also sending their workers for training in lull times. SIRS said 20 companies approached it in September last year, up 30 per cent from the same month in 2007.

"More professionals will be affected during this recession," said Acting Minister for Manpower Gan Kim Yong, during a tour of the SIRS on Friday.

"Even though the economy is slowing down, there is still opportunity for the retail sector."

"It is important for our workers to have more flexible minds and be prepared to switch jobs and even industries," he said, adding that 4,000 jobs will be up for grabs when new shopping malls, such as Orchard ION and 313@Somerset, open.

'We do not have to worry. I have discussed with SIRS the potential to scale up."

Plans are under way. The institute will conduct training at client's premises, for example, at a mall or supermarket, and is on the lookout for more training space and will be hiring extra teachers.

"This does not take up more space, but helps us increase training capacity," said SIRS director Lee Tong Nge.

"We expect a surge in applicants in the next three months, and are already getting more enquiries. We want to be prepared for the influx," he said.

A new course, targeted at Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians group, or PMETs, will be launched later this month to help them chart new careers in the retail industry.