Shops occasionally team up to train staff at the centre (7)

I believe the answer is:

emporia

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'shops' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

I can't explain the remainder of the clue.

(Other definitions for emporia that I've seen before include "large-scale marketing operations" , "I'm a rope (anag)" , "Large retail shops" , "Large stores" , "Trading centres" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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