Singapore to build talent pool for SME industry

By EgovAsia Editors | Sep 1, 2010

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SPRING Singapore is launching two new programs, targeted at tertiary students and university graduates, that aim to build a talent pipeline for the country's SME sector.  Close to $30M has already been set aside for these projects.

The first, Management Associate Partnership (MAP), works with high-growth SMEs as partners to attract, develop and retain fresh talents. Targeting local university graduates, SPRING will co-fund these SMEs to train the graduates to run core and expanding operations of the company. The graduates will benefit from an accelerated learning path, coupled with coaching and mentoring by the SME senior management team over an 18-month period. Qualifying SMEs can receive up to $15,000 grant for the training and development of each Management Associate.

The second program, Enterprise Internship Program (EIP), seeks to expose local university and polytechnic students to the dynamic and rewarding working environment in high-growth SMEs through short term internships. SPRING will co-fund with the SMEs the internship stipend and book prize. SPRING will also co-fund a leadership development activity for the interns. This program will complement MAP in influencing young entrepreneurial talents during their school days to consider SMEs as an attractive career choice.

The programs aim to attract 2,000 fresh talents into the SMEs over the next 5 years. SPRING will work with SMEs and local Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) on the participation and profiling of high-growth SMEs at career fairs. Under the banner of Careers@Enterprise, the career fairs will be supported by an online portal to profile SME employers and the career opportunities.
 
Kang Puay Seng, Managing Director of Super Bean International Pte Ltd, gave positive comments on the EIP. “The opportunity to engage and connect with quality students while they are still in school will give me a headstart in my search for future leaders of the company. Engaging them before they graduate is a bold step forward and a good approach by SPRING to expose students to the SME environment.”