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SINGAPORE: Businesses that cater to families will receive more financial assistance from the government.
From next year, the cap on the Businesses for Families Grant to help companies create "pro-family" products and services will rise from S$20,000 to S$50,000 per business.
Patara Fine Thai Cuisine hardly appears to be your typical kid-friendly restaurant. But the restaurant was recently given a pro-family make-over as the segment accounts for 20 per cent of their business.
Patara received a Businesses for Families Grant of about S$18,000 last year to enhance existing facilities. A nursery room was created and more room to park prams by tables.
Creative Eateries, which owns Patara, said its a win-win improvement.
Eric Ong, Finance and Human Resource Manager, Creative Eateries, said: "Those with family will find this place much more convenient for them, they will enjoy the meals and they will come back more frequently. During the weekdays, there has been a six per cent increase in the bottomline, weekends around 11 per cent."
Catering to families is big business in Singapore. It is estimated that families spend S$1.5 billion every year on shopping and eating out.
And the recently formed Businesses for Families Council hopes to encourage more sectors to provide products and services that cater to families. Formed in June this year, the council was previously known as the Pro-Family Business Workgroup.
Mildred Tan, co-chair, Businesses For Families Council, said: "We want to engage more with businesses and we will use the channels like business associations and business networks to work with them. We will also work with agencies that have opportunities to become more pro-family, be it with hospitals, be it with transport companies, be it with parks."
3,000 companies have already pledged to be pro-family, and the council aims to bring on board another 1,000 business next year. - CNA/vm
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