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SINGAPORE: Spring Singapore has set aside S$30 million for two new programmes aimed at building a talent pipeline for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore.
The two programmes which target tertiary students and graduates aim to attract 2,000 fresh talents into the SMEs over the next five years.
SMEs in Singapore are hoping that they will not lose out to larger corporations when attracting talents.
They are also hoping that the new programmes launched by Spring Singapore Wednesday will help change the mindset of local graduates.
Under the Management Associate Partnership (MAP), Spring Singapore will work with high growth SMEs to train local university graduates.
They will learn how to operate the company over an 18-month mentoring programme.
Qualifying SMEs can receive up to S$15,000 grant for the training and development of each management associate.
Meanwhile, the Enterprise Internship Programme (EIP) will provide an opportunity for local university and polytechnic students to work with SMEs through short term internships.
Spring Singapore will co-fund with the SMEs the internship stipend of S$200 a week for polytechnic students and S$300 a week for university graduates, as well as award each qualifying student a cash prize of S$1,000 after completion of the internship.
Spring Singapore will also help the SMEs enhance their overall HR and talent management practices.
"We know that SMEs face this perennial problem of attracting strong talents, and with this initiative we want to provide the SMEs with the capabilities as well as with the branding to profile them as good employers that would offer them meaningful career opportunities and fantastic learning opportunities," Spring Singapore director of Business Leadership Division Tong Shuh Lan said.
Spring will also help SMEs improve their branding at career fairs and events in schools.
Meanwhile, industry players said local graduates stand to benefit too.
"With SMEs going regional and even (having) the potential to grow competitively globally, I think graduates who start of(f) with SMEs and gradually growing and being successful with them will be recognised faster and quicker than (in) MNCs," Amos International managing director Danny Lien said.
"We want to change the mindset and we want to give these school leavers an eye opener that SMEs (may be) physically small, but we have also adopted high technology, and (offer) a very conducive working environment and great prospect(s)," Teckwah Group chairman & managing director Thomas Chua said.
Spring Singapore said these efforts aim to establish SMEs who are committed to talent development as Employers of Choice among Singaporeans.
-CNA/wk
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