DBS and SSG partner to help SMEs develop sustainability capability and capacity to thrive in the green economy

• Collaboration expands on DBS’ successful first year as a SkillsFuture Queen Bee

• DBS will enhance its SME Skills Booster Programme to support SMEs on sustainability skills

DBS and SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) today announced a new two-year collaboration under the SkillsFuture Queen Bee initiative to boost sustainability capability and capacity via the enhanced DBS SME Skills Booster Programme. The partnership aims to help meet a growing demand for green skills among small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which has increased by about 140 per cent annually in recent years.

As more businesses embed sustainable practices into their operations, many existing jobs will require an added dimension of green skills such as the design and implementation of sustainability plans. Other skills include how to set, measure, track and report on environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance metrics in line with evolving compliance and reporting requirements.

Courses will be offered under the DBS BusinessClass Academy and its partners. Additional courses on banking and finance, digital transformation, and cyber wellness will also be featured as part of a holistic approach to strengthen overall business resilience. Moving forward, companies will also be able to access DBS’ ESG Ready initiative¹, which aims to help SMEs move towards achieving independent assurance in sustainability. 

The programme builds on DBS’ successful first year as a SkillsFuture Queen Bee. Since its appointment in July 2022, over 130 employees from some 80 SMEs have been trained in areas such as digitalisation and workplace learning. The feedback from companies was overwhelmingly positive – about 97% of survey respondents said they achieved their objectives of knowledge building and skills acquisition after completing the courses.

Tan Kok Yam, SSG Chief Executive, said: “All enterprises will increasingly need to address ESG considerations. New capabilities are required for ESG accounting, and for implementing sustainable business practices. It is thus very timely for DBS and SSG to refresh our partnership, to better support SMEs in building a skilled workforce that can ride the green transition and help to achieve our Singapore Green Plan 2030.”

Koh Kar Siong, Group Head of Corporate and SME Banking, Institutional Banking, DBS, said: “SMEs account for 99% of all enterprises² in Singapore, and their ability to embrace sustainability will be key to creating a sustainable future here and in the region. This is why helping companies learn and upskill in the sustainability space is a key priority for DBS, and we are honoured to be working with SSG again to help deliver the SME Skills Booster Programme for another two years.”

Nicole Goh, General Manager of seafood supplier Imperial Premium Seafood attended a sustainability masterclass organised by DBS. She plans to further upskill herself and her sustainability team through the DBS SME Skills Booster Programme.

“Sustainability skills will give us an edge in the market, and also help us embed best practices into our business operations. We are especially keen to learn more about how to accurately calculate our carbon footprint and other reporting requirements, in light of changing regulations. We look forward to continuing our sustainability skills development with DBS SME Skills Booster,” she said.

To find out more the DBS’ SME Skills Booster Programme, visit www.dbs.com.sg/sme/businessclass/sme-skills-booster-programme   

¹ https://www.dbs.com/newsroom/DBS_partners_international_certification_body_TUV_SUD_to_help_mid_cap_companies_and_SMEs_get_ESG_ready

² https://www.singstat.gov.sg/modules/infographics/economy

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