Past studies reveal that compared to larger companies, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) were less likely to send their employees for training.
Recognising the challenges that SMEs may face in sending their employees for training, the Enhanced Training Support for SMEs (ETSS) offers additional support for SMEs, including:
Higher Course Fee Grant: SMEs enjoy SkillsFuture Funding of up to 90% of the course fees when they sponsor their employees to attend courses supported by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG)
Enhanced Absentee Payroll (AP) Funding: SMEs may claim AP funding of 80% of basic hourly salary at a higher cap of $7.50 per hour, an increase over the normal cap of $4.50 per hour.
SMEs that meet all of the following eligibility criteria:
Registered or incorporated in Singapore
At least 30% local shareholding by Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents
Employment size of not more than 200 (at group level) or with annual sales turnover (at group level) of not more than $100 million
SME-sponsored Trainees:
Must be Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents.
Courses have to be fully paid for by the employer.
Trainee is not a full-time national serviceman.
You may view the full terms for training providers here.
Further Info: This scheme is intended for all organisations, including non-business entities not registered with ACRA e.g. VWOs, societies, etc. Only Ministries, statutory boards, and other government agencies are not eligible under Enhanced Training Support for SMEs Scheme. Sole proprietorships which meet all of the above criteria are also eligible.
The following types of training are covered under the Enhanced Training Support for SMEs:
Non-PMETs
PMETs
CET Centre courses and CET courses offered by the Autonomous Universities, Polytechnics, ITE and the National Institute of Early Childhood development(NIEC)1
Up to 90% course fee grant
Certifiable courses
Up to 90% course fee grant capped at $25 per hour
Up to 90% course fee grant capped at $50 per hour
In-house certifiable training
Course fee grant at $15 per hour
Absentee Payroll funding
80% of basic hourly salary, capped at $7.50 per hour
1These include the following courses:
SSG-supported short courses offered by the Autonomous Universities;
Part-time Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Specialist Diploma, part-time Industry Skills Certificates (ISC), part-time NITEC, part-time Higher NITEC, certificate-level courses, and SSG-supported short courses offered by the Polytechnics, ITE and NIEC.
You may wish to view the library of courses available on MySkillsFuture.sg
SMEs can submit applications and claims through the online SkillsConnect platform at www.skillsconnect.gov.sg. ETSS will be extended to those who meet the eligibility criteria. The application can be submitted up to 30 days before the course start date and no later than 30 days after the course start date.
