Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG) has launched the Singapore Global Executive Programme (SGEP), which aims to help homegrown companies ramp up up their global presence for talent development in line with their growth ambitions. Companies that participate will alongside EnterpriseSG’s partners to co-design and implement a customised human capital roadmap, to attract and groom local talent that will be critical in advancing their business growth plans.
The initiative was first announced at Budget 2022 and is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the core capabilities of high-potential Singapore companies and support their growth under the Enterprise 2030 strategy. Up to 20 Singapore companies will be onboarded to SGEP over the next three years. This was shared by the Minister for Manpower and the Second Minister for Trade and Industry at the launch event for SGEP.
The first two batches of companies to participate in SGEP were announced. In addition to having a solid history, these companies also have a clear long-term business growth strategy and are committed to investing in talent across diverse areas – such as data and analytics, digital transformation, business development and product research – to support their global expansion plans. More companies will be onboarded to SGEP progressively in the second half of 2023.
EnterpriseSG’s Chief Executive Officer stated that companies that are looking to scale up into global enterprises must focus on grooming talent as well as developing a deep leadership bench. SGEP is working to enhance the talent development capabilities of Singapore enterprises, help them attract young talent, and groom them into global-ready leaders, he said.
SGEP companies will receive comprehensive training and consultancy support to help them intensify their talent development efforts. They will work with experienced industry partners to expand their knowledge of employer branding, talent assessment and analytics, as well as talent acquisition and development so that they can develop a human capital roadmap tailored to their business growth plans.
With the support of EnterpriseSG, the companies will also strengthen their in-house human resource team, with a committed talent manager to oversee the human capital roadmap.
Young local talent looking to join SGEP companies will receive structured career progression pathways, which will prepare them for potential global leadership positions. They can expect to build their industry expertise through job rotations across core business functions, receive one-on-one mentorship from company leaders, and go on overseas work attachments to gain global business insights. This, in turn, will enable SGEP companies to build a skilled leadership pipeline for their global expansion.
Enhancing Singapore’s workforce
Singapore is investing in continuous training for its workforce to ensure they remain responsive to evolving business needs and rapid technological advancements. The nation’s public and private sectors also work closely together to develop a continuous talent pipeline to fuel future-focused businesses.
The Singapore Government has introduced initiatives including SkillsFuture to help its residents upgrade their skills or learn new ones. It also means that businesses in Singapore always have access to potential employees with the right capabilities.
The region is also working to strengthen its digitally capable workforce. TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA), a SkillsFuture initiative, provides various programmes to prepare workers for digital and tech roles. According to the Ministry of Finance (Singapore Budget 2019, Budget Speech), Singapore spends more than SG$ 1 billion per year (2015–2020) on continuing education and training.
