EMBARGOED TILL 4 AUGUST 2017, 12:30PM
MEDIA RELEASE
Higher productivity, easier, safer and smarter jobs for Food Services and Retail industries through manpower initiatives
SINGAPORE, 4 AUGUST 2017 – Employers from the Food Services and Retail sectors can look forward to more Government support to sustain growth and overcome manpower crunch as they tackle the challenges of a changing labour market landscape.
2 Workforce Singapore (WSG), in collaboration with SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) and with support from SPRING Singapore, unions and associations, has sought to encourage more employers from both sectors to relook at, adapt and transform their operations and work processes by embracing innovation and adopting technologies. By leveraging technologies, routine work processes are streamlined to produce higher output whilst being less reliant on manpower. It has also enabled employers to mitigate the effects of the ageing workforce by making work easier, safer and smarter for their older workers.
3 The shift to more technology-enabled operations and the resulting redesigned job roles would require the upskilling and reskilling of employees to help them stay relevant and perform new job roles in demand today. The creation of such higher value-added job roles puts employers in better positions to meet changing career aspirations amongst local workforce and to attract the talent they need.
4 To support and help offset part of the implementation costs of these technologies, employers can tap on WSG’s WorkPro Job Redesign Grant, under WSG’s Transform & Grow initiative, to fund job redesign projects up to $300,000.
5 On training and wage subsidy support, employers from both sectors can tap on WSG’s suite of Adapt & Grow programmes, such as Professional Conversion Programmes, the Career Support Programme and Work Trial to enhance and complement their hiring and training efforts.
6 Mr Tan Choon Shian, Chief Executive of WSG said, “To manage manpower and productivity challenges in the changing labour market, we urge employers to tap on WSG’s Transform and Grow initiative to implement lean transformation projects to enhance their business competitiveness. WSG will also continue to work with forward-looking employers to enhance their manpower recruitment needs, and to connect them with jobseekers interested in pursuing a career in these progressive industries.”
Adapt & Grow Food Services and Retail Day
7 To further inspire and encourage employers to adopt technologies, drive recruitment and promote the wide range of job opportunities, WSG has organised the two-day Adapt & Grow Food Services and Retail Day on 4 and 5 August 2017 at the Lifelong Learning Institute. This event comprises three components: a technology showcase featuring technology solutions for both sectors, a seminar on “SMEs of the Future: Food Services and Retail”, and a career fair.
8 The technology showcases features various technology solutions, such as the e-Waiter, Table Top Auto-Cooker and Virtual Reality Technology (Please see attached factsheet for full list of exhibiting technologies).
9 To further encourage employers to adopt technologies and transform their operations, WSG has also organised a “SMEs of the Future: Food Services and Retail” seminar providing employers with insights on upcoming trends.
10 The two-day Career Fair on-site features close to 1,200 job vacancies offered by 34 employers from both sectors (Please refer to Annex A for full list of participating employers). Available positions include Management Trainee, Assistant Chef, Store Manager and Visual Merchandiser.
11 Jobseekers, including mature PMETs and mid-career switchers, can look forward to kick-starting their career in either sectors by tapping on WSG’s suite of Adapt & Grow programmes. WSG has also organised a series of talks where seasoned professionals from both sectors, such as Master Mentor at Asian Culinary Institute (ACI) Chef Eric Teo, DBR System manager Ms Karen Tan, and Swensen’s restaurant manager Mr Norman Tan, share their real life job experiences and work expectations with jobseekers.
Launch of Skills Frameworks for Food Services and Retail
12 The Skills Framework for Food Services and the Skills Framework for Retail are also launched to support the manpower strategies laid out in the respective Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs). The Skills Frameworks were jointly developed by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG), WSG and SPRING Singapore in consultation with employers, industry associations, unions and education and training institutes (Please refer to attached factsheet for more information on Skills Frameworks).
13 Mr Poon Hong Yuen, Chief Executive, SPRING Singapore said, “Industry transformation, aided by the use of technology, can only happen with a strong workforce – one that is equipped with the relevant skillsets to take on new roles and adapt to evolving market needs. The Skills Frameworks serve as references for Food Services and Retail businesses to enhance the skills of their employees and create better quality jobs.”
14 Mr Ng Cher Pong, Chief Executive of SSG said, “The two Skills Frameworks that are launched today support the implementation of the ITMs for the Food Services and Retail industries. Trends such as increased automation in the Food Services industry and the growth of e-commerce in the Retail industry provide new business and career opportunities. To seize these opportunities, the workforce will need to be equipped with new skills. The Skills Framework outlines how an individual can stay relevant and benefit from these opportunities in each industry.”
15 Seven tracks, covering 52 job roles, have been identified in the Skills Framework for Food Services. These tracks are Beverage Service, Food and Beverage Service, Pastry and Baking, Culinary Arts, Central Kitchen Production, Quality Assurance and Research and Development. The Skills Framework also lists existing and emerging skills required by each job role, which include innovating with New Culinary Ingredients in Food and Beverage Production, Operating Automated Cooking Equipment for Cooking Food Products, and Using Primary Functions and Applications of a Tablet (Please refer to attached factsheet for the career map for the Food Services industry).
16 The Skills Framework for Retail outlines five career tracks within the sector, covering the areas of Retail Operations, Brand Management, Marketing, Merchandising, and E-Commerce. A total of 174 existing and emerging skills and competencies have been identified across 24 key job roles. Some of these skills include Data Analytics, Customer Experience Management and Market Research (Please refer to attached factsheet for the career map for the Retail industry).
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For media queries, please contact:
Esther Chan
Manager,
Corporate & Marketing Communications Division
Workforce Singapore
M: 9188 8251
E: esther_chan@wsg.gov.sg
Siti Hamimah Aminuddin
Senior Manager, Corporate & Marketing Communications Division
SkillsFuture Singapore
M: 90309 346
Amelia Aw Kathryn Zhang
Senior Officer, Senior Manager,
Corporate Communications Corporate Communications
SPRING Singapore SPRING Singapore
M: 9367 7298 M: 9762 4802
E: amelia_aw@spring.gov.sg E: Kathryn_zhang@spring.gov.sg
About WSG (www.wsg.gov.sg)
Workforce Singapore promotes the development, competitiveness, inclusiveness, and employability of all levels of the workforce. Its key mission is to enable Singaporeans to meet their career aspirations, take on quality jobs at different stages of life, and help enterprises be competitive and manpower-lean. Workforce Singapore’s focus is on strengthening the Singaporean core and ensuring that Singaporeans are able to have better jobs and careers. Workforce Singapore, in partnership with key stakeholders, also provides support to business owners and companies to enable them to transform and grow, while building a future-ready workforce.
About SkillsFuture Singapore (www.ssg.gov.sg)
SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) drives and coordinates the implementation of the national SkillsFuture movement, promotes a culture of lifelong learning and strengthens the ecosystem of quality education and training in Singapore. Through a holistic system of national SkillsFuture initiatives, SSG enables Singaporeans to take charge of their learning journey in their pursuit of skills mastery. SSG also works with key stakeholders to ensure that students and adults have access to high quality and industry-relevant training that meet the demands of different sectors of the economy for an innovative and productive workforce.
About SPRING Singapore
SPRING Singapore is an agency under the Ministry of Trade and Industry responsible for helping Singapore enterprises grow and building trust in Singapore products and services. As the enterprise development agency, SPRING works with partners to help enterprises in financing, capability and management development, technology and innovation, and access to markets. As the national standards and accreditation body, SPRING develops and promotes internationally-recognised standards and quality assurance infrastructure. SPRING also oversees the safety of general consumer goods in Singapore. Please visit www.spring.gov.sg for more information and news about SPRING Singapore.
Glossary and Translations
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Workforce Singapore |
劳动力发展局 (劳发局 in short) |
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SkillsFuture Singapore |
精深技能发展局 |
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SPRING Singapore |
标新局 |
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Josephine Teo Second Minister for Manpower |
杨莉明 |
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Tan Choon Shian Chief Executive, Workforce Singapore |
陈俊祥 局长, 劳动力发展局 |
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Ng Cher Pong Chief Executive, SkillsFuture Singapore |
黄子鹏 局长, 精深技能发展局 (精深局 in short) |
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Poon Hong Yuen Chief Executive, SPRING Singapore |
潘康源 局长, 标新局 |
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Adapt and Grow Initative |
应变与提升计划 |
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Skills Framework |
技能框架 |
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Professional Conversion Programme (PCP) |
专业人士转业计划 |
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Career Support Programme (CSP) |
职业支援计划 |
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Work Trial |
职场实习项目 |
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Job Redesign Grant |
重新设计工作津贴 |
Annex A
List of Participating Employers
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Participating Companies for Food Services |
Participating Companies for Retail |
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* Professional Conversion Programme (PCP) Employer
Annex B
ADAPT & GROW FOOD SERVICES AND RETAIL DAY
Adapt & Grow Food Services and Retail Day is organised by Workforce Singapore (WSG) in collaboration with SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG), and with support from Asian Culinary Institute Singapore (ACI), National Trades Union Congress’ Employment and Employability Institute (e2i), Restaurant Association of Singapore (RAS), Singapore Retailers Association (SRA), Singapore Institute of Retail Studies (SIRS) and SPRING Singapore (SPRING).
The event will feature the following line-up of activities:
“Restaurant of the Future” and “Retail Store of the Future” – hands-on, restaurant and retail store-themed experiential that simulate the technologies used in the food services and retail operations
“SMEs of the Future: Food Services and Retail” seminar curated to allow companies to gain insights on upcoming trends and to embrace transformation through the adoption of technology
A series of talks for jobseekers to hear real life job experiences from seasoned professionals from the two industries to gain deeper insights into the various job roles.
Annex C
Additional Quotes from Partners
Mr Vincent Tan, President of Restaurant Association of Singapore (RAS)
“We are excited about the Adapt & Grow Food Services and Retail Day. This is a good opportunity for the F&B industry to showcase its dynamism, and also to clear the doubts of people who are keen to work in the industry, but unfamiliar about its workings. We hope that job seekers can take this chance to understand the different sides of working in the F&B industry and give serious considerations to be a part of us.”
Mr Tan Jek Min, Director, Asian Culinary Institute (ACI)
“The Adapt & Grow Food Services and Retail Day is a good platform that offers the public insights into the different employment opportunities in these 2 industries. For food services, aspiring and existing chefs can now tap the newly launched Skills Framework for Food Services to guide them on the skills and competencies they need to build a career in food services. Industry players are also not left out as they will also gain exposure to new technology and initiatives that will help enhance productivity in their operations.”
Megan Ong, Director, Singapore Institute of Retail Studies (SIRS)
“The Adapt & Grow Food Services and Retail Day offers an excellent showcase of the dynamic retail industry and a concentrated touch point to experience new age retail; one that is tech-enabled, experiential, integrated and omni-channel. It offers a whole new world of opportunities, both for the retailers and job seekers. As the industry evolves at a speed never before, it is imperative that enterprises and workforce be armed with new skills, knowledge & industry intelligence to meet business needs. To this end, the Skills Framework for Retail that is just launched provides the guide and more. SIRS is privileged to play a key role to support both companies and individuals navigate the changing landscape, adopt productive solutions and level up skills competency of the workforce in this industry transformation journey.”