Nine more firms join network to hire national athletes

Singapore

NINE more companies have joined the government's Sports Excellence Business Network, taking the total number of firms on board to 30.

The new entrants include the likes of adidas, Hyflux, PSB Academy and NTUC FairPrice. In all, the scheme now covers 19 different industries and has provided jobs, apprenticeships or internships for 62 Team Singapore athletes to date.

spexBusiness, as the initiative is called, was launched by the Singapore Sports Institute (SSI) in November 2013 to encourage firms to employ national athletes and help them with their career development.

Speaking at a lunch event to thank the network's partner companies, Culture, Community and Youth Minister Grace Fu called for more employers to step forward to support the country's athletes.

"These opportunities offer our athletes the flexibility to work and train, so that neither career nor sport has to take a back seat," she said during the function held at the Volkswagen Exclusive showroom along MacPherson Road. Volkswagen Group Singapore is also one of the 30 companies involved in the spexBusiness Network.

Among the Team Singapore athletes who have found employment via the network is shuttler Derek Wong, who is a research specialist at Deloitte Singapore.

Bowler Jasmine Yeong-Nathan is now an associate at KPMG after a successful internship during her university days, while cerebral palsy footballer Peter Kam is a full-time store assistant at Sports Link Holdings.

Minister of State for Manpower Teo Ser Luck, the adviser to the spexBusiness Network, felt that the best recognition for Singapore's athletes is more than just another medal, award or monetary grant.

"It is about providing the opportunity for them to apply the life skills that they have honed through sport and thereby becoming valuable members of society," he said. "We want to deepen our engagement with companies so that Team Singapore can grow stronger with Corporate Singapore."

During the event, the SSI inked a deal with the Action Community for Entrepreneurship to encourage athletes to set up their own businesses.

The partnership will provide athletes with access to mentorship and resources, and matching sessions with suitable entrepreneurs for personal coaching sessions.

In her speech, Ms Fu noted how some athletes have already taken that first step towards becoming their own boss. Swimmer Tao Li recently started an academy to groom and train the country's next generation of talented swim stars. Bowlers Shayna Ng and Kristel Oh set up the SportSanity portal to offer sports and wellness solutions to corporations.

The event also saw the launch of the Team Singapore Card, which will be given to all current and former national athletes to enjoy discounts and incentives at various retailers in the Singapore Sports Hub.