ST Engineering to work with NTUC, SkillsFuture to upskill workers in precision engineering suppliers
The initial aim is to upskill at least 1,000 workers across about 40 such suppliers
Isabelle Chong XX
ST ENGINEERING’S precision engineering suppliers that are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can soon send their workers for training under a new tripartite partnership, with most of the costs funded by the government.
“This partnership is expected to upskill at least 1,000 workers across about 40 SMEs within the precision engineering sector of ST Engineering Land Systems’ supplier network,” said National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) secretary-general Ng Chee Meng.
This is under a memorandum of understanding signed between ST Engineering, NTUC and SkillsFuture Singapore on Monday (Jan 13), integrating NTUC’s Company Training Committee (CTC) initiative with the SkillsFuture Queen Bee programme.
ST Engineering Land Systems has been appointed the latest SkillsFuture Queen Bee, supporting the precision engineering sector.
Under the partnership, up to 90 per cent of training costs will be covered by SkillsFuture.
SMEs can also tap NTUC’s CTC Grant, which co-funds up to 70 per cent of qualifying costs for companies’ transformation projects or related training.
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Upskilling suppliers
In this two-year collaboration, ST Engineering will lead efforts to upskill workers of key suppliers across all business areas, starting first with its land systems unit.
This unit works with more than 100 suppliers, many of which are SMEs, said ST Engineering group chief financial officer Cedric Foo, who also oversees procurement for the group.
He said: “By collaborating with NTUC and SkillsFuture Singapore, we are doubling down on our efforts to upskill these suppliers, building a robust ecosystem that offers both breadth and depth in technology and engineering capabilities.”
A skilled workforce will help meet an expected rise in demand, with the semiconductor sector projected to see a stronger-than-expected recovery, the three organisations said.
ST Engineering will appoint a skills manager to engage and evaluate the training needs of its suppliers, as well as organise masterclasses and training to improve the suppliers’ capabilities in areas such artificial intelligence and data analytics.
Participating suppliers can also undergo the NTUC’s Operation and Technology Roadmap programme to identify areas of business transformation and growth.
SkillsFuture chief executive Tan Kok Yam said: “We also look forward to working closely with NTUC to extend such a tripartite collaboration model to more of our SkillsFuture Queen Bee partners.”
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