Since 2013, the SME Centre @ North West under North West Community Development Council (CDC) has engaged SMEs through various platforms, from mass networking sessions and capability building workshops to more personalized one-to-one consultations. These provide guidance for SMEs to develop in Singapore and abroad.
One key area of support is the SME Capability Workshops @ North West,which helps SMEs develop key business areas. The “Digitalization” workshop guides companies on digital transformation, while the “Internationalism” workshop provides guidance on overseas expansion.
Since their inception in 2017, the workshops have played a pivotal role in strengthening the networks and building the capabilities of SMEs.
According to Dr Teo Ho Pin, Mayor of North West District, the various engagement platforms help build strong networks with SMEs and help better understand their needs and aspirations.
“With that, we are able to provide strategic guidance to SME Centre @ North West and support them in sharpening their outreach and consultation efforts, as well as tailor the SME Capability Workshops @ North West to meet their business objectives,” he continued.
A business owner which has benefited is Mr Siong Beng Seng, Director of AMB Packaging Pte Ltd, who shared how his company, with advice from North West CDC and a one-to-one business advisory from SME Centre@North West, applied for the Enterprise Development Grant to help with implementing an automation project.
“This automation project improved our overall productivity with less reliance on manual labor, simplified work processes for our mature workers, and created a safer working environment,” he continued.
These initiatives were started in 2013, when an MOU was signed among five local trade associations, SPRING Singapore and the People’s Association to set up Small and Medium-sized enterprise (SME) Centers within the five Community Development Councils (CDCs).
Today there are 13 SME Centers across the country. SME Centre @ North West provides free business advice to SMEs on issues such as government schemes and overseas business expansions to digitally transform their businesses and expand overseas.