July 30, 2009
PMET courses snapped up
Entrepreneurial training courses popular with PMETs
By Niki Bruce
The entrepreneurial courses will cover subjects like marketing, accounting, and HR, with a focus on know-how such as company registration procedures, and various financing sources and schemes available. –ST PHOTO: LIM SIN THAI
ALL 100 places in the entrepreneurial training courses at Singapore Polytechnic and Temasek Polytechnic have been filled, less than a month after the programme was launched, announced SPRING Singapore on Thursday.
Another 300 enquires were also made, said SPRING. Two more polytechnics – Ngee Ann and Republic – have now joined the scheme, providing a total of 500 training places. These courses will begin in September. Applicants included working and unemployed PMETs, with most aged in their 30s and 40s.
The entrepreneurial courses will cover subjects like marketing, accounting, and HR, with a focus on know-how such as company registration procedures, and various financing sources and schemes available. Networking sessions with local entrepreneurs will also be organised, said SPRING. SPRING pays for up to 70 per cent of the course fees in this programme.
One of the successful applicants, Mr Alvin Tan, 44, said he was retrenched four years ago from his position as a project manager for a Singapore local IT company.
‘I haven’t been able to find another job despite sending out my resume to numerous companies,’ said Mr Tan. ‘I even lowered my expectations and expected salary.
Mr Tan said that he then decided to start his own business, but although he has a business degree, he felt that he needed more practical knowledge.
‘I hope to acquire the knowledge of how to start and run a business from attending this course, he said. ‘I also look forward to the numerous networking opportunities.’
Chief Executive, SPRING Singapore, Mr Png Cheong Boon, said that SPRING was happy with the good response from PMETs interested in the courses. ‘We are confident they will find these courses useful as they will be equipped with the essential knowledge and skills to start their business,’ he said.
His sentiments were echoed by Mr Arthur Poh, Manager (Industry and Entrepreneurship) in the Department of Industry Services at Singapore Polytechnic. Mr Poh said that Singapore Polytechnic was glad to partner SPRING in developing the courses in entrepreneurship.
‘We have received a very good response to the entrepreneurship training courses,’ said Mr Poh. ‘Originally, we planned for a class of 25 participants in September but have decided to organise two classes of 35 participants each to run concurrently. We are still receiving enquires from interested participants and they have been placed on our waiting list.”
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