The CCP for SME Professionals helps PMETs by:

• Providing access to a wide range of career opportunities within the SME ecosystem;
• Equipping them with new skills to take on new job roles in SMEs;
• Adjusting them to an SME working environment; and
• Providing the necessary foundational skills across areas like artificial intelligence, digitalisation, human resources, finance, admin and operations, sales and marketing. The CCP also equips them with basic knowledge and skills on leveraging AI and digitalisation to improve operational efficiency in SMEs.

For PMETs joining from non-SMEs, the CCP will help them to adjust to the SOPs and processes in SMEs, which may include multi-tasking and taking on enlarged job scopes.

The programme also benefits SMEs by providing salary support for SMEs to reskill jobseekers in new job roles. SMEs will work with SWDA or its appointed programme partners on improving HC capabilities and implementing progressive HR practices such as Structured Career Planning (SCP), which will give them access to a wider pool of jobseekers.

Skills & Workforce Development Agency (SWDA) has appointed four Programme Managers (PMs) from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2026:

• Association of Small & Medium Enterprises (ASME)
• Singapore Business Federation (SBF) 
• Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF)
• Workforce Advancement Federation Ltd (WAF)

Please refer to the Factsheet and FAQs.

Individuals

The Programme is open to all company-sponsored applicants who meet the following General Eligibility Criteria:

• Be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident who is keen to pursue a career in an SME;
• Have graduated or completed National Service at least 2 years prior to the point of application;
• New job role trained for under the CCP should be substantially different from previous job role; or
• Has held a similar role previously but was from a non-SME prior to joining the company
• Must not have connections to the CCP participating company:

a. Shareholder of the CCP participating company or its related entities;

b. Related to the owners of the CCP participating company;

c. Related to individuals in the CCP participating company who have the authority to make decisions in relation to the CCP application; and

d. Immediate ex-staff of the CCP participating company or its related entities

Please refer to the Factsheet and FAQs for more details on the exclusions.

Employers

• Companies registered or incorporated in Singapore;
• Employment size of not more than 200; OR Annual sales turnover of not more than S$100 million;
• Must be able to offer an employment contract[1] on permanent terms or on contract terms that are no less than one (1) year, with a fixed monthly salary of at least $3,500;
• Must put in place structured OJT for the candidate;
• Must commit to CCP training arrangements for the trainees;
• Must complete an assessment of the company’s human capital (HC) practices using Institute for Human Resource Professionals (IHRP)’s Human Capital Diagnostic Tool (HCDT); and
• Be committed to work with SWDA or its appointed programme partners on improving HC capabilities and implementing progressive HR practices such as Structured Career Planning (SCP).

[1] With effect from 1 April 2025, participating companies in CCPs may offer either full-time or flexi-load working arrangements (e.g. part-time employment) and qualify for CCP support

Newly hired PMETs will undergo a 3-month programme, which includes a 3-day workshop and structured On-The-Job Training (OJT) at the hiring company.

Selected applicants will undergo screening, interview and shortlisting process as determined by the hiring employer.

Employers must commit to working with SWDA and the appointed programme manager on necessary administrative matters related to the CCP.