When it comes to manpower, hiring and retaining top talent remains the biggest challenge for SMEs. One way of mitigating this problem is by providing employees with ample opportunities for personal and professional growth and development.

The P-Max grant in Singapore aims to empower SMEs to better recruit, train, manage and retain professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs).

With up to 90% funding support from Workforce Singapore (WSG), SMEs will only be required to pay the 10% nett course fees for the respective SME and PMETs workshops.

SMEs will receive a one-time $5,000 Assistance Grant ($10,000 for older workers) upon successful retention of their newly-hired PMETs for at least six months upon completion of both the SME and PMET workshops under the Programme.

According to the Singapore Business Federation’s National Business Survey 2018/2019, when it comes to manpower, hiring people with the right skills or attitude remains the top challenge for large companies and SMEs alike.

Businesses have frequently cited the limited pool of local, highly-skilled staff as a major concern, with most people preferring to work with multinational companies (MNCs) rather than SMEs, citing factors such as salary, work-life balance, and job security.

One way of mitigating this problem is through training and development. When people are given ample opportunities for personal and professional growth and development, there is a greater likelihood of them staying.

Singapore SMEs can look into Workforce Singapore’s P-Max programme to better recruit, train, manage and retain professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs). Companies that sign up for the P-Max grant in Singapore enjoy up to 90% funding support from WSG.

What is the P-Max grant in Singapore?

P-Max is a Place-and-Train (PnT) programme under Workforce Singapore’s (WSG) Adapt and Grow initiative that aims to:

• Help SMEs to better recruit, train, manage and retain their newly-hired PMETs.

• Encourage the adoption of progressive human resource practices within SMEs.

• Help to place job-seeking PMETs into suitable SME jobs.

The Association of Small & Medium Enterprises (ASME) is one of the Programme Managers (PMs) appointed to conduct programmes under P-Max.

Depending on SMEs’ needs, SMEs can choose to embark on three different P-Max options:

For Hiring SMEs: P-Max

Under P-Max and P-Max for Older Workers, appointed P-Max Programme Managers (PMs) will work with employment facilitation partners such as WSG Career Centres and e2i, to help screen and match job-seeking PMETs with suitable positions in hiring SMEs.


For Hiring SMEs: P-Max for Older Workers

It is important to note that, for P-Max for Older Workers, the PMET must be a Singapore Citizen aged 50 or above.

P-Max PMs will work closely with SME and PMET participants to complete the relevant training and six-month follow-up thereafter under their respective P-Max programmes.


For Non-hiring SMEs: P-Max Lite

SMEs with no immediate hiring needs but would like to pick up progressive Human Resource (HR) practices can tap on P-Max Lite.

Course fee funding will be provided for non-hiring SME supervisors to attend the SME workshop, which will cover progressive HR-related topics, such as goal setting and performance management tools and an introduction to an HR toolkit.

SMEs under P-Max Lite will not be eligible for the assistance grant.

How will SMEs benefit from P-Max grant in Singapore?

P-Max and P-Max for Older Workers

Hiring SMEs can seek assistance from PMs to help screen and refer suitable job-seeking PMETs for their job vacancies under the Programme.

Participating SMEs can enjoy up to 90% course fee subsidy for PMET, SME training workshops and Age Management workshop (applicable for P-Max for Older Workers only). Only Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents are eligible for the course fee subsidy.

Eligible SMEs will receive a one-time $5,000 Assistance Grant or $10,000 Assistance Grant (P-Max for Older Workers only) upon completion of the Programme and six-month retention of the newly hired PMET(s).

Eligibility criteria: Who can apply for P-Max grant in Singapore?

SMEs will need to meet the following criteria to be eligible for WSG funding support:

• Companies registered or incorporated in Singapore;

• Employment size (at group level) of not more than 200; OR Annual sales turnover (at group level) of not more than S$100 million

• At least 30% local shareholding being held by Singapore Citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident

• Hired a PMET within the last three months (i.e. 90 days) before enrolment into the programme, offering a gross monthly salary of at least $2,500

PMETs will need to meet the following criteria to be eligible for WSG funding support:

PMET Eligibility criteria (For P-Max)

• Be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident;

• Seeking employment in an SME, or working in the current SME for not more than three months before programme enrolment;

• Possess educational qualifications that are Diploma or higher, and/or is employed or have prior work experience in a PMET position; and

• Completed National Service for a minimum period of 12 months (if applicable) or graduated from a tertiary institution

PMET Eligibility criteria (For P-Max for Older Workers)

• Be a Singapore Citizen; aged 50 and above.

• Seeking employment in an SME, or working in the current SME for not more than three months before programme enrolment;

• Possess educational qualifications that are Diploma or higher, and/or is employed or have prior work experience in a PMET position; and,

• Completed National Service for a minimum period of 12 months (if applicable) or graduated from a tertiary institution

Depending on their needs, SMEs can choose to embark on three different P-Max options. PHOTO: PIXABAY

Structure of the P-Max programme

Program structure for P-Max and P-Max for Older Workers

• Job Matching - Job-seeking PMETs will be screened and matched into suitable positions in hiring SMEs by Programme Managers (PMs). SMEs with newly-hired PMETs are also eligible to participate.

• Training - PMETs' supervisors and their newly-hired PMETs will attend the respective workshops stated below:

PMET Workshop (P-max and P-Max for Older Workers)

• Duration: 2-3 days

• PMET hires will learn techniques to help them acclimatise to their new SME jobs

SME Workshop (P-max and P-Max for Older Workers)

• Duration: 1 day

• SME representatives will learn to:

Age Management Workshop (P-Max for Older Workers only)

• Duration: 1 day

• SME representatives will learn to:

All workshops enjoy up to 90% WSG course fee funding for Singaporean and PRs.

• Workshop Fee

• Post-training follow-up - Upon completion of both workshops, the appointed P-Max PMs will follow-up with the newly-trained PMET personnel and their SME supervisor for a period of six months.

• Assistance Grant - SMEs that successfully complete the six-month follow-up and retain their newly-hired PMET employee will then be eligible for a one-off grant of $5,000 or $10,000 Assistance Grant (P-Max for Older Workers only).

The P-Max grant in Singapore aims to empower SMEs to better recruit, train, manage and retain PMETs. PHOTO: PIXABAY

Program structure for P-Max Lite

Training - SMEs interested in building up their human capital capabilities within their organisation can send their SME supervisor(s) to attend the SME workshop and enjoy up to 90% WSG course fee funding for Singaporeans and PRs.

Some of the curriculum covered in the P-Max workshop to build Human Capital capabilities are:

• Managing workplace relationships

• Goals setting

• Performance management

• Age management best practices

How to apply for P-Max grant in Singapore

To apply for the P-Max Programme, you can get in touch with ASME by contacting them at:

Tel: 6513 0349 / 0366 / 0368
Email: pmax@asme.org.sg

For more information on the P-Max programme, please visit:

About the Author

Jaya Mahesh