Enhanced Training Support for SMEs (ETSS) Eligibility Criteria Changes

SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) has announced a revision to the eligibility criteria for the “Enhanced Training Support for SME” (ETSS) grant subsidy for companies.  With effect from 1 Jan 2023, the eligibility criteria for “SME” status is as follows:

• Registered or incorporated in Singapore AND
• Employment size of not more than 200 OR with annual sales turnover of not more than $100 million

Basically, the previous eligibility criteria of at least 30% local shareholding for SME Companies has been removed.  This means that Singapore-based International MNCs which meet the new criteria will be  classified as “SME” status.  Consequently, they will benefit from the enhanced training grant subsidy when they sponsor their local employees for WSQ accredited training.

As part of the government initiative to help employers defray the training cost, SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) is providing Course Fee and Absentee Payroll Funding for employers.

For the course fee funding, SME companies will enjoy up to 70% training grant subsidy when they sponsor their local employees for WSQ accredited training courses.  Currently, there are two types of training grant subsidy available for SME companies:

• Baseline Course Fee Subsidy
• Enhanced Training Support for SMEs (ETSS)

The Baseline Course Fee Subsidy helps to lower the cost when employers sponsor their Singapore Citizen and Permanent Resident employees for certifiable training courses like WSQ (Workforce Skills Qualifications) programs approved by SSG.

Organisations must be registered or incorporated in Singapore to be eligible for the subsidy.  The baseline course fee subsidy will be up to 50% of the course fee.  Please note that the organisation sponsoring employees for training must have an Enterprise Portal for Jobs & Skills (EPJS) account setup and approved by SSG, to be eligible for the training grant subsidy and absentee payroll funding.

At the same time, the government also recognises the challenges faced by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Especially when sending their employees for training as compared to the larger companies .  Therefore, SSG is offering additional support to the SMEs through the Enhanced Training Support for SMEs (ETSS) scheme. 

In essence, the ETSS scheme provides an enhanced subsidy of up to 20% above the baseline course fee subsidy.   As a result, both local and foreign SME companies are eligible for up to 70% course fee subsidy for WSQ certifiable courses.

Here’s an example of how to calculate the training grant subsidy.  Assuming the course fee of a program is $900. 

What are the courses eligible for SkillsFuture Training Grant Subsidy?  

All WSQ accredited courses are eligible for training grant subsidy, including the Enhanced Training Support for SMEs (ETSS) funding.  Here are our leadership courses that are supported. 

1. Coaching for Performance and Capability Development (CPD) – Coaching Foundation
2. Emotional Intelligence (EQ) for Transformational Leadership (EQT) – Transformational Coaching
3. Team Leadership for Performance and Results (TLP) – Team Coaching

4. Enhancing Coaching Capabilities through Reflective Practice and Mentor coaching (MCR) – Mentor Coaching/Performance Evaluation

5. Self-Mastery in Coaching for Mental Well-Being with Positive Psychology (SMW) – Advanced Self-Mastery Series
6. Self-Mastery in Coaching: Building Relationships and Achieving Goals with Positive Psychology (SGR) – Advanced Self-Mastery Series

For more details about the various training grant subsidy available, please click on SkillsFuture Funding Subsidy Changes  or SkillsFuture Singapore.