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Executive Certificate in Driving Business Growth through Linking Theory and Practice

  • Innovation & Business Improvement
  • Leadership & Management
  • Basic
  • SkillsFuture
  • Full Certificates

This module is conducted in-person.

Next course starts on
To be advised
Fee
SGD5,450* (as low as SGD635 after maximum funding) Learn More
Duration

5 days
Weekdays (9am - 5pm)

 

 

Level
Basic

Who Should Attend

  • SME Business Owners
  • SME Business Senior Leadership Teams – regardless of functional area
  • Anyone responsible for SME Business Strategy


PREREQUISITES

There are no prerequisites for this programme. Prior knowledge on any of the topics is not required.

Overview

Being an SME (Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise) in Singapore is difficult. The challenges facing any business operating in Singapore – digitalisation, high costs, keen competition for talent, limited sized market, etc. – seem even more severe to an SME business.

Because of an SME’s relative smaller scale, most external challenges end up looking outsized. While SG SMEs may have access to resources and skills training provided by government agencies, there is little (if any) structured support provided to help them in the application and actionability of these skills in their business.

This 5-day certificate programme aims to fill that gap by providing a dynamic action-oriented experience for participant companies – through which they get not only practice but also practical outcomes like a minimum viable product (MVP), that they can test out, build on and continue to refine in their businesses. This programme will help participants build the ability to translate skills, acquired through training, into action and choices for a business.

The programme will teach participants key principals of business growth tailored to SMEs. Supervised by course facilitator with the appropriate expertise, participants will learn the importance of leadership, corporate culture and strategy – all of which are important as an SME experiences growth and scales. Participants will be given time to work on and be guided on developing and testing a minimum viable product (MVP), and on building of the organisational model to scale an MVP. Through the programme, participants will also gain greater clarity and focus on developing practical operating and marketing plans for their businesses; less wastage in time and effort on lower priority initiatives; establishing the discipline of setting relevant targets and measuring progress against these; and rallying and aligning the organisation on a common vision and mission.
 

 

 

Assessment

As part of the requirement for SkillsFuture Singapore, there will be an assessment conducted at the end of the course. The mode of assessment, which is up to the trainer’s discretion, may be an online quiz, a presentation or based on classroom exercises.

Participants are required to attain a minimum of 75% attendance and pass the associated assessment in order to receive a digital Certificate of Completion issued by Singapore Management University.

Calculate Programme Fee

Click here for more information about SkillsFuture Credits (Not applicable for Company-sponsored participants)
For PSEA - Available only for Singapore Citizen below 31 (Not applicable for Company-sponsored participants)

Total Program Fee: SGD0.00

Fee Table

COMPANY-SPONSORED

PARTICIPANT PROFILE

SELF-SPONSORED

SME

NON-SME

Singapore Citizen < 40 years old

Permanent Resident

LTVP+

$1,635

(After SSG Funding 70%)

$635

(After SSG Funding 70%
+ ETSS Funding 20%)

$1,635

(After SSG Funding 70%)

Singapore Citizen ≥ 40 years old

$635

(After SSG Funding 70%
+ MCES Funding 20%)

$635

(After SSG Funding 70%
+ ETSS Funding 20%)

$635

(After SSG Funding 70%
+ MCES Funding 20%)

International Participant

$5,450

(No Funding)

$5,450

(No Funding)

$5,450

(No Funding)

All prices include 9% GST

Please note that the programme fees are subject to change without prior notice.

Post Secondary Education Account (PSEA)
PSEA can be utilised for subsidised programmes eligible for SkillsFuture Credit support. Click here to find out more.

Self Sponsored

SkillsFuture Credit

Singapore Citizens aged 25 and above may use their SkillsFuture Credits to pay for the course fees. The credits may be used on top of existing course fee funding.

This is only applicable to self-sponsored participants. Application to utilise SkillsFuture Credits can be submitted when making payment for the course via the SMU Academy TMS Portal, and can only be made within 60 days of course start date.

Please click here for more information on the SkillsFuture Credit. For help in submitting an SFC claim, you may wish to refer to our step-by-step guide on claiming SkillsFuture Credits (Individual).

Workfare Skills Support Scheme

From 1 July 2023, the Workfare Skills Support (WSS) scheme has been enhanced. Please click here for more details.

Company Sponsored

Enhanced Training Support for SMEs (ETSS)

  • Organisation must be registered or incorporated in Singapore
  • Employment size of not more than 200 or with annual sales turnover of not more than $100 million
  • Trainees must be hired in accordance with the Employment Act and fully sponsored by their employers for the course
  • Trainees must be Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents
  • Trainees must not be a full-time national serviceman
  • Trainees are eligible for ETSS funding only if their company's SME status is approved prior to the course commencement date. To verify your SME's status, please click here. 

Please click here for more information on ETSS.

Absentee Payroll

Companies who sponsor their employees for the course may apply for Absentee Payroll here. For more information, please refer to:

AP Guide (Non-SME Companies)
Declaration Guide (SME Companies)

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Trainers

Aaron Boey 
Programme Director
Trainer for topic on Strategy and Leadership/Culture
NA
Aaron Boey 
Programme Director
Trainer for topic on Strategy and Leadership/Culture
NA
Aaron, former Group CEO of Eu Yan Sang International, now serves as a Senior Advisor to Tower Capital Asia. With a rich background in marketing, sales, and general management, he's held executive positions at Levi Strauss & Co, Philips Consumer Electronics, and Asia Pacific Breweries. Aaron's contributions extend to the public sector, where he's been involved in various committees and boards, including the Singapore Tourism Board and the Singapore Economic Strategies Committee. He's currently coaching SMEs as part of the SMU/ESG Enterprise for Leadership programme since 2020.
Lelaina Lim 
Trainer for topic on Finance for SMEs
NA
Lelaina Lim 
Trainer for topic on Finance for SMEs
NA
Lelaina, a Finance expert for SMEs, brings extensive experience from her roles in SG and foreign MNCs across Asia. With a Bachelor of Accountancy from NUS, she served as Regional Financial Controller in China and later as Finance Director of Electronic Arts Shanghai. Returning to SG in 2008, she became Group CFO of RSH, driving growth through the GFC with transformation initiatives, leading to a successful sale to Al Futtaim Asia in 2012. Recognized as Regional CFO of the Year in 2015, she retired as Group CFO of Eu Yan Sang International in 2017. Beyond her career, she holds council positions in various organisations, including the Football Association of Singapore and the Yellow Ribbon Fundraising Committee.

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