North Eastern Singapore SMEs to receive free business consults

Business owners will be coached on how to secure grants and other government aid schemes.

By trooping to the newly launched Enterprise Development Centre at North East (EDC@NorthEast), small business proprietors can sit down with a couple of business advisors to figure out how to better access government assistance schemes.

“We recognise the need for business guidance in the heartlands of Singapore, where many SMEs reside. Many smaller-sized businesses have low knowledge of the various grants designed to help them and thus are unable to take full advantage of the schemes laid out,” said Mr Chan Chong Beng, President, Association of Small and Medium Enterprises or ASME, which helped support the new consultation office.

“Small businesses such as heartland shops, stalls, etc are an integral part of our community. Through this initiative, we hope to create a collaborative framework where we can help local merchants understand and tap on various government schemes as well as to help job seekers match with small businesses looking for manpower through our Job Placement Centres. This increases the employment opportunities within the district, with the added benefit of residents spending less time and money travelling for work. It is a win-win situation for both businesses looking to fill job vacancies and residents seeking employment,” said Mr Teo Ser Luck, Mayor, North East District.

The EDC@NorthEast, located at the NECDC’s Tampines headquarters, is open from Monday to Friday, except on public holidays, from 1pm to 5pm. There will be two business advisors, who will attend to both pre-arranged appointments and walk-in requests of SME owners and entrepreneurs in the North East District.

For SMEs who are unable to meet for consultations in the day due to work commitments, the business advisors will be available from 7pm to 9.30pm at five selected Community Centres from Tampines GRC, Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC and Aljunied GRC. Business advisory at the Community Centres are by appointment only. The EDC@NorthEast aims to reach more than 700 SMEs annually.