SMEs invited to avail free PIC Clinics

The popular tax-saving seminars have been expanded to help more SMEs boost their productivity and innovation.

500 PIC Clinics are scheduled for every Thursday beginning May to October, with each consulting SME given personalized consultations lasting 45 minutes each. Interested businesses can sign up for free at any of the five Enterprise Development Centers, said SPRING Singapore in a release.

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SMEs must improve productivity and develop innovative products that can meet market needs more efficiently. This requires SMEs to build up their know-how, deepen their management capabilities and leverage on technology to stay competitive.

In 2010, the EDCs introduced the Productivity Management Programme (PMP) to help SMEs learn the ‘how to’ of improving productivity. In 2011, the EDCs assisted some 2,200 SMEs on productivity.

One of them is Orchid Laundry. Mr Harry Toh, a Director of the company, said, “In 2011, our company reached a roadblock when we faced a manpower shortage. We knew the only way we could increase our capacity was with existing or fewer headcount. One option was to automate our laundry processes but we didn’t know how. We approached the EDC@SMa for productivity advice. The EDC advised us on the types of schemes available. We are now working with e2i and IDA on projects to enhance the capacity of our company.”

From April to September last year, the EDCs together with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) also conducted a total of 21 PIC Clinics to help some 300 SMEs understand the Productivity Innovation Credit programme,. The SMEs found the personalised consultation during the PIC Clinics useful as they could clarify questions on the coverage and tax benefits of the scheme.

PIC Clinics are free personalised consultation sessions conducted by the Enterprise Development Centres (EDCs) and the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) for SMEs needing help to apply for the Productivity and Innovation Credit (PIC).

Launched in April 2011, tax officers from IRAS and EDC advisors provide personalised consultation of up to 45 minutes for each SME that registers for the PIC Clinic session. A total of 21 clinics were conducted from April to September 2011 at the five EDCs located at the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, the Singapore Manufacturers’ Federation, the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Some 300 SMEs attended the PIC Clinics, surpassing the 150 SMEs targeted.

Given the positive feedback, the EDCs and IRAS would be conducting the free PIC Clinics again this year. Starting from 3 May, the half-day clinics will be held every Thursday until the end of October at the five EDCs and IRAS premises. About 500 SMEs are expected to benefit from the clinics.

SMEs looking for information on productivity can visit Productivity@Work, which is part of the EnterpriseOne website. Last year, there were about 280,000 page views and some 128,000 visitors at Productivity@Work. One self-help tool found in Productivity@Work is the Integrated Management of Productivity Activities (IMPACT) assessment to help enterprises diagnose their productivity gaps. Over 1,000 users have benefited from IMPACT Assessment Tool.