Speech by SPS Low Yen Ling at the launch of SkillsFuture Earn and Learn programme in Industrial Design

SPEECH BY MS LOW YEN LING, SENIOR PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY & MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, AT THE launch of SkillsFuture Earn AND Learn programme in industrial design (SPECIALIST DIPLOMA IN DESIGN & MAKE) on MONDAY, 5 JUNE 2017 AT 1525HRS, GRANDWORK INTERIOR, 7 SUNGEI KADUT STREET 3

Mr Mark Yong, President, Singapore Furniture Industries Council (SFIC)

Mr Jake Tan, Chairman of SFIC Institute

Mr Edward Ho, Deputy Principal, Development, Nanyang Polytechnic

Partners from the DesignSingapore Council and the SkillsFuture Singapore

Employers and Participants of the Earn & Learn Programme
Ladies and Gentlemen

1.            Good afternoon. It is my pleasure to be here today to launch a new SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programme in Industrial Design.

2.            This programme is a joint effort by the NYP School of Design, SFIC and the SFIC Institute, supported by SkillsFuture Singapore.  With your many partners such as Grandwork Interior Pte Ltd, Koda Ltd and Star Furniture Pte Ltd, just to name a few, you have made it possible for aspiring candidates to pursue their passion further and deepen their design skills in the furniture and furnishings industry.

The furniture industry is transforming to move up the value chain.  Our people need to deepen their skills to move up the value chain with industry

3.            Today, Singapore’s furniture and furnishings industry employs more than 19,000 workers and exports to over 80 markets around the world. It has come a long way since its early days as a labour-intensive manufacturing industry. Faced with cost pressures from lower-cost manufacturing centres across the world, as well as domestic labour constraints, the industry has worked hard to maintain its competitiveness by rethinking business models, adopting new technologies and being more design-focused:

a.    [Business model] HipVan, for instance, has reinvented the furniture retail model by focusing on e-commerce.

b.    [New technologies] Commune, a subsidiary of Koda Ltd, has introduced virtual reality and 3D-planning services at its stores to enhance the customer experience and drive sales.

c.    [Design focused] Star Furniture Group has built up in-house design capabilities to help the company tailor its offerings to meet the needs of specific customer segments, such as the popular JotterGoods range of functional designer furniture.

4.            This process of transformation is only possible with a highly skilled workforce that can adapt quickly to changing trends to capture more value for the industry. This is a key aim of the SkillsFuture movement, and the Earn and Learn Programme, that is, to support Singapore’s next phase of economic development through individual skills mastery. We need skilled professionals – like digital solutions experts and designers – who know the industry inside out, and are continuously learning and improving to become the best in their fields.

SkillsFuture ELP in Industrial Design (Specialist Diploma in Design and Make)

5.            The Earn and Learn Programme we are launching today seeks to groom designers with an in-depth, end-to-end understanding of the industry: from materials, tools and production, to product and brand marketing, and development of client relationships.

6.            SFIC and NYP’s School of Design will jointly run this programme, combining classroom learning, “real-world” industry exposure and a structured pathway for career progression. By the end of this year, the programme will place 10 trainees in MNCs and SMEs, in jobs related to furniture and furnishings.  This and future cohorts will form an important pipeline of multi-disciplinary, industry-ready designers who will support the furniture and furnishings industry’s move up the value chain.

7.            One of the applicants for this programme is Teo Min Zhen, a recent graduate from NYP’s Diploma in Industrial Design. Her project on innovative packaging design won the Singapore Packaging Star Awards this year. Min Zhen explains why she chose to apply for this programme: “A designer’s job today is not just about designing a spectacular piece of furniture. It involves many other aspects, from client management, needs analysis, to project management. This programme will help me develop these skills for a more rewarding career.” I am glad Min Zhen is taking this important step, and I wish her all the best.

The Government is committed to partnering SFIC and the industry to develop our people and help the industry stay competitive

8.            The Specialist Diploma in Design and Make is a good example of what can be achieved from strong partnerships between our Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), Trade Associations and companies.

9.            I especially commend SFIC for recognising the importance of developing people to enable industry growth. SFIC and its dedicated training arm, the SFIC Institute, is a model for others in this regard. Beyond collaborations like today’s Earn and Learn Programme, the Institute has also successfully trained and placed 200 Singaporeans in various companies through its Place-And-Train and Apprenticeship programmes that are supported by SkillsFuture Singapore. This programme equips creative craftsmen, designers, and mature workers with the skills and knowledge needed to transit into redesigned roles involving product and industrial design.

10.         Our IHLs and agencies such as SkillsFuture Singapore, IE Singapore, SPRING and Design Singapore Council will continue to partner SFIC and companies in their people development efforts. For example, through its network of more than 100 SkillsFuture SME Mentors, SPRING is helping companies strengthen their HR and Learning & Development foundations, so that they can pursue more targeted SkillsFuture interventions to develop their workforce and stay competitive. I understand SPRING and SFIC are co-organising a SkillsFuture SME Mentors event on 23 June, and I encourage companies here today to attend and hear first-hand from others who have benefitted.

Concluding remarks

11.         Let me conclude by extending my warmest appreciation to all who have made today’s launch event a reality. To NYP, SFIC and the SFIC Institute – thank you for your hard work and collaboration. This would not be possible without you. To the employers in our midst today, thank you for being our first movers. Your active participation grows and strengthens the Singapore core in our furniture design workforce, and contributes to more sustainable growth and value creation for our industry.

12.         Last but not least, to the aspiring candidates here with us: thank you for your interest and initiative. I understand that later today, some of you will have a chance to meet the companies and make your pitch as part of the Earn & Learn application process. I wish you the very best. Regardless of the outcome, I encourage you to continue working hard and pouring your talent and passion into your endeavours. Take charge of your career, and take advantage of all the opportunities the industry has to offer.

13.         I wish all of you a fruitful and fulfilling experience through the SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programme.

Thank you.