New career development platform to address ICM manpower shortage in Singapore

SiTF, together with the support of SPRING Singapore, Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and the e2i (Employment and Employability Institute), has launched talentguru, a skills-focused career development platform, powered by analytics to help address the skills gap and manpower shortage challenges in Singapore’s infocomm media (ICM) industry.

“Infocomm media is one of the fastest growing industries and an important enabler in Singapore’s ambitions to be a leading Digital Economy and Smart Nation. There are many exciting job opportunities in this sector, ranging from deep technical roles such as Data Scientists and Cybersecurity Forensic Analysts, to business-strategy roles such as Chief Digital Officers and Enterprise Architects, and more. Recognising that people are at the heart of our digital transformation efforts, we are pleased to support the talentguru portal and its efforts to bridge the skills and jobs gap, so as to build up a more vibrant ICM ecosystem,” said Tan Kiat How, Chief Executive, IMDA at the launch last month.

Talentguru is focused on building capacity in the industry by enhancing the pipeline of ICM talent and deepening the pool of local skills. This initiative is backed by a suite of programmes and a strong community of support from the industry as well as SiTF’s network of partners including government agencies, institutes of higher learning (IHLs), trade associations and training providers.

Talentguru intends to grow the local pool of ICM skills and talent, by helping four groups of people:

· Students – prepares them to launch their careers with confidence by using insights from data to understand skills requirements for jobs and their desired careers pathways;

· Career switchers – empowers and motivates them to re-skill and reach new career peaks in the ICM industry;

· ICM professionals – enables them to stay competitive and relevant by acquiring new skills, widening professional networks and keeping up to date with industry trends;

· Employers – facilitates more effective hiring processes with a focus on objective assessments based primarily on skills.

“Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups will now have a dedicated platform that links employers with fresh graduates and job seekers – a resource that many did not have in the past. Talentguru will also drive industry-wide cooperation by bridging technologists, entrepreneurs, multinationals and Singapore companies with IHLs and government agencies to uncover new science, business and technology talents,” said Benjamin Mah, Co-Chairman SiTF Talent & Capabilities Committee.

Powered by JobKred’s proprietary data analytics technology, talentguru allows users to create their own profile of skills and compare themselves against what the industry needs at any given point in time. This allows users to glean useful insights on skills requirements and explore possible career pathways, which is particularly useful for anyone interested in entering the ICM industry for the first time, such as students and career switchers.

Lim Kang Song, Co-Chairman SiTF Talent & Capabilities Committee, said that the rapid pace of change in the ICM industry can result in job seekers feeling lost and insecure. "Many ICM students also choose not to pursue a career in the industry after graduation because they feel unprepared," he said. "Through some early testing with IHLs, students said that talentguru helped to alleviate some of these concerns by providing a clear picture of the skills they needed to get the jobs they wanted. This is an outcome we hope to replicate with career switchers as well.”

As part of the ecosystem of initiatives supporting the talentguru platform, SiTF is making extra effort to help SMEs and startups attract and retain talent. SiTF is working with SPRING to run a structured internship programme to train internship mentors and facilitate the matching of ICM students with quality internships. In recognition of its efforts, SPRING has appointed SiTF as a Partner for SME Talent Programme (STP), to help strengthen the ICM talent pipeline for SMEs and provide meaningful internship opportunities for local students.

“People are strategic assets to businesses and it is important for SMEs to invest in resources to attract and develop talent. With support from SPRING’s Local Enterprise and Association Development (LEAD) programme, SiTF aims to improve the way job and skills matching is done for the ICT sector, benefitting both job seekers and employers. SiTF is also working on other industry projects such as technology adoption and building up their research capabilities in ICT to strengthen their competency,” said Chew Mok Lee, Assistant Chief Executive, Capabilities & Partnership, SPRING Singapore.

Source: talentguru website. The talentguru initiative will help job seekers tailor their skillsets to market demand.

SiTF is also partnering Proxor, a Carnegie Mellon University spinoff, to administer a rigorous and certifiable skills assessment for Java programming. Proxor’s solution will help test a candidate’s ability to solve real world problems and provide an assessment benchmarked against a global cohort. SiTF hopes that such assessments would gain more industry recognition and help ease the transition for career switchers who have re-skilled to join the ICM industry.

Finally, talentguru will be complemented by a suite of offline events to help build a vibrant and mutually supportive community. Apart from networking sessions, industry talks, and outreach to schools, SiTF and e2i have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to mark a shared commitment to empower local career switchers and displaced professionals, managers and executives (PMEs) transition smoothly into the ICM industry by collaborating on a series of career fairs and seminars over the next two years.

“The ICT sector offers many opportunities and growth potential, and faces a rising demand for tech professionals. To support the demand to attract and groom Singaporeans in this sector, e2i has collaborated with industry partners to recruit manpower through career fairs and professional conversion programmes, as well as bridge skill gap through masterclasses. Talentguru is a platform where Singaporeans interested in joining the sector can identify their training needs, get matched to a suitable job and be part of a vibrant ICT ecosystem,” said Gilbert Tan, CEO, e2i.

Over the next three years, talentguru seeks to engage 500 companies and 10,000 users, facilitating the placement of 3,000 ICM professionals and 1,000 students. It also hopes to train 300 internship mentors in SMEs.

Interested?

View the video introducing talentguru

The Spring Menu is now available at La Yeon

Source: The Shilla Seoul. La Yeon's chilled pen shell salad with yuzu garlic sauce.

La Yeon, The Shilla Seoul’s three Michelin-starred fine-dining Korean restaurant, that has also made the list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants for three consecutive years, has launched a Spring Menu. Showcasing the season’s finest ingredients from the Korean peninsula’s farms and shores, the new menu reflects La Yeon’s ongoing commitment to honor Korea’s culinary history.

The Spring Menu features delicacies such as geoduck, sea bream, king scallops, webfoot octopus, napa cabbage, mulberries and bellflower seeds. Traditional cooking techniques will present the seasonal ingredients, from fermenting and low-temperature ripening to steaming and grilling. These meticulous processes

Wine pairing is available with the new menu, each wine carefully handpicked by La Yeon’s sommelier to enhance the dining experience. The restaurant’s drinks menu will also be refreshed to include two new types of makgeolli (Korean rice wine) and two new types of Cheongju (refined rice wine). Traditional Korean liquors such as a freshly harvested rice and peanut makgeolli are also offered by the glass for pairing with dishes.

Guests can take advantage of the special Taste of La Yeon accommodation package, which is designed for gourmets who enjoy travelling for food. Guests who book the package receive one night's accommodation in a premium suite, a lunch or dinner for two at La Yeon (advance booking required), a Shilla teddy bear, free access to the Executive Lounge and outdoor spa pool, relaxation area, Finnish sauna, gyms, indoor pool and other leisure facilities.

The Shilla Seoul has also reopened Urban Island. With the Urban Island accommodation package, guests have access to the outdoor swimming pool and sunbathing facilities, as well as a spa pool, heated pools, and private cabanas.

Interested?

Book the Urban Island package

Online fashion store KLARRA pivots to target PMEBs

Fashion e-retailer KLARRA, fronted by Singapore fashion icon and influencer Beatrice Tan, has pivoted to offer professionals, managers, executives and businesswomen timeless designer-style classics.

KLARRA’s Spring/Summer 2015 collection integrates classic lines with modern tailoring techniques for the KLARRA woman, a confident, independent individual unfazed by passing trends and undefined by age.

Source: KLARRA. KLARRA,
Fall/Winter 2014: Maeve
cross-stitched culottes,
S$39.

KLARRA currently features two lines, its namesake being the pillar of its fashion range while a conceptual line, FRONTROW by KLARRA, focuses on unique and quality fabric and prints created with a specific theme.

Source: KLARRA website.
FRONTROW by KLARRA
Spring/Summer 2015: Sanchez
neoprene sweater dress in
grey foam, S$52.

Ensembles in the FRONTROW collection include textured culottes, the Todd Tailored Culottes, crafted with crepe back satin to create an eye-catching structure. Featured in a trendy seafoam colour, this versatile piece is designed to perfectly enhance the feminine silhouette. A full range of tailored culottes, skorts and sweaters is also available.

"We want our customers to look good, and also feel good. Thus far, the response has been encouraging and we are excited to introduce more of such quality pieces to our customers,” shared Tan on KLARRA’s rebranding.

“The local fashion scene is saturated, and at KLARRA, we want to set ourselves apart from the rest. We decided the best way to do this was to introduce apparel focusing on quality and design. To bring unique upscale designs to the market, we conceptualised the whole product line to emphasise unique fabric and workmanship." 

Browse KLARRA’s Spring/Summer 2015 collection here.

Moody's Analytics announces Spring 2015 Public Seminars

Moody's Analytics has announced its Spring 2015 Public Seminars Schedule. The company is offering group pricing for companies which send more than three colleagues to attend a public seminar. Email TrainingAsiaPac@moodys.com to discuss special arrangements. Seminars include:

Fundamentals of Corporate Credit

Reach sound judgments of a company's creditworthiness. Delegates will be able to identify and assess key qualitative and quantitative factors in determining credit risk. 

Location	Date	Price
Singapore	February 9 to 12	US$4,395
Hong Kong	May 11 to 14	US$4,395
Dubai	June 7 to 10	US$4,395
Sydney	August 31 to September 3	US$4,395
Singapore	December 8 to 11	US$4,395

Covenants and Documentation

Delegates will review credit documentation, and learn what pitfalls to look out for. The course will focus on covenants and other features designed to protect investor interests and emphasise how these tools can be undermined by creative drafting. Moody's methodology for evaluating covenants in bond indentures will be discussed, and participants will learn how Moody's framework for assessing covenant quality can be applied to their daily work.

Location	Date	Price
Hong Kong	May 15	US$1,695
Sydney	October 16	US$1,695
Singapore	November 5	US$1,695

Patricia Rox brings signature colour and detail to Asia

Patricia Rox debuted in Europe in 2013 and is already gaining momentum internationally with plans to establish the brand here in Asia, beginning with Singapore. 

The luxury womenswear company creates globally inspired, traditionally handcrafted pieces, and officially launched the brand and its Spring/Summer 2015 The Fantasy Capsule in Singapore recently. 

With exotic, intricate prints and bright, bold colours at the forefront of its designs, Patricia Rox brings one-of-a-kind ready-to-wear and accessories to discerning, sophisticated women. 

The latest Spring/Summer The Fantasy Capsule features vibrant, circus-inspired scarves and buffalo horn and enamel jewellery which transport the Patricia Rox woman back to her whimsical childhood fantasies. The collection is luxurious yet effortlessly chic, and is versatile enough for a resort, travelling or attending a soiree. 

Model wearing the Hera toga
dress with a backdrop of
scarves with the same print.

Patricia Rox is the brainchild of fashion lawyer Patricia Haywood. Gathering inspiration from her love of travel, Patricia has created a brand that brings together traditional techniques and modern ideas to create unique, handmade pieces, and a brand with a mission to make well-crafted pieces available to women everywhere. 

"At Patricia Rox, we go to great lengths to bring women unique and well-made clothing and accessories. Our vision is to bring together some of the most creative people from different regions to create something special, and to make the art of traditional craftsmanship accessible to women worldwide," says Haywood, Founder and Creative Director, Patricia Rox. 

Every scarf and piece of jewellery is handcrafted by skilled and passionate craftspeople. Patricia Rox works with artisans who are the best at their craft and who are skilled at preserving the integrity of the materials used in each piece created. 

Each print is painstakingly hand-drawn by one artist, with some prints taking 200-300 hours to complete. These one-of-a-kind prints are viewed as works of art. This traditional technique translates to smaller runs and limited editions of each design and ensures that each and every piece will be unique and exquisitely crafted. 

With a mission to find the best natural materials like silk, cotton, linen, horn, enamel and pearl from around the world to create unique pieces that are just as unique as the Patricia Rox woman, all materials are ethically and sustainably sourced from only the best suppliers from the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia. 

Currently, the collection of Patricia Rox scarves is available online at www.gnossem.com, a Singapore based online shopping site for unique and quality fashion from top, independent designers. Outside of Singapore, Patricia Rox is available in Asia at Aman Resorts in Bali, and www.shopzaozao.com in Hong Kong.

An e-commerce site and physical flagship store are in the works.

*All images from Patricia Rox.

Singapore SMEs, startups get government boost for R&D&C

Help for SMEs and startups from the Singapore government for R&D&C continues to grow. The term comes from extending research and development (R&D) all the way to commercialisation (C).

Today, that help includes cash grants, business incubator schemes, and tax incentives, said Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), speaking as the guest of honour at Developer and Global Entrepreneur Day during IBM's XCite event in Singapore.

"At A*STAR, our commercialisation arm, ETPL, supports budding technopreneurs from A*STAR's research institutes who desire to spin off their inventions. In March this year, we also introduced Headstart, a programme which grants royalty-free and exclusive intellectual property licenses for the first 18 months to SMEs that collaborate with A*STAR," he said.

Over the past five years, more than 700 SMEs have undertaken close to 2,200 projects with A*STAR, Lim disclosed, adding that the organisation's licensing policies and terms have been enhanced and simplified to allow more SMEs and startups to benefit from A*STAR's research. 

Besides providing IP to enable the development of new products and services, the government also helps SMEs and start-ups harness technology for business 
improvement. 

"At A*STAR, we facilitate technology adoption and upgrading through a variety of initiatives. For example, our Growing Enterprises through Technology Upgrade or GET-Up Programme includes a scheme that seconds researchers to SMEs to work on innovation projects leading to new products and services. 
In addition, A*STAR’s Technology Adoption Programme (TAP) offers technology 
consultancy to SMEs and subsequently matches them with solution providers," said Lim. 

Lim shared that A*STAR’s TAP team has engaged more than 4,600 
companies and helped more than 650 companies adopt new technologies since 2013. SPRING has invested S$40 million in 2011 to launch sector-specific accelerators to identify, invest and grow startups in areas like medical and clean technology as well.

SPRING Singapore squarely behind upgrading quality and standards

SPRING Singapore has added S$10 million in grant budgets to support local enterprise efforts in building quality and adopting standards as strategic business tools. Enterprises can use the funding to develop and adopt new standards. 

Quality and standards can help businesses to become more productive, to reduce wastage, to manufacture safer, higher quality and environment-friendly products; or to achieve stronger product and service differentiation.

SPRING will also fund the appointment of new standards development organisations to oversee standards development and promotion in new sectors, as well as to nurture a pipeline of new standards professionals through standards education. 

To strengthen quality standards for businesses, the agency developed and reviewed some 180 Singapore standards and has built up an accreditation system with a pool of some 290 conformity assessment bodies in 2013. A total of 630 companies benefitted from SPRING-supported standards adoption, and business and service excellence projects last year.

To boost the industry’s confidence in learning service providers (LSPs), the Singapore Accreditation Council (SAC) launched a new accreditation scheme for the certification bodies of LSPs today. This new scheme will ensure that certification bodies provide systematic and impartial third party assessment and certification of LSPs. In the area of workplace safety and health, the scheme supports the Ministry of Manpower’s drive to raise competency standards of the workforce by assuring the quality of certification of LSPs.

In partnership with SPRING, the Singapore Standards Council (SSC) and SAC have developed strategic plans to address the emerging standardisation and accreditation needs of local industries. These include raising productivity, accelerating the development of new growth sectors, increasing resource efficiency and sustainability, as well as addressing social and safety needs.

The manufacturing industry will see new Singapore standards which will improve its logistics support and put in place more efficient business processes. The SSC and the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) have developed the world’s first multi-tiered cloud computing security standard, providing companies with greater clarity on the different levels of security offered by cloud service providers. In the area of resource efficiency, new Singapore standards and accreditation schemes for energy and water efficiency management have also been developed.

From this year, SPRING has also taken on the role of Pacific Area Standards* Congress (PASC) Secretariat to strengthen international standardisation programmes and to enhance free trade. SPRING is a member of the Executive Committee for the Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC), which facilitates trade in the Asia Pacific region through harmonised conformity assessment practices. This is done by ensuring that companies with certificates bearing the accreditation mark from accreditation member bodies of PAC are accepted through global mutual recognition. The network of accreditation mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) include recently-signed MRAs on food safety management system certification and proficiency testing providers. 

Source: Quality and Standards Conference website.

SPRING has signed two memoranda of understanding (MoU) at the Quality and Standards Conference on 5 August. The first was with Singapore Polytechnic to further its collaboration in the design of a course curriculum and delivery of a Diploma Course in Applied Sciences to raise the level of competence of working adults in laboratory management. The second was an MOU with the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) to deepen collaboration in the area of accreditation.

"As quality and excellence will play a bigger role in the transformation and growth of our economy, our programmes must continue to stay relevant, and deliver benefits to Singapore’s enterprises so that they can remain competitive,” said Tan Kai Hoe, Chief Executive, SPRING Singapore, at the Quality and Standards Conference 2014. A robust quality and standards infrastructure assures the quality of Singapore products and services, and as a result strengthens the overall credibility and trust in the Singapore Brand, he said.

Some 550 business leaders and partners attended the Quality and Standards Conference at Orchard Hotel, organised by SPRING, SSC, SAC and the Singapore Manufacturing Federation.

*PASC is a regional grouping of 24 National Standards Bodies consisting of Brunei Darussalam, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, and Vietnam.