SME Centres have helped over 25,000 SMEs on average per annum by providing advisory services, capability development programmes and upgrading initiatives. Being actively involved with an SME Centre also allows business owners to participate in various workshops and programmes that enrich their business operations and capabilities.
Additionally, SME Centres in Singapore are a good way to network with others in the same industry, as well as participate in business missions and international trade fairs.
As an SME owner, being aware of these SME Centres allows you to access the skills and the support you need to achieve business sustainability and growth.
Enterprise Singapore, with the cooperation of several trade associations and chambers of commerce in Singapore has set up several SME Centres throughout Singapore. These centres aim to support SME business owners by providing consultation that will help in business development, growth, overseas expansion, HR, productivity and financing.
SME Centres are staffed by experienced business advisors, who provide guidance and the following consultative services;
Through the SME Centres’ Partners for Business Growth Programme, business owners will be able to tap into these dedicated assistance programmes to accelerate their growth plans and generate positive revenue.
As an SME stakeholder, you will be allowed to contact any SME Centre to make a complimentary appointment with a business advisor, after which you will be guided through the consultation, implementation and review process.
In addition to this, being a part of an SME Centre allows you to connect and collaborate with like minded businesses, gain insights from industry experts, and be exposed to opportunities for SME financing or grants. SMEs will also enjoy the possibility of joining overseas trade missions and fairs as part of the government’s efforts to promote Singaporean goods and services.
SME Centres are usually hosted by a trade association or chamber of commerce. You may need to contact these organisations independently to set up an appointment and enjoy a complimentary first assessment of your SME business needs. There are currently 11 SME Centres in Singapore, and here are some of them:
The Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) is an organisation whose membership is open to business owners of Indian descent or origin. The SME Centre@SICCI was established in 2008 with the help of Enterprise Singapore.
Apart from business advisory programmes, the centre also offers capability workshops and diagnostics as well as group based upgrading projects. Here, you will also be able to access various government grants and schemes, with the proper guidance on which ones suit your business needs the best. These financial aid for SMEs include tax incentives, Startup SG Assistance, SMEs Go Digital programme and more.
The SME Centre@SICCI is also very active in organising events, at least twice a month. These activities include SME conferences, digitalisation workshops and networking gatherings.
The SME Centre@SMF is hosted by the Singapore Manufacturing Federation(SMF) whose members are business owners in the manufacturing and production sector. They were established in May 2005 and their services include 1-to-1 business advisory, business health diagnosis. capability workshops, networking activities and more.
They also offer specialised advice on government support and programmes so that you leverage them for sustained growth and to meet specific business goals. Their event calendar is also filled with monthly gatherings and workshops which will benefit SMEs in the manufacturing sector, including sessions on AI, modernisation, human resource management and more.
The SME Centre@SCCCI is a collaborative effort between Enterprise SG and the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI). The SCCCI itself is an organisation dedicated to supporting and uplifting Singaporean businesses owned by those of Chinese descent. Their SME Centres are located in Jurong Town Hall as well as HDB Hub BizThree in Toa Payoh.
Their SME business advisors will be able to provide grant consultation services, allowing you to discover the various government assistance programmes and schemes to support business growth and transformation. They also offer workshops on productivity, online marketing, digital transformation and human resource management. Interested parties should contact
The SME Centre@SMCCI is a collaborative effort between Enterprise SG and the Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SMCCI). SMCCI is dedicated to supporting and uplifting Singaporean businesses, particularly those owned by Malays, but they are also open to helping all businesses. A consult with them can potentially allow you to tap into the extensive business contacts within the Malay community.
Their SME Centres are conveniently located in Bugis. The SME business advisors at SMCCI provide grant consultation services, enabling you to explore various government assistance programs and schemes designed to support business growth and transformation. Additionally, they offer workshops on productivity, online marketing, digital transformation, and human resource management.
Unlike the other SME Centres which are co-organised by trade organisations, the SME Centre@CDC is run by a government body, the Community Development Council. This centre is designed to empower heartland SMEs, connecting them to various business resources and insights.
The Centre leverages on the grassroot networks of SMEs in the heartlands to provide business owners the opportunity to access the support they need for their businesses to thrive. The SME Centres@CDC operate across 5 CDCs namely Toa Payoh, Tampines, Woodlands, Paya Lebar and Jurong East. As with the other centres here, you can gain access to information regarding government assistance schemes in addition to a full business advisory and capability workshops.
The Association of Small & Medium Enterprises (ASME) also provides an SME Centre. Its business advisors are on hand to disclose any government assistance and financing programmes you may need. As an organisation dedicated to SMEs specifically, you can also expect to benefit from its workshops tailored to smaller businesses and startups that are in their early stages.
In addition to the services provided by other SME centres, the SME Centre@ASME also regularly conducts clinics where participants can access pro-bono legal advice related to business matters. They also offer a Career Conversion Programme, whereby funding is offered to SME employers wanting to hire or upskill early to mid-level employees.
As an SME business owner, access to financing remains a key concern. Lendingpot aspires to help businesses acquire the resources they need to thrive.
In addition to the assistance of business advisors from these SME Centres, each of these centres provides various avenues to gain the necessary support that a business might need to grow.
For more financing solutions, register today on our platform to gain access to the more than 45 financial institutions on our platform. Our team of experts are always ready at hand to answer any questions you might have or provide the necessary support .
Lina heads up all things marketing and branding at Lendingpot. With a keen aesthetic eye, she believes in the use of design to communicate with our SME community and aspires to turn Lendingpot into a household name. Out of work, she is an avid camper and appreciator of nature’s best works.
