SPRING Singapore engages startups and small-and-medium
enterprises (SMEs) to help them grow, and in doing so,
contributes to the healthy growth of the Singapore economy.
In Singapore, SMEs comprise 99 per cent
of all enterprises and are thus a vital part
of the economy. They employ seven out of
every 10 workers and make up nearly half of
Singapore’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
As a statutory board under the Ministry of
Trade and Industry (MTI), SPRING Singapore
works with industry partners to help SMEs
in financing, capability and management
development, technology and innovation
growth, and market access. SPRING helps to
cultivate competitive SMEs by developing a
supportive environment for them to upgrade
their capabilities and seize growth opportunities.
To do so, SPRING needs people with the talent
and drive to help advance this mission. SPRING
Executive Development Scholarship (EDS)
holders Amanda Dizon, Manager, Consumer
Product Safety and Weights and Measures
Division in the Quality and Excellence Group and
Eugene Eu, Head, Business Capabilities Division
in the Capabilities and Partnership Group tell us
about the opportunities they have enjoyed with
SPRING and their passion to help Singapore
enterprises grow.
A passion for entrepreneurship
Amanda was attracted to the SPRING EDS
as the organisation’s mission aligned with her
interests in helping local enterprises improve
their business processes. She explains, “SMEs
employ a large proportion of the workforce, so
helping them grow and improve means helping
to better the lives of fellow Singaporeans. I find
great meaning in this as I’ve always wanted to
have a career in the Public Service and give back
to the nation!”
Amanda Dizon
SPRING EDS Scholar
Designation:
Manager, (Consumer Product Safety
and Weights and Measures Division),
Quality and Excellence Group,
SPRING Singapore
Studied:
Bachelor of Social Sciences
(Political Science),
Second Major in Management,
National University of Singapore
"A career in
enterprise development was the obvious choice
to marry my interests in public and private
sector management"
She also appreciates the fact that the
SPRING EDS is open to mid-term applicants
like herself, given that she only applied for the
scholarship during her third year at the National
University of Singapore (NUS) and had greater
clarity on her career directions. “A career in
enterprise development was the obvious choice
to marry my interests in public and private
sector management,” Amanda adds.
Like Amanda, Eugene's interest in enterprise
development was established during his
undergraduate days. He recalls, “I was fascinated
by how creative ideas could be transformed into
viable businesses. With SPRING, I am able to
assist aspiring entrepreneurs in expanding their
ideas and growing their startups into successful
businesses.
“And although I initially wasn’t keen on
applying for a scholarship, I gradually learned
more about the SPRING EDS and realised its
perfect alignment with my interests. Working in
SPRING has indeed allowed me to learn about
business operations and network with the
business community!”
Helping local businesses thrive
Eugene is now in a great position to do so
as Head of the Capabilities Promotion Division,
where he leads a team to conduct outreach and forge partnerships to build capabilities within
SMEs. He elaborates, “I started my journey with
SPRING in the Industry Development Group,
where we assisted local enterprises in the food
industry. We worked closely with business
leaders and I was involved in the development
of sectoral programmes and industry plans.
I also organised and participated in overseas
study trips to countries like Japan, Korea and
the Netherlands.”
Eugene even had the developmental
opportunity to help grow a company from
within when he was seconded to a local
enterprise dealing in manufacturing blends for
chocolate, confectionary and dairy products.
He enthuses, “It was very refreshing to be
part of the company proper as opposed to
managing its account. The experience definitely
broadened my perspective and helped me better
understand the importance for enterprises to be
competitive, innovative and resilient.”
Amanda shares Eugene's sentiments. Within
the Consumer Product Safety and Weights and
Measures Division, her priority is to keep abreast
of product safety issues and trends. Her role
falls under the Quality and Excellence Group,
which develops and promotes internationally
recognised standards and quality assurance
infrastructure. These efforts help to enhance
enterprise competitiveness, facilitate trades and
build trust in Singapore’s products and services.
She elaborates, “In order to have safe consumer
goods in the market, we need to ensure that
our regulations and action plans stay relevant.
In this way, suppliers will emphasise safety as
a key focus for their business so as to remain
competitive.
“To do so, I track relevant current affairs and
news, conduct post-market surveillance and
develop and promote educational materials
targeted at both consumers and suppliers. I
also handle first-hand feedback on product-related
incidents from the public.
“At SPRING, we are always looking for new
ways to engage and educate consumers, and
at the same time informing suppliers of their
responsibility to comply with regulations and
supply safer goods. One way is by networking
regularly with industry leaders and leading
regulators – for example, SPRING regularly
attends the International Consumer Product
Health and Safety Organization (ICPHSO)
International Symposium, which is also
attended by product safety stakeholders such
as companies, testing laboratories, non-profit
safety organisations and regulators from all
over the world. Experiences like these help
us apply relevant best practices to our work,”
Amanda adds.
Growing alongside local enterprises
SPRING EDS scholars can expect to
receive exposure opportunities early on in
their scholarship journey and career with
SPRING, starting from their university days.
Amanda shares, “The highlight of my mid-term
scholarship was my 10-week internship with the Business and Service Excellence (BSE)
Division in SPRING. I had the chance to work
independently to lay the groundwork for a
study on the impact of business excellence on
company performance.
Eugene Eu Zhen An
SPRING EDS Scholar
Designation:
Head (Capabilities Promotion Division),
Capabilities and Partnership Group
SPRING Singapore
Studied:
Bachelor of Accountancy,
Nanyang Technological University
“During the internship, I was fortunate to
enjoy the mentorship and guidance of my
colleagues, whose experience in this area
proved invaluable. I left my internship more
convinced than ever that I could make a mark
on the local enterprise landscape through a
career with SPRING.” Amanda adds that she is
currently exploring a formal rotation to the BSE
division to deepen her knowledge on driving
business excellence for SMEs.
On Eugene’s part, he recalls how his
internship helped him better understand
SPRING’s mission and prepare him for his
career with the organisation. He tells us, “I was
exposed to the concept of partner management
and shadowed SPRING colleagues at meetings.
I observed and learnt how they interacted with
SMEs, such as getting their buy-in to embark
on productivity projects, discussing industry
trends and helping companies to scope projects
to build capabilities.”
Looking ahead
With so much to look forward to at SPRING,
it’s little wonder that both Amanda and Eugene
are eager to encourage students with the
passion and drive for enterprise development to
seriously consider the SPRING EDS.
Amanda shares, “I like to keep the SPRING
Core values of E.N.T.P. (Enterprising, Nurturing,
Teamplayer and Professional) at heart and
embody them in my thoughts and actions at
work.
Eugene hopes to help forge a bright future
for Singapore’s SMEs. He says earnestly, “I
hope to foster more resilient, growth-oriented
and internationally competitive businesses
which can adapt and respond to the constantly
changing business environment. This will
definitely expand Singapore’s brand name
overseas!”
He concludes, “Aspiring scholars should
be passionate, resilient, driven and possess
strong interpersonal skills. SPRING operates in
a challenging environment where enterprises
are looking to us to lead them in building
their capabilities, helping them become more
productive and competitive. Hence, the ability to
communicate and interact with enterprises will
be key. If you are outgoing and have a strong
interest in business, the SPRING EDS is the
scholarship for you!”