Corporate AI Training in Singapore — SkillsFuture Subsidised Programmes

Why Corporate Training in Singapore Is Different

Singapore has built the most comprehensive corporate training ecosystem in Southeast Asia. Unlike most countries where training is a pure cost centre, Singapore actively subsidises employer-sponsored training through multiple overlapping programmes. For AI and digital skills specifically, companies can often reduce training costs by 70-90%.

This matters because corporate training in Singapore is not just about upskilling employees — it is a strategic investment that the government co-funds. Understanding how to navigate these subsidies can mean the difference between paying $50,000 for a team training programme and paying $5,000.

The Corporate Training Funding Landscape

There are four main funding pathways for corporate training in Singapore:

1. SSG Course Fee Funding (Up to 70-90% Subsidy)

SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) provides baseline course fee funding for all SSG-funded courses. The subsidy rates are:

Key point: If your company qualifies as an SME (annual sales turnover of not more than $100 million OR employment size of not more than 200 workers), all employees receive the enhanced 90% subsidy regardless of age.

2. SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC)

SFEC provides eligible companies with a one-off $10,000 credit to cover up to 90% of out-of-pocket expenses for training. This is on top of existing course fee subsidies, making it possible to train your team at near-zero cost.

Eligibility: Companies with at least 3 Singapore Citizens or PRs on payroll, with at least $750 in monthly wages each.

3. Absentee Payroll (AP) Funding

When your employees attend SSG-funded training during working hours, your company can claim Absentee Payroll funding to offset salary costs:

• Standard rate: $4.50 per hour per trainee
• Cap: $100,000 per company per calendar year
• SME enhanced rate: Higher rates available through Enhanced Training Support

4. Enhanced Training Support for SMEs (ETSS)

SMEs get additional support including:

• 90% course fee subsidy (up from 70% for non-SMEs)
• Higher Absentee Payroll rates
• Priority access to selected programmes
• Simplified application processes

What Corporate AI Training Looks Like in Practice

Corporate training in Singapore has evolved beyond generic classroom sessions. Modern programmes blend different modalities to maximise impact and minimise workflow disruption.

Typical Programme Structure

Phase 1: AI Readiness Assessment (1-2 days) Before training begins, an assessment identifies your team's current AI literacy, maps use cases specific to your industry, and designs a customised curriculum. This phase alone often justifies the investment by surfacing quick-win automation opportunities.

Phase 2: Foundation Training (2-3 days) Core AI concepts, prompt engineering, and hands-on tool exploration. Employees learn to evaluate AI tools critically and apply them to their daily workflows. All training uses real company data and scenarios.

Phase 3: Applied Workshops (2-3 days) Teams work on actual business challenges using AI tools. This is where training converts to measurable productivity gains. Deliverables might include automated reporting workflows, AI-assisted customer response systems, or data analysis dashboards.

Phase 4: Sustainability and Governance (1 day) Covering responsible AI use, data privacy, company AI policies, and ongoing learning pathways. This phase ensures training benefits persist beyond the programme.

Industry-Specific Programme Examples

Financial Services

• AI for regulatory compliance and risk assessment
• Automated reporting and financial modelling
• Customer analytics and personalisation
• Duration: 5 days | Typical cost after subsidies: $800-$2,000 per employee

Technology and IT

• Machine learning fundamentals for developers
• AI-powered DevOps and testing automation
• Generative AI integration patterns
• Duration: 5-8 days | Typical cost after subsidies: $1,000-$3,000 per employee

Professional Services

• AI-assisted research and analysis
• Document automation and knowledge management
• Client-facing AI tools and proposal generation
• Duration: 3-5 days | Typical cost after subsidies: $500-$1,500 per employee

Healthcare

• Clinical AI awareness and patient data ethics
• Administrative process automation
• Health analytics and predictive modelling
• Duration: 3-5 days | Typical cost after subsidies: $800-$2,000 per employee

How to Get Started: Step-by-Step

For Companies New to SSG Funding

1. Check your eligibility — Log in to the SSG Business Portal at enterprisejobskills.gov.sg to verify your company's eligibility for subsidies.

2. Identify your training needs — Work with your HR team and department heads to identify which teams would benefit most from AI training. Prioritise roles where AI can deliver immediate productivity gains.

3. Select an SSG-approved training provider — Only courses delivered by Approved Training Organisations (ATOs) qualify for subsidies. Pertama Partners is an SSG-approved provider for AI and digital skills training.

4. Apply for SFEC — If eligible, apply for your $10,000 SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit through the Business Portal. This credit can be applied on top of other subsidies.

5. Enrol employees and submit claims — Once enrolled, submit your Absentee Payroll claim through the TP Gateway. Most subsidy amounts are automatically deducted from course fees.

For Companies Already Using SSG Funding

If you have previously accessed SkillsFuture subsidies, focus on:

• Checking your remaining SFEC balance
• Reviewing new AI-specific courses added to the SSG directory
• Exploring the Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy for employees aged 40+
• Considering bulk enrolment for cost-efficient cohort-based training

Calculating Your Real Training Cost

Here is an example for a Singapore SME sending 10 employees to a 5-day AI training programme:

This is not hypothetical — many SMEs in Singapore train their entire team at zero net cost by stacking these subsidies effectively.

Why Companies Choose Pertama Partners for Corporate Training

Pertama Partners specialises in corporate AI training for Southeast Asian enterprises. Our Singapore programmes are:

• SSG-approved — All courses qualify for SkillsFuture subsidies
• Industry-contextualised — Training uses your sector's data, regulations, and use cases
• Outcome-focused — Every programme includes measurable ROI targets and post-training support
• Subsidy-optimised — We help you stack SFEC, course fee funding, and Absentee Payroll to minimise out-of-pocket costs

Whether you are training 5 employees or 500, we design programmes that deliver real business impact while maximising your government funding.