Centre Profile

NACE@SP was established in 2021 to improve workplace learning. The centre collaborates with companies to develop tailored on-the-job training strategies and offers ‘train-the-trainer’ programmes focused on mentoring and creating effective job instructions.

The aim is to help workers excel and collaborate well, help companies deliver better results to their clients, and foster a mindset among managers to care about their staff’s career growth.

Problem Statement

Nearly all organisations in Singapore are concerned about employee retention, with more than three-quarters leveraging learning opportunities to address this challenge, according to a 2023 LinkedIn survey. Despite these efforts, nearly three in 10 workers in Singapore plan to leave their current employer within two years, according to a 2023 Ipsos survey of 1,000 Singapore employees. Two of the top three reasons include feeling unrecognised and the lack of development opportunities.

High turnover rates often result from employees feeling that their tasks are irrelevant or that they are not learning on the job. This is particularly for Gen Z workers, with more than half valuing learning opportunities for career progression – more than any of the generations before them. When capable employees leave, it impacts productivity, which in turn affects the company’s revenue and profits.

A lack of structured job instructions further complicates these issues. Without clear guidelines, new employees, or those transitioning to new roles, struggle to understand what is expected of them, leaving them confused and demoralised.

Companies may also face inconsistencies in their standard operating procedures, especially after mergers. These inconsistencies can lead to a clash of cultures within the newly combined organisation, further complicating operations.

Impact Achieved

One of the companies that consulted with NACE@SP was AB Sciex. Last year, the scientific instruments maker approached the centre to develop a standard operating procedure for packing temperature-sensitive reagents, as inconsistent practices among workers occasionally resulted in errors.

_{NACE@SP’s centre director Jessy Yau (left), Ricky Chew (middle), and Kavindran Mohan (right) discussing their latest project.}

NACE@SP improved AB Sciex packing methods by identifying the most efficient industry practices, reducing training time from 10 days to just three. Supervisors were trained to communicate instructions more clearly and succinctly, enabling workers to adopt the new techniques faster and ensuring customers received their equipment more promptly.

To reinforce the changes, the new methods were illustrated and displayed on the walls as visual guides. These easy-to-follow illustrations not only improved the packing process but also served as a lasting reference for other teams and trainers, ensuring consistency in the long term.

For Brian Wai, a Warehouse Operations Manager at AB Sciex, the results spoke for themselves. “By sharing their knowledge and guidance with patience, our team was able to cut our packaging costs and train our workers more quickly.”

Last year, Home Team Science & Technology Agency (HTX), a government organisation, enrolled around 200 employees in the two-day course. Participants, including senior directors, gained a comprehensive understanding of the distinct roles and responsibilities between mentors and mentees. Classes were capped at 10 participants over 25 sessions to ensure active engagement.

“What do you ask at the right time? How do you check in with them? What timeline do you give for them to change?” These are some of the questions answered during the course, said Kavindran Mohan, Account Manager in the Outreach and Development Division at SP’s Professional & Adult Continuing Education Academy, where NACE@SP is based.

“It’s all about culture—they want to foster a mentoring culture,” Mohan said, adding that even senior directors participated to ensure they were aligned with the rest of the agency.

This investment in leadership development not only strengthened HTX’s internal culture but also supported their broader goals for workforce development and operational excellence.

“By sharing their knowledge and guidance with patience, our team was able to cut our packaging costs and train our workers more quickly.” said Mr Brian Wai