Bouncing Back Stronger From Retrenchment Through The SGUnited Skills Programme

In 2020, life dealt Terry Koh a blow. He was retrenched from his job because his company, which was in the marine and offshore industry, was impacted by the pandemic.
 
To make matters worse, the father of three faced difficulties when applying for a new job. He was proficient in soft skills, but lacked the hard skills – which lowered his chances of even securing job interviews.  
 
With encouragement from his friends, he decided to explore the option of enrolling in suitable courses to plug his skill gaps. Several friends recommended he consider NTUC LearningHub, and that was when Terry chanced upon the SGUnited Skills (SGUS) Programme while browsing the website.

The programme is a 6-month full-time training programme for Singaporeans and PRs to acquire industry-relevant skills and improve their employability. Trainees can reskill for healthcare, tech light, or tech heavy roles, and receive a monthly training allowance of up to $1200.

Terry's Journey In Workplace Safety and Health

Terry applied for the Digital Health, Safety and Environment Executive (HSE) track, which comprised 10 modules in Workplace Safety and Health (WSH), such as:

• Physical and Mental Wellness
• Occupational Health & Hygiene
• Workflow Automation
• Project Management
• Data Analytics
• Safety Technologies

Through some of the modules in the programme, he acquired the necessary skills required to perform his role as a WSH Coordinator, and learnt the rationale behind various safety protocols and procedures.

As the role involved working closely with various departments to ensure employee well-being, the modules also comprised training for project management and workflow automation to prepare learners accordingly. Terry's favourite module was Lead Workplace Communication and Engagement, wherein he learnt how to effectively communicate with others to enhance workplace productivity.

The SGUS programme was just the start of Terry's journey in the WSH industry. After completing the programme in June 2021, he enrolled in the part-time Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) Specialist Diploma to further upskill himself in this profession and get qualified as a WSH Officer!

Currently halfway through his diploma, Terry remains motivated in his journey to accumulate more certifications that will boost his resume and give him an advantage in the workforce.

Terry made use of his SkillsFuture Credit for both the SGUS Programme and WSQ diploma, which made his upskilling journey much more affordable.

Expanded Employment Opportunities After Upskilling

Upskilling for the WSH industry has expanded Terry's employment opportunities.

The sales veteran can now apply for jobs in various sectors, including utilities management and safety coordination. While Terry still works in a sales role in his current company, which deals with wastewater management, he also doubles up as an interim safety personnel to value-add to his organisation.

Although on-the-job skills, effective communication, and people connections are important, the key to workplace success is constant upskilling, says Terry. 

Retraining and improving one's hard skills through certificates is necessary, because knowledge alway stays with you – no matter the economic climate or workplace landscape.

Since 2004, NTUC LearningHub has upskilled over 21,000 organisations and achieved over 2.6 million training places across more than 500 courses with a pool of over 400 certified trainers. We are the leading Continuing Education and Training provider in Singapore and we are here to transform your lifelong employability.

For more information on how we can help, leave an enquiry with our course consultants or contact our Live Chat Agents today.