With Singapore positioning itself as a regional sustainable development hub, local companies increasingly embrace sustainability as a core business strategy. By integrating sustainability into their operations, products, and services, these companies can contribute to environmental and social well-being, enhance their competitive advantage, and attract conscious consumers and investors.
The challenge of going green
However, implementing sustainability initiatives can be challenging for companies, particularly when it comes to the required skills and knowledge. Sustainable practices demand a workforce that is well-versed in environmental stewardship, energy efficiency, circular economy principles, ethical sourcing, and social responsibility.
The challenge is further exacerbated by the scarcity of talent specialising in sustainability in Singapore’s competitive job market.
Thankfully, forward-thinking companies such as Foodxervices and SaladStop! have discovered an effective workaround to the prevailing challenges – tapping on Workforce Singapore’s Career Conversion Programme to reskill employees and hire trained personnel respectively.
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Foodxervices: Enhancing the current for the future
Nicol Ng, the group CEO of X-Inc Pte Ltd, the parent company of Foodxervices, shares: “In recent years, we witnessed significant transformations driven by technological advancements, automation, and changing consumer preferences. These changes have led to a shift in the skills required to meet the evolving demands of the industry.
As becoming sustainable is crucial to remain competitive and providing high-quality services to its clients, the food distributor company recognised the need to have talent that possesses the necessary skills and knowledge in the field.
However, instead of diving into the jobseekers’ pool to scour for talent specialising in sustainability, the company chose to develop people within its ranks – sending three of its staff for reskilling via WSG’s Career Conversion Programme (CCP) for Sustainability Professionals. Nicol shares:
“Reskilling existing employees through WSG’s career conversion program provided a more seamless transition, as they were already familiar with the company’s operations and had established working relationships.”
According to a study by the University of Pennsylvania, employees are also more likely to stay when their employers invest in their professional development. As it stands, Foodxervices is well aware of this fact.
“Reskilling existing employees demonstrated Foodxervices’ commitment to investing in its workforce and providing opportunities for career growth. It fostered a sense of loyalty and engagement among employees, which can lead to higher levels of productivity and job satisfaction,” said Nicol.
Jobseekers, find jobs in Foodxervices here!
SaladStop: Tapping on WSG’s CCP to hire sustainability-trained talent
In contrast to Foodxervices, SaladStop! chose to look beyond the company’s walls to bring on board a sustainability-trained talent. The food and beverage company has no qualms about taking in additional headcount as it was also looking to recover manpower loss during the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, the company is more keen to hire a mid-career switcher, who already has clocked some years of working experience, than a fresh jobseeker. Jas Randhawa, HR director of SaladStop! Group explains:
“Unlike fresh graduates, mid-career switchers bring a wealth of knowledge and past experiences. They are more independent and better equipped to handle discussions and manage stakeholders’ expectations.”
Given this, WSG’s CCP is the most ideal platform for SaladStop! to tap into a diverse pool of mid-career switchers with varied experiences and skill sets, who have undergone industry-recognised training.
Read More: Why Companies Should Consider Candidates Seeking a Mid-Career Switch
In October 2022, SaladStop! hired a mid-career switcher, Hwee Leng, from the CCP for Sustainability for the role of sustainability manager. The company considers her hiring as pivotal in its move towards embracing sustainability. Jas shares:
“Hwee Leng has the right attitude and she is the right fit for the job. She has been a great employee and has been contributing well to support the company’s implementation of sustainability strategies.”
Jobseekers, find jobs in SaladStop! here!
Looking for the right talent for your company?
If you’re an employer looking to bring in experienced personnel into your company’s ranks, you can tap on WSG’s Career Conversion Programme for Employers to reskill mid-career new hires or workers with up to 90% salary and course fee support.
Another great platform would be a jobs portal with advanced features like the MyCareersFuture jobs portal that has an in-built talent search tool.
Read More: Struggling to Find the Right Talent? Take a More Proactive Approach to Your Hiring
The Talent Search tool is specially designed to be user-friendly: simply type in keywords such as job titles or skills into the search bar, and a list of relevant candidate matches will be shown. Then, all you need to do is to identify the candidates you’re interested in and invite them to apply for your job posting.
Good luck with your talent search!
