Set-up and Sustainability Plans for Enabling Business Hubs

Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what is the projected timeline for the establishment of the first Enabling Business Hub (EBH); (b) how many EBHs are anticipated to be available to serve the community in the scaled-up phase; (c) what will be the total capacity of all EBHs once they are fully scaled up; and (d) what will be done to ensure that there are sufficient staff with the right training and expertise to run the EBHs.

The Enabling Business Hubs (EBHs) aim to better support persons with disabilities who need customised work support and a structured environment to work in. MSF and SG Enable will work with service providers which have the necessary expertise to train and place persons with disabilities in employment. EBH staff will need to be trained in areas, such as understanding different disability types and disability etiquette, through topics like Disability Management. They will also be trained to help persons with disabilities in areas like communication and job interviews. Training will be available at the Enabling Academy run by SG Enable and NCSS’ Social Service Institute, among other training providers.

The first EBH pilot is expected to be operational next year in the West region. As we build up experience from the pilot, MSF plans to set up a few more EBHs in different parts of the island, with each EBH hiring some persons with disabilities directly, while training other persons with disabilities to prepare them for employment. EBHs, along with other measures, will contribute to our aspirational employment rate target of 40% by 2030.