Singapore BCM Grant
The National Business Continuity Management (BCM) Programme was a $30 million initiative over five years (ending Mar 2014) aimed to engage the private sector in building economic resilience and competitiveness through the attainment of their first BCM certification. The initiative has since ended in March 2014, but the financial incentive to defray the cost of BCM-adoption is still available through SPRING Singapore’s Capability Development Grant (CDG).
Capability Development Grant
The Capability Development Grant is a financial assistance programme aimed at helping Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) defray up to 70% of qualifying project costs*, relating to consultancy, manpower, training, certification, upgrading productivity and developing business capabilities for process improvement, product development and market access.
The grant supports a wide range of capability upgrading initiatives that enable SMEs to successfully compete and grow their businesses locally and globally. There are 10 supportable areas tailored to meet an SME’s current needs and stages of development. They range from raising service standards, adopting technology innovation, grooming business leaders to growing a global brand.
For more details of the Grant, please contact us, SPRING, or visit the National BCM Focal Point website.
* SPRING’s enhanced funding support of up to 70% would be effective for three years until 31 March 2015.
Origins of the BCM Grant
Since the last decade, the world saw two major threats emerging – terrorism and contagious diseases.
The Government realised the need to make Singapore able to deal with such risks as a whole. The aim is to have key institutions, both public and private, that provide essential services to be ready to respond and manage emergency situations.
At the National Security Seminar on 7 November 2008, Prof S Jayakumar, then-Deputy Prime Minister and the Coordinating Minister of National Security and Home Defence, mentioned that selected Government or public agencies will consider tenderers’ level of BCM-readiness as part of the procurement process. He added that suppliers which are BCM-ready will be accorded preference in the procurement decision process.
Source: www.spring.gov.sg (Opening Address by Prof S Jayakumar at the National Security Seminar)