Singapore’s hawker culture was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on 16 December 2020. Of course, the main stewards of our hawker culture are the hawkers themselves.
However, many of these hawkers may be elderly and close to giving up their trade. Moreover, succeeding as a hawker typically involves long hours, hard work and business risks in addition to having the passion to cook tasty food for the ordinary man on the street. They will also need business acumen to do well.
Thus, it is vital to inspire and equip the next generation of hawkerpreneurs to join the trade so that future generations of Singaporeans will be able to enjoy diverse options for their Chicken Rice, Carrot Cake, Chendol, or Laksa fixes.
After consulting hawkers and other stakeholders, the National Environmental Agency (NEA) and SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) developed the Hawkers’ Development Programme (HDP) to provide aspiring and existing hawkers with the skills needed to run their businesses.
Read Also: [2024 Edition] Price Guide For Cooked Food Hawker Stall Rentals In Singapore
3 Stages Of The Hawkers’ Development Programme (HDP)
Introduced in July 2020, there are 3 main stages of the HDP: Training, Apprenticeship, and Incubation.
Stage 1: Training
Hawkers are coached by certified trainers in culinary management and business management. This stage is available to both aspiring hawkers and existing ones. Eligible trainees will receive an allowance of $50 a day at this stage of training – which will be paid at the end of Stage 2, together with the Stage 2 training allowance.
The Asian Culinary Institute, a Continuing Education and Training (CET) institute of Nanyang Polytechnic, will conduct a 5-day training programme – Core Hawker Entrepreneurship Fundamentals – to train aspiring hawkers in the culinary and business aspect of running a hawker stall.
The 2-day Hawker Business Fundamentals will equip trainees to:
- Understand the key features and characteristics of being a Hawker in Singapore
- Define the Unique Selling Point (USP) of the food items
- Understand basic financial concepts – Revenues, Expenses, Profits & Loss
- Understand customer profile to modify food taste to local clientele
- Build loyalty and retain customers for long-term sustainability
- Acquire new customers through both traditional and digital platforms
- Learn the essential digital Apps, including e-Payments and marketing tactics via practical hands-on session (e.g. e-NETS, SGQR, Google Street View, Grab Food, Deliveroo, Food Panda, etc.)
- Learn to set prices for revenue maximisation
- Get familiar with available government funding schemes
- Write a simple Business Plan
The 3-day Hawker Culinary Fundamentals module will equip trainees to apply various cooking techniques to create these hawker dishes from scratch:
- Basic Rempah (Chili Paste / Sambal Chili Belacan)
- A full Nasi Lemak Meal (Basmati Rice, Fried Chicken Wing, Fried Fish, Ikan Bilis with peanuts and Cucumber)
- A full Hainanese Chicken Rice meal (fluffly fragrant rice, juicy poached chicken with chicken stock/soup, spicy chili and pungent ginger)
- Char Kway Teow
- Fried Hokkien Mee
Fees for core modules are as follows. For Singaporeans above 25, you can use your SkillsFuture Credits to pay for the fees.
Non-Singaporean | Singaporean/PR | Singaporean Aged 40 And Above | |
| Full Course Fee | $2,300 | $2,300 | $2,300 |
| 70% SSG Subsidy | N.A. | ($1,610) | ($1,610) |
| Nett Course Fee | $2,300 | $690 | $230 |
| GST 9% | $207 | $62.10 | $20.70 |
| Payable Course Fees | $2,507 | $752.10 | |
| Additional 20% MCES Subsidy | ($460) | ||
| Payable Course Fees | $292.10 |
Stage 2: Apprenticeship
Hawkers learn about the trade from experienced hawkers by working at their stalls for two months. This stage is available to aspiring hawkers only, and trainees will receive a training allowance of $1,000 each month. This will be paid, together with the training allowance from Stage 1, at the end of Stage 2.
Trainees will undergo eight weeks of apprenticeship at their Hawker Mentor’s stall in their Stage 2 training. Trainees will learn specific culinary skills of the hawker dishes as well as learn skills of running a hawker business. Hawker Mentors will guide trainees to prepare for their Incubation in Stage 3, through either:
- NEA Hawker Stall Tender Scheme followed by
- NEA Incubation Stall Programme.
You may indicate your preferred hawker mentor and NEA will attempt to match the Hawker Mentor best suited to you. However, NEA will need to consider the availability of mentors and various other factors. There is a possibility that a trainee might not be matched to a mentor who sells the same dish as what the trainee intends to sell in his future hawker business.
Stage 3: Incubation
Hawkers get to put their business plan to the test through the NEA’s Incubation Stall Programme (ISP), or stalls that are released during NEA’s monthly public tender. During the first 3 months of this stage, experienced hawkers will provide advice to aspiring ones. This stage is available to aspiring hawkers only.
Trainees will receive mentorship for 12 weeks at their new hawker stall. This is support for trainees to sustain their new hawker business in the initial phase of business. Their Hawker Mentors will check in at their stalls to provide advice on areas of improvement and help trainees transit into a steady state of viable business.
You will still receive your training allowance for Stages 1 and 2 once you have completed the first two stages even though you have not secured a stall under Stage 3 yet.
It is not compulsory for applicants to the NEA’s Incubation Stall Programme (ISP) to go through the Hawkers’ Development Programme (HDP). To apply for the NEA’s ISP directly, applicants have to complete the ITE “Introduction to Managing a Hawker Business” course, the classroom training of the Hawkers’ Development Programme or be a graduate of business management course(s) offered in tertiary institutions. Shortlisted applicants will then be invited to attend a Food Tasting Session.
Training Grants For Trainees And Hawker Mentors
Eligible participants can apply for training grants if they sign up for all three stages of the Hawker Development Programme (HDP). All Singaporeans and PRs can enjoy a 70% SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) Subsidy. Eligible Singaporeans aged 40 and above receive an additional 20% Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy (MCES).
In addition to eligible course fee grants, aspiring hawkers will also receive up to $50 a day in Stage 1, and $1,000 a month under Stage 2 and Stage 3. Trainees will receive their grants upon fulfilment of training milestones like minimum 75% attendance and on-the-job training learning outcomes in the training and apprenticeship stages.
Veteran Hawker Mentors will receive up to $500 per training month for their involvement under Stage 2 and Stage 3.
How Does NEA Assess The Applicants?
NEA will screen through all aspiring hawker applicants to assess their suitability to be enrolled into the 3 stages of the programme. There will be an interview, to assess their motive to join the HDP. Existing hawkers, who are eligible to attend only the training stage, will not be screened.
Aspiring hawkers may register your interest for the Hawker Development Programme (HDP) on the NEA website.
Subscribe To The DollarsAndSense Business Pass
Enjoy what you are reading and want more? Join The DollarsAndSense Business Pass and unlock access to valuable tools, exclusive networking opportunities, and tap into the wisdom of industry experts to fuel your business expansion!
