Overview
The Professional Conversion Programme (PCP) for Retail Professionals helps Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians (PMETs), unemployed or those who wish to switch career, make a smooth transition to the retail industry as retail professionals, with the right skills, right attitude and right working experience.

Objectives of PCP for Retail Professionals in the Retail
The objectives of PCP for Professionals in the Retail Industry are to:

1. Enhance job opportunities for Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians
2. Provide a training pathway to acquire the skills and knowledge to make career switch to become retail professionals
3. Facilitate job placement and retention

Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the programme, applicants must:

1. Be Singapore Citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident;
2. Have a minimum ESS Workplace Literacy and Numeracy (WPLN) Level 6;
3. Have at least a Diploma or equivalent qualification; and
4. Have at least 2 years’ working experience at the supervisory or managerial level.

Programme Structure
Applicants will undergo the necessary recruitment process to be screened and interviewed by the participating companies. Successful applicants will embark on a structured apprenticeship programme with the participating companies while pursuing the Diploma in Retail Management, developed from the Retail Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) framework at the Singapore Institute of Retail Studies (SIRS) for a period of 6 months (typically 2 days of training at SIRS per week with the rest at the workplace).

Trainees are required to complete the programme and serve a 6 months bond with the sponsoring company.

The first intake of the programme will commence on the 20 April 2009.

Programme Funding
Trainees will receive monthly stipend in accordance to sponsoring companies’ existing salary structure during the training period. WDA will co-fund 50% of the training stipend.

The nett course fee payable after WDA funding is $144.45 (incl. GST) per trainee. The course fee will be borne by the sponsoring companies.

Contact Details
Please contact the following for more information:

Singapore Institute of Retail Studies
SIRS @ HDB Hub
490, Lorong 6, Toa Payoh
# 08-10/11, HDB Hub
Biz Three, Lobby One
Singapore 310490

Tel: 6222 7477
Fax: 6397 2137
Email: retailpcp@sirs.edu.sg

Interested applicants can download the application form and send the completed form to retailpcp@sirs.edu.sg.

Download Application Form.

Application period for the first intake is from 2 March 2009 to 11 March 2009. Only shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview with the participating companies.