Hawkers Development Programme

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The Hawkers’ Development Programme (HDP) is an initiative by National Environmental Agency (NEA) and SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) to equip aspiring hawkers with the fundamental skills to embark on their Hawkerpreneurial journey.

Candidates will go through three stages:

Stage 1, 5-day TRAINING AT ACI

5 days of 9am to 6pm training programme entitled, “Core Hawker Entrepreneurship Fundamentals” at ACI, to train aspiring hawkers in the culinary and business aspect of running a hawker stall. Trainee must have 100% attendance.
Stage 2, 8-week APPRENTICE

Trainee will undergo 8 weeks of apprenticeship at a Hawker Mentor’s stall.  Trainee will learn skills of running a hawker business. This stage is available only to Trainees who sign up for the full HDP (stage 1, 2 and 3).

The Hawker Mentor will guide the Trainee to prepare for Stage 3 - preparation of a commercially viable hawker dish or dishes and business plan for eventual business, through either:
(i) NEA Incubation Stall Programme or
(ii) NEA Hawker Stall Tender Scheme.
Stage 3, 12-week INCUBATION

At this stage, Trainee will start their business at their own hawker stall. For the first 12 weeks during this stage, Hawker Mentor will maintain regular communication with the trainee, checking in and advising on areas of improvement, to help Trainee transit seamlessly into a steady state of viable business operations.

Stalls sourced through NEA's Incubation Stall Programme will enjoy rental rebate of up to 40% for 15 months and the stall is pre-fitted with basic fixtures and equipment. Stalls sourced through NEA Hawker Stall Tender Scheme does not enjoy rebate or pre-fitting.

This stage is available only to Trainees who sign up for the full HDP (stages 1, 2, and 3)

Training Allowance

Trainees who commit to ALL 3 stages spelt out above are eligible for Training Allownace of up to $50 per training day in Stage 1, up to $1,000 per training month in Stage 2 & 3*.

Training Allowance for stage 1 & 2 will be disbursed only after stage 2 is completed, and all logbooks are duly signed and submitted to NEA.

Training Allowance for stage 3 will be disbursed only after stage 3 is completed, and logbooks are duly signed and submitted to NEA.

*Terms and conditions applies*

If you have further queries on the Hawkers’ Development Programme:

NEA Contact Details
Please email NEA at hdp@nea.gov.sg or contact 1800-2255-632 (1800-CALL-NEA). Visit NEA website at www.nea.gov.sg/programmes-grants/hdp.

ACI Contact Details
Please email info@aci.edu.sg or contact 6417-3318.

ACI will conduct a 5 days national training programme entitled, “Core Hawker Entrepreneurship Fundamentals” to train aspiring hawkers in the culinary and business aspect of running a hawker stall.

Stage 1, 5-day TRAINING AT ACI, total of 4 modules:

  • Food Safety Course Level 1* (1 Day)
  • Essential Hawker Culinary Fundamentals (1 Day)
  • Essential Hawker Entrepreneurship Fundamentals (2 Days)
  • Adapt to change - Digitalization for Hawkers (1 Day)


* If you already have a valid FSCL1 cert (which is valid for 5 years), you are exempted from aending this module. Please register for the other 3 modules only.

One intake every three months:

  • 31 January to 6 February 2023 (excluding weekend)
  • 8 to 12 May (registration opens 7 February)
  • 14 to 18 August (registration opens 13 May)
  • 6 to 10 November (registration opens 19 August)


Class confirmation is subject to sufficient Trainee sign-ups for the intake, and after payment is made.

Stage 1, 5-day TRAINING AT ACI, total course fee of all 4 modules

For payments made BEFORE Sunday 1 January 2023, GST charged at 7%

S’porean S’pore PR
Programme Fee $2,104.00 $2,104.00
Less 70% SSG Subsidy $1,472.80 $1,472.80
Nett Course Fee $631.20 $631.20
GST rate before 1 Jan 2023 7% 7%
Add GST charge $44.18 $44.18
Payable Course Fees $675.38 $675.38
Pay before 1 Jan 2023 Pay before 1 Jan 2023
For S'poreans aged 40 & above
Additional 20% MCES subsidy of Programme Fee $421
Payable Course Fees $254.58
Pay before 1 Jan 2023

For payments made ON / AFTER Sunday 1 January 2023, GST charged at 8%


 S’porean S’pore PR
Programme Fee $2,104.00 $2,104.00
Less 70% SSG Subsidy $1,472.80 $1,472.80
Nett Course Fee $631.20 $631.20
GST rate on/after 1 Jan 2023 8% 8%
Add GST charge $50.50 $50.50
Less 1% GST absorbed for S'poreans only * $6.31 N.A.
Payable Course Fees $675.38 $681.70
Pay on/after 1 Jan 2023 Pay on/after 1 Jan 2023
For S'poreans aged 40 & above
Additional 20% MCES subsidy of Programme Fee $421
Payable Course Fees $254.58
Pay on/after 1 Jan 2023

* The increase of 1% GST on fees will be absorbed for Singapore Citizens in 2023. 

Payment accepted via：
  • AXS 
  • NETS at ACI counter
  • SkillsFuture Credit (For Singaporeans aged 25 and above) 
  • PAYNOW

SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) Subsidy

Enjoy 70% SSG subsidy for all Singaporeans below 40 years old and PRs
Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy (MCES) Subsidy

Enjoy 90% SSG subsidy for Singaporeans aged 40 years old and above
SkillsFuture Credit (SFC)

All Singaporeans aged 25 and above will receive an opening credit of S$500 from January 2016. 
You may utilise your SkillsFuture Credit to offset the payable course fee after SSG subsidy/funding.


English speaking Singaporeans and PRs who aspire to be a hawker.

Entry Requirements:

Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident, 18 years old and above;
Minimum Secondary Education or Workplace Literacy and Numeracy [WPLN score: Level 4 for Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing and Numeracy]
All applications will be evaluated to determine their suitablity for admission into our relevant level of programmes. This is subjected to submission of the required supporting documents and the minimum enrolment to start a class.

Please note that our kitchens are designed to accommodate 24 Trainees with 3 Trainees sharing one work-station. With relaxation of Covid measures, we have reverted to conducting classes at full capacity of 24 pax.

REFUND POLICY

  • Strictly no refund allowed.
  • Only on very exceptional cases and with valid reason* (subject to management approval), we will refund 75% of paid course fee for class withdrawal. Notice must be given at least 14 calendar days before class starts. An Appeal Form must be submitted.
  • Valid reasons* with supporting documents are: -
  1. Medical
  2. Reservist
  3. Court Appearance
  4. Bereavement of immediate family (parents, in-laws, siblings, spouse & children)

FEES FORFIETURE

  • For absenteeism (class missed) with valid reason, Appeal Form must be submitted within 5 working days (from start date of the class) to appeal for make-up class with documentary proof. Otherwise, paid fees will be forfeited.
  • Course fee paid will be forfeited for absenteeism without valid reason.
  • If replacement class or make-up class & date is NOT specified in the Appeal Form, the appeal approval is only valid for 4 months or until 1 Feb, whichever is earlier. After which, the paid fee will be forfeited.
  • If student missed Day 1 of class, they will not be allowed to attend remaining sessions. Their paid fees will be forfeited if there is no reason for missing Day 1.