The SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC) is one of Singapore’s longest-running employer-side training grants — designed to make sure SMEs that contribute to the Skills Development Levy (SDL) actually use it for workforce upskilling. With Budget 2024 introducing a top-up of up to S$10,000 per eligible employer and a 2026 expiry on existing balances, this is a credit to use, not save.
What is SFEC?
SFEC is administered by Enterprise Singapore in partnership with SkillsFuture Singapore. Eligible employers receive a one-off S$10,000 credit, which can be used to defray up to 90% of out-of-pocket costs for over 30 supportable schemes covering training and business transformation.
The credit sits on top of the base subsidies already provided by schemes like the Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG), the Enterprise Development Grant (EDG) and the Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) grant. SFEC reimburses the employer’s residual share after the base grant has been applied.
Eligibility
To qualify for SFEC, a Singapore-registered employer must, in any one of the qualifying periods, have:
- Contributed at least S$750 in Skills Development Levy (SDL); and
- Employed at least three Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents for every month of the qualifying period; and
- Not been on Enterprise Singapore’s exclusion list (e.g. for serious compliance breaches).
Eligibility is automatic — Enterprise Singapore notifies qualifying employers by letter or via the Business Grants Portal. There is no application form to submit at the credit-grant stage.
Supportable schemes
SFEC can defray costs under more than 30 schemes administered by Enterprise Singapore, SkillsFuture Singapore, Workforce Singapore and IMDA. Common ones include:
- SkillsFuture Singapore-funded courses;
- SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme;
- Job Redesign under Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG-JR);
- Career Conversion Programmes;
- Enterprise Development Grant (EDG) — Human Capital Development pillar;
- Workfare Skills Support training programmes.
How to claim
The mechanics differ depending on the underlying scheme, but the general flow is:
Step 1 — Confirm credit balance
Log into the Business Grants Portal with CorpPass and check your SFEC balance. Eligible employers will see the credit issued automatically.
Step 2 — Apply for the underlying scheme
Submit an application for the base scheme (PSG, EDG, SCTP, etc.) through the Business Grants Portal. When the supplier or trainer raises the invoice and you have paid the out-of-pocket share, the SFEC claim opens.
Step 3 — Submit the SFEC claim
Within the claim window (typically 6 months from project completion), upload the invoice, proof of payment and any supporting documents. Reimbursement is paid directly into your registered corporate bank account.
Recent updates
The 2024 Budget introduced an additional S$10,000 top-up to existing SFEC accounts. The credit must be claimed by 30 June 2026 — unutilised balances will be forfeited. Employers who have not used their credit should plan a training calendar now and lock in supplier engagements before the deadline.
Common mistakes
- Missing the SDL threshold: Companies that pay levies in lump sums for foreign workers (FWL) sometimes assume that counts towards SDL. It does not.
- Forgetting the 3-employee headcount: Sole-director companies are excluded.
- Letting the claim window lapse: SFEC reimbursement is on a claim basis — Enterprise Singapore will not push the money out automatically.
- Mistiming the SDL year: Eligibility is measured over a specific qualifying period (typically the 12 months ending in a prescribed reference month). Newly incorporated companies should track this closely.
Stacking SFEC with other grants
SFEC is designed to stack on top of base subsidies. For example, if PSG covers 50% of an HR software purchase, the employer pays the remaining 50% — and SFEC then reimburses up to 90% of that 50% share, capped at the SFEC balance.
For a wider view of how Singapore grants stack, see our companion guide on claims, compliance and audit after a Singapore grant is approved.
How RCS can help
Raffles Corporate Services advises eligible employers on SFEC planning, supplier selection, claim submission and audit-ready documentation. We work with a panel of vetted Pre-Approved Solution providers across HR, accounting and digital marketing.
— The Editorial Team, Raffles Corporate Services