New apprenticeship programme for poly grads offers roles at top firms and competitive pay

SINGAPORE – Fresh polytechnic graduates looking for a new pathway after graduation can now explore 16 new apprenticeship roles in fields like hospitality, auditing, community engagement and energy.

An 18-month apprenticeship programme, launched by social mobility charity Access Singapore on Feb 11, is opening new doors for graduates to experience on-the-job training.

They will receive monthly salaries ranging from $2,700 to $3,800, matching what a diploma holder would earn, along with medical benefits and bonuses as full-time staff.

Participants will start with two weeks of classroom training at Access to sharpen their professional skills before transitioning into their 18-month stint, after which they will be evaluated to potentially be converted into a full-time employee.

The programme is designed to provide graduates more structured learning on the job at big industry players, which include oil and gas company BP Singapore, consulting firm EY Singapore and Pontiac Land Group, which runs luxury hotels like The Ritz-Carlton and Capella.

The inaugural run of the programme will begin in July 2026. Applications are currently open to polytechnic students graduating in 2026, as well as those who graduated in the last two years.

The application window opened in January and will close in March. Sixteen vacancies are available across all disciplines, and there have been about 100 applications so far.

The launch of the programme comes after the latest Graduate Employment Survey by the five polytechnics in January, said the charity. The survey showed that 54.2 per cent of polytechnic graduates were in full-time permanent jobs six months after graduating, and took home salaries of $3,000.

Among the graduates, 28.2 per cent were in part-time or temporary employment, 4.8 per cent were freelancing, 2.3 per cent had accepted jobs and were starting later, and 0.6 per cent were taking active steps to start a business venture.

In a separate survey done by Access in 2025, which received responses from 400 polytechnic graduates with less than three years of full-time employment, 44 per cent of them expressed doubt over opportunities for career advancement in the role they were in.

The survey also found that students who pursued full-time or part-time employment upon graduation put less of a focus on career progression, compared with those who pursued a degree.

Respondents also said that peer support from colleagues, guidance on job expectations, and feedback and mentorship are some of the most helpful forms of support for transition to work, although 45 per cent said they have little to no access to mentors.

In addition, the top three biggest challenges faced when entering the workforce are adapting to workplace culture, learning new tools, systems and processes, and managing workload, deadlines and pace.

“The uncertain global economy and technological disruptions require our polytechnic graduates to stay agile and continuously adapt,” said Access founder Clarence Ching, adding that it will be hard for them to achieve upward mobility without good support and skills development.

“This signals the need for greater effort targeted at polytechnic graduates to improve social mobility, alongside clearer career pathways that account for this new reality.”

Which is why the programme hopes to provide another pathway that students can take, outside of pursuing a degree, which can still help them achieve meaningful and sustainable careers, Mr Ching said.

“We hope this will help bridge the opportunity gap and help them open doors to new possibilities for a future beyond where no one is left behind.”

During their apprenticeship, graduates will attend professional courses at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, receive complimentary LinkedIn Premium membership and coaching, as well as networking opportunities, peer programmes and bi-monthly check-ins.

The programme’s inaugural run is funded by the societal impact arm of investment firm Macquarie Group, with relevant employment costs borne by partner companies.

Speaking at the event, Ms Goh Hanyan, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth, and Sustainability and the Environment, highlighted the shifting landscape for young Singaporeans.

She noted that today’s youth are entering a job market shaped by a “post-global pandemic” context, the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence and a shifting global order.

“For many young Singaporeans, the Singapore Dream starts with having meaningful work,” Ms Goh said.

“Meaningful work these days is beyond ambition; it’s about purpose... and being in a place where the culture aligns with their values.

“Youth development must be a shared vision.”

For 19-year-old Zhuo Junhui, a cybersecurity student at Nanyang Polytechnic, the idea of an apprenticeship was not even on his radar until he discovered Access’ programme.

“I always thought apprenticeships were strictly for blue-collar industries,” he said, adding that his initial impression was earning intern-level pay and having limited responsibilities. Instead, the soon-to-be graduate was surprised to find he would be treated as a full-fledged employee in the programme.

“Getting placed with a reputable company, with a stable income, while getting support and work experience, is beneficial for us polytechnic graduates,” Mr Zhuo said.

He added that the depth of the work sets this path apart from traditional roles.

“Usually at internships, we will be treated like interns and do more menial tasks, but with this apprenticeship programme, we will be able to adjust in the workplace and develop professionally, preparing ourselves well for the workforce.”

Mr Zhuo will soon enlist for national service (NS) and hopes to maximise his time by earning various professional certifications, while at the same time serving the country. The apprenticeship programme is an option for him after NS, though his long-term goal is to pursue a degree in computer science or information security.

“The (cybersecurity) industry is quite niche, so I definitely have some anxiety,” he said. “But having this apprenticeship option on the table gives me more freedom in my choices.”