Date Published: 13 Sep 2008
 
Green Thumbs, an annual event to showcase the skill sets of Singapore's landscape industry, has expanded in scope and depth this year. For the first time, seven overseas landscape practitioners from Hong Kong will be coming to Singapore to participate in the Singapore Tree Climbing Championships. The number of Skills Championships has also increased from seven to 10 this year, featuring a wider range of skills in the landscape workforce.

2. Jointly organised by the National Parks Board (NParks), National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), Singapore Landscape Industry Council (SLIC), and Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA), Green Thumbs 2008 was held at East Coast Park, Singapore's most popular park, to further raise awareness of the local landscape industry among the public.

3. Officiating at the event, Ms Grace Fu, Senior Minister of State for National Development and Education, said: "Since its launch in 2006, Green Thumbs has evolved into a milestone event on the Singapore landscape industry calendar. More than just an event to showcase the skill sets of the landscape workforce, it is also an occasion to celebrate how the industry has successfully grown and transformed over the years to meet the challenges of our Garden City. Today, our landscape industry is worth some $1.1 billion and employs around 21,000 people. With major projects such as the Gardens by the Bay and the Integrated Resorts, and our commitment to provide more green spaces for Singaporeans, the industry will continue to grow in the coming years. Indeed, we want to create a thriving, vibrant and professional landscape industry that can support our vision of making Singapore a City in a Garden."

Green Carnival to reach out to the Community
4. Also for the first time this year, a Green Carnival has been organised for families and park visitors so that they can also participate in the event's festivities. It comprises the G1 Mowers Novelty Race (G for Green Thumbs), in public anticipation for the F1 Singapore Grand Prix later this month, and a Landscape Novelty Race where participants pit their knowledge on greenery against each other. The tree climbing experience for public, a popular feature in last year's Green Thumbs, will also be back this year.

5. Mr Ng Lang, Chief Executive Officer of NParks, said: "The tree climbing experience for the public during Green Thumbs last year was very well-received. This year, we want to reach out further to the man-on-the street. Through these fun and interesting activities, I hope this will increase public awareness of Singapore's landscape industry and to appreciate its efforts in developing Singapore into a City in A Garden."

Floristry WSQ presents workers with a skills advancement pathway
6. In conjunction with Green Thumbs, Ms Fu launched the Floristry Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) System, developed by WDA in partnership with the floristry business community. The Floristry WSQ is expected to benefit about 3,000 floristry in-employment workers and facilitate anyone seeking to make a career switch to this sector. The prospects for the floristry sector, a key component of the landscape industry, are bright with growth expected at an average rate of 5.5% annually to reach a worth of about $245 million in 2014[1].

7. The Floristry WSQ framework comprises four qualifications of Certificate, Higher Certificate, Advance Certificate and Diploma to provide skills training for entry level as Floral Assistants and progression to Florist, Floral Supervisor and Floral Manager. The first batch of 10 graduates received their WSQ Certificate in Floristry Operations from Ms Fu today.

8. Mr Ong Ye Kung, Chief Executive of WDA said: "WDA is promoting the idea of learning for life, and advancing with skills. Floristry WSQ is the latest addition to our CET system, and will open another pathway for workers who have an interest in flowers and plants, to pursue a career in their area of interest. Tropifame Floral Design School, CreativeWorkz by FarEastFlora.com, June Floral Art School and Nobleman School of Floral Design will be providing the programmes and trainees will be able to pick up floristry skills, learn how to tender to a garden, and become a professional floristry worker."

New 'Best Sourcing Initiative' Award to enhance service quality
9. As part of efforts to enhance the landscape industry's standards and service quality, NParks championed the Best Sourcing Initiative (BSI) in 2005, in partnership with NTUC. This requires landscape service providers to be efficient, innovative and early-adopters of best work practices and technology to meet contracts' expected performance standards. The contract also stipulates industry standards such as employment of WSQ and professionally certified workers, and the use of machinery and technology, and innovative work practices.

10. In an effort to recognise landscape service providers who had participated in BSI, NParks and NTUC will be giving out the BSI Award' to firms which have provided the best value-for-money and quality service to its customers. It will also acknowledge those who have proactively put in place a culture of lifelong learning to encourage its employees to retrain and pick up new skills so that productivity can be raised at work. Up to five BSI awards will be presented. Nomination forms are available from www.cuge.com.sg and the closing date is 13 November 2008.
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[1] Source: Synovate Business Consulting, Synovate Interviews and Analysis, 23 May 2006

New Best Sourcing Initiative' Award to enhance service quality
11. As part of efforts to enhance the landscape industry's standards and service quality, NParks championed the Best Sourcing Initiative (BSI) in 2005, in partnership with NTUC. This requires landscape service providers to be efficient, innovative and early-adopters of best work practices and technology to meet contracts' expected performance standards. The contract also stipulates industry standards such as employment of WSQ and professionally certified workers, and the use of machinery and technology, and innovative work practices.
In an effort to recognise landscape service providers who had participated in BSI, NParks and NTUC will be giving out the BSI Award' to firms which have provided the best value-for-money and quality service to its customers. It will also acknowledge those who have proactively put in place a culture of lifelong learning to encourage its employees to retrain and pick up new skills so that productivity can be raised at work. Up to five BSI awards will be presented. Nomination forms are available from www.cuge.com.sg and the closing date is 13 November 2008.

Job matching opportunities for those keen to join industry
12. Also at Green Thumbs are job matching opportunities through the CUGE Career Centre. Set up in April 2007, it works with NTUC, WDA, the Community Development Councils to provide training and career advisory services, as well information on job opportunities to Singaporeans and existing landscape workers. To date, about 1,500 Singaporeans have found jobs in the industry at various levels. There would be 80 job openings by 11 companies available for interested job seekers at Green Thumbs 2008.