Grab to partner with APSN’s post-secondary special education school, APSN Delta Senior School, to ready its students with mild intellectual disability (MID) with adequate skills to succeed in the food delivery sector
(left) Stanley Tang, Chief Executive Officer, APSN and (right) Ngiam Xin Wei, Managing Director for Deliveries, Grab Singapore at the MOU signing ceremony
- The collaboration aims to provide vocational opportunities for individuals with mild intellectual disability in the food delivery space so as to become contributing members to the community
- Grab will also offer on-the-job training and full-time positions for suitable candidates within GrabKitchen, GrabMart, and GrabSupermarket.
SINGAPORE, 19 Oct 2021 – Grab Singapore announced the signing of a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with APSN, whereby Grab will partner with the social service agency’s post-secondary special education school, APSN Delta Senior School, to ready its students with mild intellectual disability (MID) with adequate skills to succeed in the food delivery sector.
The MOU was signed by Ngiam Xin Wei, Managing Director for Deliveries, Grab Singapore and Stanley Tang, Chief Executive Officer of APSN.
As part of the MOU, Grab will work with APSN to help build industry readiness among its students in the F&B and Retail sectors. Learning to effectively manage F&B operations where food delivery is a key component will be included in APSN’s existing training curriculum. Students undergoing the training will also have access to a GrabFood app experience that will be customised for them. Grab will also look at providing work attachment and employment opportunities at Grab-managed operations, including GrabKitchen, GrabMart and GrabSupermarket.
The two organisations also hope to leverage on this partnership to champion and advocate for more inclusive employment practices within the F&B and Retail sectors. The programme aims to benefit around 400 special needs students under APSN.
Ngiam Xin Wei, Managing Director for Deliveries, Grab Singapore said: “Deliveries have become a mainstay for many F&B and retail operations. We hope that our partnership with APSN can bring value to their students by offering industry-relevant vocational training and employment opportunities. Ultimately, we aspire to unlock these students’ potential to contribute to the digital economy. We also hope that through this partnership, we are able to spread the message of inclusive employment among our partners and within the community.”
Stanley Tang, Chief Executive Officer, APSN said: “APSN is constantly looking for ways to support our special needs students in their growth and learning pathways, and maximise their potential to lead dignified, fulfilling and independent lives. Our efforts are only made possible through the support of like-minded individuals and organisations that truly care and support inclusivity. Therefore, we are excited to collaborate with Grab to prepare our students for the digital economy. This strategic partnership with Grab will further expand our students’ learning and career opportunities, and enable them to stay relevant in the current job market.”
Readying APSN Students for a Digitised Marketplace
Under the partnership, Grab will:
- Integrate modules on food delivery services in APSN’s existing training curriculum: As delivery platforms offering self-pick-up and delivery services continue to increase in popularity, Grab will work closely with APSN to provide students with the necessary skill sets to securely, confidently, and successfully operate these platforms. Grab aims to incorporate relevant topics and knowledge such as delivery service, food hygiene, occupational safety, inventory management, and digital skills, in APSN’s curriculum. These would be required for diverse employment vocations in the digital F&B and retail sectors.
- Internship programmes within Grab’s operations: Grab will support the programme with on-the-job training opportunities within its own divisions, including GrabKitchen, GrabMart dark stores, and GrabSupermarket. This provides students with real-world job experiences and the opportunity to observe and learn from industry professionals.
- Building pathways into employment: Grab will collaborate with Talentvis, a leading human resource consultancy, to help students seek full-time employment following their internship, whether within the Grab business or with potential merchant-partners. Grab and APSN aim to establish a structured career advancement for the students, transitioning them smoothly from internships to permanent jobs.
GrabforGood: Uplifting communities and creating opportunities for all in the digital economy
The partnership is part of the broader GrabforGood initiative that seeks to positively impact the community it serves among three core groups – People, Partners, and the Planet. Over the years, Grab Singapore has partnered with numerous organisations to ensure that all Singaporeans, including persons with disabilities can benefit from the digital economy.
In 2019, Grab partnered with the Singapore Association for the Deaf (SADeaf) to boost deaf awareness and create earning opportunities for the community. Grab is also a proud partner of IMDA’s Seniors Go Digital campaign, an initiative of SGUnited to encourage more seniors to go digital for easier, better and safer living.
– END –
About Grab:
Grab is a leading superapp platform in Southeast Asia, providing everyday services that matter to consumers. Today, the Grab app has been downloaded onto over millions of mobile devices, giving users access to over 9 million drivers, merchants, and agents. Grab offers a wide range of on-demand services in the region, including mobility, food, package and grocery delivery services, mobile payments, and financial services across 428 cities in eight countries.
About APSN
Established in 1976, APSN is a social service agency that provides special education for the mild intellectual disability community. Benefiting over 1,200 beneficiaries each year, APSN currently operates four Special Education (SPED) Schools (APSN Chaoyang School, APSN Katong School, APSN Tanglin School and APSN Delta Senior School) for students between the ages of 7 and 21, an APSN Student Care Centre for children from 7 to 18 years old and an APSN Centre for Adults for persons from 18 years old and older.
The APSN Schools and Centres adopt a holistic approach in its curriculum, comprising academic, vocational and social skills, which are important for open employment and lifelong learning. APSN seeks to enable persons with special needs to be active contributors of the society and is committed to inspire and build capabilities of its partners and community to lead and advocate an inclusive society.
For more details about APSN’s programmes and services, visit www.apsn.org.sg. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn @sgapsn for latest updates.