Hawkers' Development Programme (HDP)
The Hawkers' Development Programme (HDP) is jointly developed by the National Environment Agency (NEA) and SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) to equip aspiring and existing hawkers with the relevant skills and competencies to run their hawker businesses. The programme also encourages hawkers to take advantage of social media platforms to market their business effectively. The programme represents a key initiative under NEA's broader hawker management strategy, which aims to sustain and develop Singapore's hawker culture — inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It addresses the aging hawker population and the need to attract new entrants to the trade.
Eligibility Criteria
- 01
Open to aspiring and existing hawkers in Singapore
- 02
Experienced hawkers can participate as Hawker Mentors
How to Apply
For aspiring hawkers: Details on next course run to be announced (FAQs being refreshed) For Hawker Mentors: Register interest at https://go.gov.sg/hdp-mentor
Claims and Disbursement
Training allowances are paid upon completion of each stage: Stage 1 & 2 allowances are paid together at the end of Stage 2; Stage 3 allowance is paid upon completion of Stage 3. Minimum 75% attendance and meeting learning outcomes are required.
Frequently Asked Questions
The full course fee is $2,300. With the 70% SSG subsidy, Singaporeans and PRs pay approximately $690 (+ GST). Singaporeans aged 40 and above can receive an additional 20% Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy, reducing the cost to approximately $230 (+ GST). SkillsFuture Credits can also be used.
Stage 1 (Training): up to $50/day. Stage 2 (Apprenticeship): up to $1,000/month. Stage 3 (Incubation): up to $1,000/month. Stage 1 and 2 allowances are paid together at the end of Stage 2. Minimum 75% attendance is required.
No. The HDP is not compulsory for applying to NEA's Incubation Stall Programme. You can also qualify via ITE's 'Introduction to Managing a Hawker Business' course or tertiary business management courses.
Yes, but existing hawkers are only eligible for Stage 1 (Training) — the 5-day course covering business and culinary fundamentals. Stages 2 and 3 are reserved for aspiring hawkers.
Experienced hawkers interested in mentoring can register at https://go.gov.sg/hdp-mentor. Hawker mentors receive up to $500/month during Stages 2 and 3 of the programme.
Related Grants
Professional Capability Grant (PCG) — Sabbatical Leave Scheme
NCSS
Salary support of up to $15,000 for 10 weeks of paid leave
The Sabbatical Leave Scheme offers social service professionals 10 weeks of paid leave with salary support of up to $15,000. Available for Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Speech Therapists, Psychologists, Counsellors, and EIPIC teachers. After completing the sabbatical, recipients may be asked to mentor junior professionals and must conduct a sharing session and submit a written report.
SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme
SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG)
Up to 90% course fee subsidy + $4,000 SkillsFuture Credit (Mid-Career) + Training allowance up to $3,000/month (full-time) or $300/month (part-time)
The SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme helps mid-career Singapore Citizens aged 40 years and above pursue a substantive skills reboot and adapt to a changing economy through enhanced course fee support and training allowance. It is designed to provide comprehensive support for individuals looking to deepen skills in their current career or reskill for new opportunities. The programme combines two key components: increased course fee subsidies (Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy and SkillsFuture Credit Mid-Career tier) and financial support for long-form training (SkillsFuture Mid-Career Training Allowance). This holistic approach addresses both the cost barriers and income loss concerns that mid-career individuals face when pursuing substantial skills upgrading.
SkillsFuture Credit (SFC)
SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG)
Base Tier: $500 (no expiry), Mid-Career Tier: $4,000 (no expiry)
SkillsFuture Credit helps Singaporeans offset course fees for eligible courses that support skills development and lifelong learning to be future-ready and relevant. It is a personal credit for individuals (not employers) and is available to all Singapore Citizens aged 25 and above. The credit can be used on top of existing government course subsidies. There are two tiers of SkillsFuture Credit: a Base Tier for all Singapore Citizens aged 25 and above ($500), and a Mid-Career Tier for Singapore Citizens aged 40 and above ($4,000). The Base Tier credit can be used for all courses listed on the MySkillsFuture portal, while the Mid-Career Tier credit can be used for selected courses with better employability outcomes. Neither tier has an expiry date.
Workfare Skills Support (WSS) Scheme
Workforce Singapore
Training Allowance: $6/hour (cap 180 hours). Training Commitment Award: up to $1,000/year. Absentee Payroll: 95% of hourly basic salary (cap $13/hour). WSS Level-Up TA: up to $1,500/month (ages 30-39) or $3,000/month (ages 40+)
The Workfare Skills Support Scheme (WSS) provides additional support for lower-income workers to upgrade their skills and improve their employability. NOTE: Specific programme details are not readily available. This programme may be part of the broader Workfare initiative and could be affected by workforce transformation changes.
Hawkers' Productivity Grant (HPG)
National Environment Agency
Up to 80% of equipment unit cost (excluding GST), capped at $7,000 per stallholder
The Hawkers' Productivity Grant (HPG) is a targeted funding programme designed to help cooked food stallholders at NEA-managed or NEA-appointed-operator-managed hawker centres improve their operational efficiency. The grant subsidises the purchase of automation equipment and digital services solutions that help hawkers achieve higher productivity in food preparation and service delivery. The HPG recognises that many hawker stallholders are small operators who may not have the capital to invest in productivity-enhancing equipment. By covering up to 80% of equipment costs, the grant lowers the barrier to adoption of automation and digital tools. ⚠️ URGENT: 31 March 2026 is the last day to apply.
SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme (SCTP)
SkillsFuture Singapore
Up to 95% course fee funding for eligible jobseekers, up to 90% for other eligible trainees. Can be combined with SkillsFuture Credit.
The SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme (SCTP) supports mid-career individuals in acquiring industry-relevant skills to improve employability and pivot to new sectors or job roles. This train-and-place programme is available in part-time or full-time format, typically ranging from three to 12 months, and is delivered by Continuing Education and Training (CET) Centres with employment facilitation services. Courses under the SCTP have been progressively launched since April 2022, with a target to have at least 200 SCTP courses by 2025. The programme focuses on sectors with good hiring opportunities such as Infocomm and Technology, Professional Services, and Advanced Manufacturing. It operates on a train-and-place modality with career advisory and employment assistance.