NTUC CTC Grant Guide: Workforce Transformation and Business Capability Funding

The NTUC Company Training Committee Grant, commonly known as the CTC Grant, supports Singapore-based organisations that want to pursue business transformation while improving outcomes for local workers.

Unlike grants that focus only on equipment, software or consultancy costs, the CTC Grant is designed around a dual objective: helping companies transform their business while ensuring that workers benefit through better wages, skills, job redesign or structured career development.

For companies planning automation, digitalisation, productivity improvement, workforce upgrading or operational transformation projects, the CTC Grant can be an important funding pathway to consider. As per March 2026, the Government topped-up the grant by around $200 million and extend funding support from 2026 to 2028.

What Is the NTUC CTC Grant?

The CTC Grant is administered by NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute, or e2i. It supports entities that have formed a Company Training Committee with NTUC or their union.

A CTC is a platform where management and worker representatives work together to identify transformation needs, training plans and worker outcomes. The grant then supports qualifying projects that help the company raise productivity, redesign jobs and improve work prospects for local workers.

In practical terms, the grant is not just asking: “What does the company want to buy or implement?”

It is also asking: “How will this transformation benefit Singaporean and PR workers?”

What Types of Projects Can the CTC Grant Support?

The CTC Grant may be relevant for projects involving:

• automation and equipment adoption;

• software and digital systems;

• process redesign;

• workflow optimisation;

• consultancy projects tied to transformation;

• job redesign;

• workforce training;

• structured career development plans;

• business transformation initiatives linked to worker outcomes.

The common thread is that the project should improve both business capability and worker outcomes.

For example, a company implementing automation may need to show how the project improves productivity, changes job scopes, upgrades worker skills and leads to better wages or progression pathways.

Support Level

The CTC Grant can support up to 70% of qualifying project costs, subject to eligibility, project scope and assessment.

Qualifying costs may include items such as equipment, software, consultancy services and training components where they are tied to the approved transformation project.

Companies should not treat the support level as automatic. The actual support depends on the proposed project, the strength of the business transformation case, the quality of worker outcomes and the completeness of supporting documents.

Who Can Apply?

The grant is generally intended for entities that are legally registered or incorporated in Singapore and have formed a Company Training Committee.

Eligible organisations may include companies, societies, charities, social service agencies, autonomous universities, restructured hospitals and social enterprises.

Government bodies, statutory boards, organs of state and wholly owned subsidiaries of government bodies are generally excluded.

For non-unionised companies, the company would typically need to work with NTUC to form a CTC before applying.

Worker Outcomes Matter

A key feature of the CTC Grant is its emphasis on local worker outcomes.

Projects should benefit Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents. Worker outcomes may include:

• wage increases;

• skills allowances;

• one-time allowances;

• career development plans;

• structured skills upgrading;

• improved job roles or progression pathways.

This is where many companies underestimate the grant.

It is not enough to say that the company wants to buy equipment or implement software. The company must show how the transformation connects to workers, jobs, skills and productivity.

Common Project Examples

Based on how the CTC Grant is typically used, suitable projects may include:

Automation and Equipment Projects

A food manufacturer may implement automated equipment to reduce manual work, increase output and redesign production roles. Workers may be trained to operate, monitor and maintain the new system, with committed wage increases or career progression outcomes.

Digitalisation Projects

A logistics or services company may replace manual tracking, reporting or scheduling processes with a cloud-based system. The project may improve coordination, reduce errors and prepare staff for more digitalised roles.

Consultancy and Roadmapping Projects

A company may engage consultants to review operations, redesign workflows or develop a transformation roadmap. Even if the consultancy does not immediately include a large implementation budget, the company still needs to show how the work leads to business transformation and worker outcomes.

Training-Linked Transformation Projects

A company may introduce new training programmes to support changes in job roles, technology adoption or process redesign. The training should be linked to the transformation plan rather than treated as standalone training.

What Makes a Strong CTC Grant Project?

A stronger CTC Grant project usually has five elements.

First, the business problem is clear. The company can explain what operational, productivity, manpower or growth challenge it is trying to solve.

Second, the transformation plan is specific. The project scope, timeline, costs, implementation steps and expected improvements are properly laid out.

Third, the worker impact is credible. The company can show which local workers will benefit and how their roles, wages, skills or career pathways will improve.

Fourth, the project budget is properly supported. Quotations, vendor information, cost breakdowns and implementation details should be ready.

Fifth, the company has management commitment. The CTC process requires proper coordination between management, worker representatives and NTUC or union stakeholders.

Common Issues Companies Should Watch Out For

Companies considering the CTC Grant should be careful about several issues.

Starting Too Early

Companies should avoid committing costs, signing vendors or starting the project before the funding pathway is properly assessed. Premature commitments may create eligibility or timing issues.

Weak Worker Outcomes

A project may be commercially useful but still weak from a CTC Grant perspective if worker outcomes are unclear, too limited or poorly documented.

Treating the Grant Like a Generic Equipment Subsidy

The CTC Grant is not merely a subsidy for buying equipment or software. It is a transformation grant with a strong workforce component.

Underestimating Documentation

Companies should be ready to document project scope, vendor costs, implementation milestones, training plans, worker outcomes and post-implementation evidence.

Lack of Internal Alignment

The CTC process requires internal coordination. Finance, HR, operations, management and worker representatives may all need to be involved.

Application and Claims Considerations

The CTC Grant is generally reimbursement-based. This means companies need to implement the approved project and meet committed outcomes before receiving reimbursement.

After approval, companies should pay close attention to:

• the Letter of Award conditions;

• accepted project scope;

• approved cost items;

• implementation timeline;

• worker outcome commitments;

• progress reporting;

• claims submission deadline;

• supporting documents required for reimbursement.

Claims can become difficult if the company does not maintain proper evidence during implementation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can foreign-owned companies apply?

Foreign ownership does not automatically disqualify a company. The key issue is whether the applicant is legally registered or incorporated in Singapore and meets the relevant CTC Grant requirements.

Does the company need to be unionised?

No. Non-unionised companies may work with NTUC to form a Company Training Committee.

Can the grant support software?

Yes, software may be supportable if it is part of a qualifying transformation project and tied to business and workforce outcomes.

Can the grant support consultancy?

Yes, consultancy costs may be supportable where they are clearly linked to business transformation and worker outcomes.

Is training alone enough?

Training should generally be tied to a broader transformation project. The grant is not meant to be treated as a standalone training subsidy without a business transformation context.

What worker outcomes are usually expected?

Worker outcomes may include wage increases, skills allowances, structured career development plans, training-linked progression or other improvements in work prospects for local workers.

How RIC Helps Companies Assess CTC Grant Fit

RIC helps companies assess whether a proposed project is suitable for the CTC Grant and how it should be structured before application.

This may include reviewing the company’s transformation objective, project scope, costs, implementation timeline, workforce impact, local worker outcomes, CTC formation requirements and claims documentation needs.

For companies planning automation, digitalisation, process improvement, training-linked transformation or job redesign, RIC can help translate the business plan into a clearer grant-ready project structure.

Note on Grant Information

Grant schemes, eligibility criteria, support levels and application requirements may change over time. Companies should refer to official NTUC and e2i sources for the latest programme details.

RIC assesses funding fit based on the latest programme requirements and each company’s actual project context.

Speak With RIC

Planning a workforce transformation, automation, digitalisation or productivity improvement project?

Share your company profile, project objective, estimated budget and timeline. RIC can help assess whether the CTC Grant or another funding pathway may be suitable.