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Business Times
a day ago
- Business
- Business Times
Nassim Hill origins, Michelin-starred alumni: Shatec over the years
[SINGAPORE] With alumni ranging from Jimmy Lim – the first Singaporean to earn three Michelin stars – to Far East Hospitality CEO Arthur Kiong, long-established hospitality institute Shatec has taught 40,000 students since its founding in 1983. But the school is now scaling down its operations, shutting its Orchard satellite campus – barely a year-and-a-half since it opened – and putting up its main Bukit Batok campus for sale. The Business Times traces the history of the region's first dedicated hospitality school. Jul 2, 1983: The Singapore Hotel Association establishes the Singapore Hotel Association Training and Education Centre (Shatec) at 24 Nassim Hill, with the official opening attended by Minister of State for Education Tay Eng Soon. The school is set up with grants from the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board and support from the Singapore Development Federation and National Productivity Board. It aims to train new hospitality talent and upskill industry professionals. Its initial courses were developed in collaboration with Swiss hospitality school Ecole hoteliere de Lausanne. 1990: Plans to incorporate industry training schools, such as Shatec, under Temasek Polytechnic – which is being built – are 'being shelved, but not dropped altogether', says Dr Tay, who is now senior minister of state for education. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up April 1990: Shatec announces plans to grow its capacity to 4,000 training places in the next five years, up from the current 1,300; and its full-time student population to 1,500, from 500. June 1990: The institute launches Singapore's first diploma course in tourism. 1992: Shatec wins the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board's Outstanding Contribution to Tourism award. 1993: Shatec launches plans to train and certify part-timers to tackle manpower crunch. 1993-1994: The school opens a campus in Mount Sophia, after Methodist Girls' School moves out of the space in 1993. 1999: Shatec wins Tourism Host of the Year in the hotel category of the Singapore Tourism Awards. 2000-2001: The institute moves out of its Nassim Hill and Mount Sophia locations, and into a new campus in Bukit Batok. 2004: Shatec launches a new College of Culinary Arts, and introduces a new event-catering course alongside its existing diploma in culinary skills and diploma in pastry and baking. April 2004: The World Gourmet Summit recognises Shatec as Culinary Institution of the Year. 2004: Shatec gains the Singapore Quality Class for Private Education Organisations accreditation. 2006: It attains Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) accreditation from the Workforce Development Agency, which came before SkillsFuture Singapore. 2008: Shatec rebrands itself as Shatec Institutes, and establishes seven new institutes: Institute for Hosting; Institute of Leisure & Tourism; Institute of Lodging; Institute of Restaurants & Bars; Institute of Wines & Spirits; Institute of Culinary Arts; and Institute of Pastry & Baking. 2009: It becomes the first Asian institution to be inducted into the World Gourmet Summit's Hall of Fame, for winning the Culinary Institution of the Year award for four consecutive years. 2012: SkillsFuture Singapore appoints Shatec as a continuing education and training (CET) centre for the tourism and food and beverage industries, with funding available for up to 90 per cent of the fees for WSQ programmes. The institute also opens a new city-centre venue in Middle Road, offering part-time and skills-upgrading courses. 2014: Shatec signs agreements to formalise collaborations with overseas schools Meiho University and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University's School of Hotel and Tourism Management. Jan 15, 2024: The institute opens a satellite campus in the Singapore Tourism Board's (STB) Tourism Court building in the Orchard area. 2024: Supported by Enterprise Singapore, STB and the Saudi Arabian government, Shatec sets up its first overseas school in Riyadh. This is under a licence agreement with Modern Hospitality Company, a joint venture by Saudi companies that will fund and run the school. August 2024: Shatec announces its pivot from pre-employment training to CET, to refocus on mid-career training and reskilling. January 2025: A new management team takes over. March 2025: The Sapling, a training restaurant for Shatec students, shutters its doors as the school 'transitions away from full-time programmes'. Apr 1, 2025: Shatec begins 'a business containment exercise' that involves the scaling down of operations and the retrenchment of 42 staff members. May 2025: CBRE puts Shatec's Bukit Batok campus up for sale, with an approximate value of S$18 million. End-June 2025: Shatec closes its Orchard campus.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Hospitality school Shatec cuts jobs amid corporate downsizing
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Shatec has retrenched 42 staff while it reviews its long-term plans. SINGAPORE – Uncertainty surrounds the future of hospitality training school Shatec after 42 staff members were retrenched on July 3. The layoffs come after the school closed its training restaurant,The Sapling, in March and put its building at 21 Bukit Batok Street 22 on the market for around $18 million in May. Shatec declined to respond to The Straits Times queries about the roles of staff who have been dismissed or the remaining strength of its workforce. The Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union (FDAWU) said it has been working with Shatec to assist affected staff and secure fair compensation packages in line with its collective agreement with the school. The union is also connecting workers to NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute for job matching services, career coaching and skills upgrading advice. The job cuts announced on July 3 follow a 'business containment exercise' that involved a 'scaling down of operations while reviewing its long-term plans', said Shatec and the FDAWU in a joint statement. 'This decision ... will allow Shatec to strategise its future direction,' the July 3 statement noted. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Trump says countries to start paying tariffs on Aug 1, floats range of 10% to 70% Singapore Sengkang murder: Man accused of killing elderly mother escorted back to crime scene Singapore Tourism bump from Lady Gaga concerts raked in up to estimated $150m for Singapore economy Singapore Jail for man who recruited 2 Japanese women for prostitution at MBS Asia Malaysia dismantles ISIS network involving workers from Bangladesh Asia Manila's mayor returns to office to face mountains of rubbish Asia Chinese national missing in Thailand rescued, embassy warns of shady job offers Business Central banks tweak US dollar reserves, with euro and gold gaining ground: UBS survey Shatec added that it will continue to run its continuing education and training (CET) programmes, while focusing on teaching the last batch of its pre-employment training (PET) students, a process that will extend into early 2026. The SHA, which represents 167 Singapore hotel members, noted in August 2024 that Shatec would move from PET to focus mainly on CET. The school received its last intake of PET students in September 2024. Shatec chairman Loh Lik Peng said on July 4 that it is still in the 'early stages' of reviewing its long-term plans, which includes the sale of its building. 'As the review is still ongoing, we are unable to provide further comments,' he added. Shatec was launched by the Singapore Hotel Association (SHA) in 1983, a time when a solid pipeline of professionals was needed to support Singapore's growing popularity as a travel destination. The school, which provides courses in Singapore and across the Asia-Pacific region, has trained around 40,000 people in the hospitality sector over the years. A LinkedIn user who studied at Shatec said he often reminisces about dining at training restaurants such as Petals and Rosette. He noted on July 2: 'The quality of service depended on your luck and the food was hit and miss. They were training restaurants helmed by Shatec trainees after all. But there was a charm about it.' Another LinkedIn user noted that studying at Shatec was the dream of people looking to enter the hospitality sector. 'I've also dined at their student-run restaurants, where learners cooked, served and practiced their craft with pride and heart. You could taste the effort, feel the service,' she added.
Business Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
Shatec building sale part of asset management strategy, amid long-term plan reviews
[SINGAPORE] The sale of Shatec's Bukit Batok building is part of the hospitality school's asset management strategy, with the institute 'currently in the early stages of reviewing its long-term plans', said board chairman Loh Lik Peng in response to queries from The Business Times. But he did not address a query on whether Shatec is gradually closing, or whether its first overseas institute in Saudi Arabia is affected. 'As the review is still ongoing, we are unable to provide further comments,' Loh said. In a joint media statement on Thursday (Jul 3) night, Shatec and the Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union (FDAWU) said the hospitality school is 'conducting a business containment exercise'. This exercise, which took effect from Apr 1, resulted in a scaling down of operations while reviewing Shatec's long-term plans, said Loh and FDAWU general secretary Sankaradass S Chami. Shatec will continue its committed continuing education and training runs. It will teach its 'last batch' of pre-employment training students until March 2026 or the committed end date, whichever comes later. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am SGSME Get updates on Singapore's SME community, along with profiles, news and tips. Sign Up Sign Up 'This decision, made by the Shatec board after careful consideration and thorough evaluation of its current operations' commercial viability, will allow Shatec to strategise its future direction,' said the statement. The Sapling, which Shatec operated as a training restaurant for its students, closed in March this year. On its website, Shatec said the move was made as the institute 'transitions away from full-time programmes'. Its building at 21 Bukit Batok Street 22 was put up for sale in May by CBRE, the exclusive marketing agent. It was priced at around S$18 million, with the sale to be conducted via private treaty. A satellite campus in Orchard Road, opened in January 2024, reportedly closed at the end of June 2025. 42 staff affected The school is unionised under FDAWU, which is affiliated with the National Trades Union Congress. Shatec gave the union advance notice of the exercise, which saw 42 staff retrenched. The union has been working with management to assist these staff and ensure fair compensation, in line with unionised norms, said the statement. Previously known as the Singapore Hotel Association Training and Education Centre, Shatec was set up in 1983 by the Singapore Hotel Association (SHA) to develop a talent pipeline for the hospitality industry. It offers courses in hospitality, tourism and culinary arts. In response to queries about Shatec's potential closure, SHA referred BT to Loh's official statement. Bukit Batok building, Saudi Arabia institute According to CBRE, Shatec's Bukit Batok building sits on a 40,901-square-foot (sq ft) land plot with a lease tenure until 2051. The property has a gross floor area of around 64,548 sq ft. The site is designated 'Business 1' in the Master Plan 2019. With a plot ratio of 2.5, it allows a built-up area of about 102,253 sq ft, 'offering substantial redevelopment potential', CBRE said in May. 'The property is well-built to support light manufacturing and production usage, as well as regional (research and development) offices,' it added. In March 2024, Shatec announced that it was opening its first overseas institute in Riyadh, with classes to begin in the second half of the year. This was supported by Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG), the Singapore Tourism Board and the Saudi Arabian government. With the support of an EnterpriseSG grant, Shatec signed a licence agreement with Modern Hospitality Company, a joint venture by Saudi companies that would fund and run the school.
Business Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
Sale of building is part of ‘asset management strategy' as Shatec reviews long-term plans
[SINGAPORE] The sale of Shatec's Bukit Batok building is part of its asset management strategy, with the hospitality school 'currently in the early stages of reviewing its long-term plans', said board chairman Loh Lik Peng in response to queries from The Business Times. But he did not address a query on whether Shatec is gradually closing, nor whether Shatec's first overseas institute in Saudi Arabia is affected. Said Loh: 'As the review is still ongoing, we are unable to provide further comments.' In a joint media statement on Thursday (Jul 3) night, Shatec and the Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union (FDAWU) said the hospitality school is 'conducting a business containment exercise'. This exercise, which took effect from Apr 1, resulted in a scaling down of operations while reviewing its long-term plans, said Loh and FDAWU general secretary Sankaradass S Chami. Shatec will continue its committed continuing education and training runs. It will teach its 'last batch' of pre-employment training students until March 2026 or until the committed end date, whichever comes later. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am SGSME Get updates on Singapore's SME community, along with profiles, news and tips. Sign Up Sign Up 'This decision, made by the Shatec board after careful consideration and thorough evaluation of its current operation's commercial viability, will allow Shatec to strategise its future direction,' said the statement. The Sapling restaurant, which Shatec operated as a training restaurant for its students, closed in March this year. On its website, Shatec said the move was made as the institute 'transitions away from full-time programmes'. Shatec's building at 21 Bukit Batok Street 22 was put up for sale in May by CBRE, the exclusive marketing agent. It was priced at approximately S$18 million, with the sale to be conducted via private treaty. A satellite campus in Orchard Road, opened in January 2024, reportedly closed at the end of June 2025. 42 staff affected The school is unionised under National Unions Trade Congress-affiliated FDAWU. Shatec gave the union advance notice of the exercise, which affects 42 staff. The union has been working with management to assist these staff and ensure fair compensation, in line with unionised norms, said the statement. Previously known as the Singapore Hotel Association Training and Education Centre, Shatec was set up in 1983 by the Singapore Hotel Association (SHA) to develop a talent pipeline for the hospitality industry. It offers courses in hospitality, tourism and culinary arts. In response to queries about Shatec's potential closure, SHA referred BT to Loh's official statement. Bukit Batok building, Saudi Arabia institute According to CBRE, Shatec's Bukit Batok building sits on a land plot of about 40,901 square feet with a lease tenure until 2051. The property has a gross floor area of approximately 64,548 square feet. The site is designated 'Business 1' in the Master Plan 2019. With a plot ratio of 2.5, it allows a built-up area of approximately 102,253 square feet, 'offering substantial redevelopment potential', said CBRE in May. 'The property is well-built to support light manufacturing and production usage, as well as regional R&D offices,' it added. In March 2024, Shatec announced that it was opening its first overseas institute in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with classes to begin in the second half of the year. This was supported by Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG), the Singapore Tourism Board and the Saudi Arabian government. With the support of an EnterpriseSG grant, Shatec signed a licence agreement with Modern Hospitality Company, a joint venture by Saudi companies that would fund and run the school.
AsiaOne
3 days ago
- Business
- AsiaOne
Daily roundup: Car detailing shop admits using ChatGPT to write fake 5-star reviews on sgCarMart — and other top stories today, World News
Stay in the know with a recap of our top stories today. 1. Car detailing shop admits using ChatGPT to write fake 5-star reviews on sgCarMart The owner of a local automotive detailer has admitted to generating fake five-star customer reviews and posting them on its business page on popular online car platform sgCarMart for the last two years. This comes after the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) launched an investigation into Lambency Detailing in January, following a customer complaint regarding unauthorised reviews using her name... » READ MORE 2. 'I learnt my lesson': Jackson Wang recounts losing '30% to 40%' of income after lending money to someone Jackson Wang's popularity stems not just from his good looks and talent, but also his kindheartedness, which has often captured the hearts of his fans worldwide. But it seems that his good nature has also resulted in him losing a large sum of money... » READ MORE 3. Craving the king of fruit? These places have all-you-can-eat durian buffets Durian season is upon us, which means that it's the best time to indulge in the king of fruit. If you want to enjoy some free-flow durian, several restaurants and supermarkets are offering all-you-can-eat buffets for not just the fruit, but unique durian dishes too like Durian Chicken Soup and Sambal Durian Roasted Chicken... » READ MORE 4. 'Cracks in the wall': Shatec reportedly closing down amid operational difficulties Shatec, a hospitality and tourism training institute in Singapore, is reportedly shutting down after more than 40 years of operation, due to operational difficulties. Chinese publication Shin Min Daily News reported that real estate firm CBRE has been appointed as the exclusive marketing agent for Shatec's main campus building at Bukit Batok Street 22... » READ MORE editor@
