Human Development School Helps Expats In Singapore To Live Better

Focusing on self-employed entrepreneurs and their SMEs in Singapore, the ‘Expatprenuer’ Awards celebrate innovative ideas put into practice to help resident expats have better lives.

At this year’s award ceremony, SR Nathan School of Human Development lecturer Dr.Yvonne McNulty explained to the media the combination of originality, necessary criteria and intent to help expats live better which singles out winners from the entries. First of all, she said, official business registration is essential, showing taxable income and the proof of a fully foreigner-owned company. Secondly, to be considered for an award, the business must demonstrate its efforts to help citizens as well as expatriates to live better lives in Singapore. Also important is whether the business idea fills a gap in the market.

Dr. McNulty is committed to encouraging expat entrepreneurship in Singapore, focusing on letting contenders become aware of the award and the boost it can give to their efforts by recognising them in this way. One of her favourites this year is Ten Feet Tall, a business started by two expat moms to supply the previously almost unaffordable, compulsory black leather school shoes forming part of the uniform in many of the island’s international schools and retailing for as much as $200. Another of the good doctor’s personal favourites is the on-call Tekkie Help, committed to same-day service for all those who rely on tech in their business and personal lives but have absolutely no idea how it works or how to fix it.

Interestingly, Dr. McNulty’s take on how native Singaporeans view expats also tells it like it is in a number of neighbouring Southeast Asian states. The perception that all foreigners are rich, steal local jobs and live large is now a popular stereotype across a formerly welcoming region, and one which may only apply to around 20 per cent of Singapore’s expat community, or even fewer. She believes this perception will change with the understanding that more unites the Singaporean communities than divides them.