Despite being a small little red dot amongst other giants in South East Asia, Singapore has established itself as a core player for trade and business. With the myriad of benefits of starting a business in Singapore from attractive tax rates, world-class infrastructure and a strong pool of local talent, Singapore definitely catches the eye for foreign investments.

However, with the vast number of international businesses setting up base in Singapore, the hunt for the right talent to hire becomes highly competitive. Especially now when the pandemic is under control, business is picking up again and many companies are looking to hire. A recent research published by The Straits Times has identified the top 200 best companies to work for in Singapore based on a scoring system. Scored were given to companies to work for based on the following:

1) Willingness of current employees to recommend their company to friends and family
2) Salary
3) Work-life balance
4) Growth opportunities
5) Working culture & environment
6) Reputation of the company

Based on these points, companies are scored on a scale of 0 to 10 and ranked.
We’ve picked up the top 5 international companies to work for in this list from 5 different industries. Identifying the leading company in an industry is essential as it sets a benchmark and a gauge on your expectations when working for such a company.

Technology Industry – Google

No doubt, Google has been mentioned many times when it comes to positive workplace culture, best growth opportunities, salary and enforcing fair policies regardless of race, age and gender. The employee benefits at Google are said to be unrivaled, with free meals, shuttle services, training & education opportunities, high salaries as well as advocating for a healthy work life balance.

Google has been ranked favorably for years on Singapore’s Glassdoor as one of the top companies to work for in Singapore.

Retail Industry – Adidas

With 100% approval rating of its CEO Kasper Rorstad and an overall rating of 4.2 out of 5 on glassdoor Singapore, Adidas is definitely a company to look out for especially for sports enthusiasts. With its reputation as one of the leading global sports retail brands in the world, Adidas has a myriad of benefits for their employees. This includes gym memberships, career growth opportunities, flexible work arrangements and even share options for some of its employees.

Finance Industry – Barclays

According to a ranking of the world’s 100 largest banks based on total assets in 2020, Barclays moved up to 18 from its previous position of 20. From their glassdoor reviews, Barclays provides healthcare benefits that extend to dependents as well. There is also an emphasis on the company being pro-family with their high paternity and maternity leave benefits. Many indicated that Barclays also provides a good work life balance for its employees.

Hospitality Industry – Marriott International

Marriott International is one of the biggest hotel brands in the world with renown hotels like St.Regis and Ritz Carlton under its name. The reviews for Marriott by its current and previous employees only sung praises for its focus on its employees. Aside from the employee discount at all its hotels, many employees elucidate on the positive and strong work culture.

Aerospace & Automobile – Rolls Royce

Rolls Royce is an acclaimed luxury global automobile brand with around 39,000 employees in 50 different countries. Ranked 17 on the list of top 200 employers in Singapore sets Rolls Royce at the top in its industry. It is elucidated in the reviews that Rolls Royce is a family and employee centric company with focus on building relationships and fostering personal growth. The company also has extensive healthcare insurance coverage for its employees.

If you’re looking for a company to grow in and a brand that stands for many social issues from equality to the environment, then Rolls Royce should definitely be in your list.

These are some of the most successful international companies that have established a base in Singapore. Starting a business in Singapore especially in 2021 is especially encouraged as the country is one of the first few to implement quarantine measures early during the pandemic – helping it recover faster than many of its neighbours. This potentially reduces the risk of businesses in Singapore – making it an attractive choice.
The country’s efficient control over the pandemic is one of the many reasons to start a business in Singapore in 2021. In fact, according to tradingeconomics.com, Singapore has been ranked 2nd amongst 190 other countries for its ease of doing business. Countries are weighed based on a multitude of factors from corruption, bankruptcies, business confidence and even car registrations.

Another main benefit on why you should start a business in Singapore 2021is also due to the vast number of local talents. In 2020, Singapore ranked 9th in global talent ranking, setting it just below Canada and putting it top in Asia. There are many ways to source for these local talents but new businesses find this a tedious and time-consuming process.

It is advisable when starting a business in Singapore, for companies to partner with a reputable recruitment outsourcing company. TalentSpot is one of the leading human resource company in Singapore with multiple bases in neighboring countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Japan, and the Greater China region (including Hong Kong & Taiwan). Partnering with TalentSpot also provides the advantage of market insights and a clearer understanding of the population dynamics of Singapore.

Tap on the knowledge of over 500 professional consultants and data to further leverage your business in Singapore. Contact us now to enquire more about how TalentSpot can help you!