Training provider FirstCom Academy offered new learners cash and vouchers for Google reviews

SINGAPORE: Training providers should not encourage people to recommend others to enroll in courses, SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) said after FirstCom Academy has been suspended for three months due to its business practices.

This goes against SSG conditions for training providers, the authority said in response to questions from CNA.

A former FirstCom employee who worked with trainers told CNA those incentives included vouchers, free food and gifts.

A trainer who taught classes at FirstCom Academy showed CNA an email from 2022 regarding the company’s referral program. It offered trainers 20 percent of the total course fee for each new learner they referred.

FirstCom Academy has been under investigation since earlier this year after SSG received public comments.

It was announced on November 27 that the training provider would be suspended from January to March 2025 due to concerns over the use of a referral program for marketing purposes.

Apart from sponsorship incentives, the academy also offered vouchers for Google reviews.

The former employee and ex-trainer showed slides of the CNA asking trainees to do revisions in exchange for vouchers.

In response to questions from CNA, SSG said on Monday (December 2) that such a practice was unprofessional.

“We strongly discourage incentives in exchange for favorable reviews on platforms such as Google, as this goes against professional ethics,” he told CNA.

“SSG continues to review and refine its marketing guidelines, so that providers clearly communicate their offerings without misleading learners. »

As of December 9, FirstCom Academy has nearly 50,000 reviews, with a 4.9-star rating. The company displays its Google rating on its website, describing itself as “the most publicly reviewed training academy in Singapore”.

On its profile page on the Skillsfuture website, the company claims to have a “proven track record of ensuring our learners remain competitive in today’s job market”.

He cites its high rating on Google from tens of thousands of learners as the reason.

When contacted by CNA, FirstCom Academy declined to comment.