• SAESL signs two talent development MoUs at Singapore Airshow 2026
• Establish a dedicated Training Academy to accelerate training for the future skills  of MRO in SAESL 
• Partnership with Singapore Polytechnic to strengthen aerospace talent pipeline 

Singapore Aero Engine Services Limited (SAESL) announced that two Memoranda of  Understanding (MoUs) will be signed today at the Singapore Airshow 2026, marking a  significant step in strengthening its end-to-end talent development strategy to support  long-term growth in engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO). 

The MoUs, one with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and the other  with Singapore Polytechnic (SP), reflect SAESL’s holistic approach to workforce  development — spanning early talent pipeline building, applied industry learning, and  accelerated in-house capability development through a new SAESL Training Academy. 

The two MoUs build on SAESL’s broader S$242 million expansion and transformation  programme, which is aimed at strengthening operational capacity, modernising facilities  and capabilities, and ensuring sustainable long-term growth. The new partnerships are  designed to deepen SAESL’s in-house technical expertise while ensuring a sustainable  talent pipeline to support future engine MRO demand. 

Building in-house capability through SAESL’s Training Academy 

Under the MoU with EDB, SAESL will explore developing a Training Academy designed  initially for its workforce, adopting a training model that will support SAESL’s growth plans  as it scales capacity to meet Rolls-Royce’s ambition to significantly increase their global  MRO capacity by 2030. 

Over the next five years, SAESL will be hiring more than 1000 technicians to support its  long-term engine deliveries projection. 

The initiative also responds to a broader industry-wide challenge of a tightening  aerospace MRO talent pipeline, driven by fleet growth and increasing engine complexity.  By investing in accelerated, structured training, SAESL aims to help close this skills gap  in the future. It also ensures a steady pipeline of job-ready technicians through the 

development of transferable skills to support both its own expansion and the broader  aviation industry. 

Once operational, the Academy is expected to significantly increase hands-on engine  maintenance capacity and higher technicians’ capability levels. 

“SAESL’s new Training Academy is both timely and important. The Academy will bolster  our local workforce to support the robust growth of Singapore’s aerospace industry.  SAESL will also forge ecosystem partnerships to develop an industry-ready talent  pipeline with deep technical expertise. This will ensure long-term competitiveness of the  industry and build strong career pathways.” said Zheng Jingxin, Vice President and Head  of Mobility, EDB. 

Strengthening the upstream talent pipeline with Singapore Polytechnic 

SAESL will be signing an MoU with SP, establishing a strategic framework for longer-term  collaboration focused on strengthening the upstream talent pipeline for aerospace MRO. 

The partnership aims to strengthen alignment between SP’s curriculum and real-world  MRO requirements, provide early industry exposure for students, and create applied  learning opportunities through industry-based projects. Planned initiatives include  industry-supported elective modules related to engine MRO, joint final-year projects  addressing operational and innovation challenges, and opportunities for student and  staff engagement with live MRO environments. 

As part of the collaboration, SP’s School of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering is  expected to be accredited as an authorised training partner for SAESL, supporting  qualification, recurrency and upskilling training. The partnership will leverage SP’s  continuing education and training (CET) and pre-employment training (PET) programmes,  as well as its specialised laboratories and facilities, to extend SAESL’s training capacity  while maintaining strong industry relevance. 

This MoU sets the foundation for progressive initiatives to be rolled out as part of SAESL’s  longer-term workforce and skills transformation roadmap, reinforcing the company’s  commitment to building a sustainable, future-ready talent pipeline for advanced and  Industry 4.0-enabled MRO. 

Mr Toh Ser Khoon, Senior Director (Engineering) of Singapore Polytechnic, said, “This  partnership with SAESL and SP enables us to embed real-world aerospace operations  into our curriculum, giving learners authentic, hands-on experiences beyond the  classroom. By strengthening the link between classroom learning and applied engine  MRO practice, we are engineering a workforce with the confidence and technical  precision to drive Singapore’s evolving aerospace sector. We aim to deliver an education  that prepares students to be industry ready.” 

“These two partnerships are critical to how SAESL is scaling for the next phase of growth,”  said Chris Pattinson, Chief Executive Officer, SAESL. “By accelerating in-house capability 

through our Training Academy with EDB’s support, and strengthening the talent pipeline  upstream with SP, we are building the skilled workforce required to increase capacity,  sustain operational excellence and meet rising global demand for engine MRO services.” 

Together, the two MoUs underscore SAESL’s commitment to investing in people and skills  as a strategic enabler of sustainable growth, reinforcing its position as a leading engine  MRO provider and a key contributor to Singapore’s aerospace ecosystem.