Work and Play: A Potent Brew for Success
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It’s not a stretch to say that all the ingredients have fallen into place for Scott Robertson here in Singapore. As the brewmaster at a microbrewery, he spends his time watching over large tanks of fermenting hops and malt, ensuring a steady flow of thirst-quenching lagers, ales and stouts is putting smiles on the faces of customers at Singapore’s hugely popular microbrewery, Brewerkz, and its sister restaurants. In addition to a job he greatly enjoys, Scott has established a diverse group of close friends, is able to take advantage of the many travel opportunities in the region, and to top it off, the business he works for is booming.
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Scott, now 44, started his brewing career in his hometown of Regina, Canada, after completing a Masters degree in medical physics. He worked for seven years at his family’s microbrewery, Bushwakker Brewing Company. The trail to Singapore started when the brewing equipment supplier he often dealt with asked him to help out with an installation in Japan. From there he ended up with a contact in Singapore and was offered a job as the brewmaster for Brewerkz, which was just opening its doors in 1997. Looking for “a bit of adventure and an escape from the winter cold of the Canadian prairies,” Scott hopped a plane to Singapore and hasn’t looked back since.
Easier application processes
When Scott came to Singapore in 1997, his employer, Brewerkz, used a relocation company to file his Employment Pass (EP) application to make sure that the paperwork was all in order. He notes that “Singapore has continued to be welcoming of foreign professionals in the past decade, and the process to apply for an EP has become much easier.”
In 2003, Scott was encouraged by his boss to consider applying to become a Permanent Resident (PR). After considering the advantages—lower taxes because normal CPF contributions are not taxed; longer time between pass renewals; his stay in Singapore no longer tied to his job; and the ability to buy property—he decided to take up PR status.
In his 10 years in Singapore, Scott has come to appreciate the lifestyle he is afforded here. The always-warm weather lets him cycle to work most days—and he now puts in a few extra kilometres each day with a new brewery operation recently opened in the Aljunied area. He also loves the local food and the unique mix of people and cultures from all around the world. “I have a great mix of friends here. Singapore brings together so many people from around Asia and the rest of the world that you get a social and cultural scene you won’t find in many other places.”
Booming industry
While Scott is quick to point out that his own job is quite a unique one within Singapore’s F&B industry (there are only three other microbreweries in Singapore besides Brewerkz at the moment), he feels that the F&B industry here is a great place to work: “The industry is quite well developed, and there is a real culture of going out to eat, to entertain and to have fun.” The industry has been booming of late—a case in point, Brewerkz’s parent company, the MENU group, has expanded from one restaurant to four in recent years, and two new Brewerkz locations are in the works, including an outlet in Changi Airport’s new Terminal 3. With the upcoming integrated resorts and a surge in tourism expected, the strong run is likely to continue.
With prospects like these, it’s no wonder that Scott sees Singapore as his home for the foreseeable future. “Singapore is a vibrant place. Its central location in Southeast Asia offers great travel opportunities and with our business growing strongly, it’s an exciting place to live in.”
