Starting out in the workforce can be quite daunting. The Graduate Assimilation Programme (GAP) at SATS makes it simpler for fresh graduates to transition to the working world by letting them try out different roles, learn the ropes, and find their footing.
Gabby (GAPster Batch ‘24) and Safiq (GAPster Batch ‘23)
GAP participants (or “GAPsters” as we call them) spend their first year in two different business units, six months in each, getting a feel for the operations and gaining exposure to help them decide on a permanent posting. GAP welcomes interested participants to apply from December to February for the July intake.
Meet Safiq and Gabby, two GAPsters who took very different paths and joined at different times, but both discovered opportunities to learn, grow, and make an impact.
Safiq during BU visits in his first week as a GAPster
When Safiq decided to be a GAPster in 2023, it wasn’t necessarily because of the travel or aviation aspect. “What really stood out was how SATS felt like a place where tradition meets innovation. It has such a strong operational backbone, but it’s also always pushing to do better. I wanted to be in that kind of environment.”
As a GAPster, Safiq rotated through the Operational Excellence Team before moving to Catering. That’s where things clicked. “I liked how Catering not only gave me a view of the big picture but also kept me close to the ground. I wasn’t just planning on paper; I could see how decisions played out on the ground. I realised this was where I could really contribute.”
Now, Safiq is a Senior Executive in Operations Solutions & Excellence, his permanent posting, where he leads AI-related projects for SATS Catering. His day-to-day work revolves around digitalisation projects across SATS’ two in-flight catering centres. He helps roll out ergonomic holloware trolleys, works with the data team on dashboards that track productivity and on-time performance, and tests new AI technology with vendors.
“Ultimately, my role is about simplifying processes for our catering teams,” he explains. But getting there isn't always straightforward.
“When you’re young, it may seem like your voice doesn’t carry much weight,” he says. “While I was just taking my first few steps, everyone else had already completed multiple laps. But over time, I realised it’s about meeting halfway. I respect my colleagues' years on the ground, and they see the value I bring with digital tools. It’s a give-and-take process.”
Muhammad Safiq Bin Mohd Isa, Senior Executive, Operations Solutions & Excellence (SATS Catering)
One project he’s especially proud of tackles the long-standing issues of balancing meal loads from customers and operations. “Flights often prepare a buffer, say 105 meals for 100 passengers, because you never know if more people will turn up at the last minute. The problem is that the buffer creates food waste.”
See also: How we turn food waste into value
Safiq worked with both ground staff and executives to track passenger load trends and give operations better visibility. He also introduced clear standard operating procedures for frontline staff to follow, and by leveraging data, Safiq was able to set control limits that significantly reduced meal wastage. “We haven’t cracked the challenge completely, but we’ve successfully built a solution to improve on.”
When asked what drives him to work, Safiq laughs. “Honestly? I just want to make a meaningful contribution.” And how does he measure the difference he’s made? “When our colleagues on the ground say, ‘This makes my work easier.’ That’s the best feeling.”
Gabrielle Oh, Executive, Talent Acquisition and Workforce Transformation (SATS Human Capital)
At 23, Gabby was on the lookout for a graduate programme that would let her try different things. “I didn’t know exactly what I liked yet,” she laughs. “Aviation was completely new to me, but SATS felt like a good place to start.”
Her first week left an impression. “We went on visits to different business units. I remember thinking, ‘Wow, SATS does so much.’ Seeing it all gave me a sense of pride.”
She spent her first six months at SATS Cargo Express and Courier Centre, where she worked closely with the ground staff. Gabby took on a project that shifted manual tasks in the warehouse to automated processes. But the job was far from simple.
“Most of our frontline staff have been in the same role for more than 10 years, so it’s challenging for them to quickly adjust to a new way of doing things. That experience showed me how difficult change can be and how crucial it is to support people through that process,” she recalls.
Gabby was next assigned to the Employee Relations Team in Human Capital, where she drove employee engagement activities, corporate social responsibility initiatives, and industrial relations. “What I enjoyed about this role is that I could engage directly with our frontline staff. Being in corporate can make one narrow-minded, but working with the Employee Relations Team compels me to consider various perspectives. It’s eye-opening.”
One highlight of her time at Human Capital was supporting SATS’ National Day Parade involvement. “At first, I wondered why anyone would sacrifice so many weekends for rehearsals. But when I met our marching colleagues, I understood. It’s powerful to watch people from different business units and backgrounds come together. Suddenly, those long weekends I spent felt worth it, too.”
Gabby, during her posting at Human Capital – Employee Relations, where she supported SATS’ NDP involvement
Now, Gabby is a few months into her permanent posting in Human Capital - Talent Acquisition and Workforce Transformation. To anyone keen on the Graduate Assimilation Programme at SATS, this is her advice: “Don’t be afraid to try new things. There will always be some fear, but this is our time to explore. Make the most of it.”
Safiq and Gabby may be in very different spaces: one focused on digitalisation and innovation for in-flight catering, the other shaping employee experience and workforce transformation. Their stories both highlight what GAP is about: freedom to explore, support to grow, and the chance to make meaningful contributions.
As Gabby describes, “GAP lets you see so many sides of SATS before finding your own place.” And Safiq reminds us, “Wherever you end up, there’s always room for your ideas to make an impact.”
