History
When we first started
POLWEL’s roots can be traced back to 1980 when a Police Welfare shop known as ‘Kinloss Retail Shop’ was set up at Kinloss House located at No. 3, Lady Hill Road which was formerly an officers’ mess for the British Forces. The retail shop offered essential household products and appliances available on credit at low interest rates. The business was subsequently officially registered as Kinloss Co-operative Society Limited on 16th March 1992.
Kinloss Co-operative Society Limited was renamed as POLWEL Co-operative Society Limited in 1995. Besides offering loan and saving services for its members, POLWEL’s retail business continued to be the mainstay as more shops were set up at locations such as Old Police Academy, Home Team Academy, Police Cantonment Complex, and New Phoenix Park.
How we have evolved
Besides its core business of providing financial services for members, POLWEL has expanded its business over the years to provide strategic support to the Singapore Police Force and other government agencies:
| 2005 | – | Employment Services Division (ESD) was set up to provide employment opportunities for retired police officers to enable them to gain meaningful employment and earn an income during their retirement years |
| 2006 | – | Appointed as Approved Assessment Organisation (AAO) for the private security industry under the Security Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) framework |
| 2014 | – | ESD was renamed as Business & Employment Services Division (BESD) to reflect the expanded scope of services provided such as enforcement support services, consultancy and auditing services, specialised manpower solutions etc |
| 2017 | – | Appointed as the sole authorised vendor to develop and produce merchandise bearing SPF insignias for sale to the members of public, and manage the Police Heritage Centre Souvenir Counter |
| 2021 | – | A spin-off from BESD, the Professional Development & Career Services Division (PDCS) was established to provide customised workplace learning solutions for officers from SPF and other government agencies, while also offering career transition support and employment opportunities for SPF and Home Team officers |
| 2023 | – | AAO was appointed to administer the online refresher quiz which is mandatory for security officers who are seeking to renew their licences |