Tamkeen and the Westin and Le Méridien Bahrain City Centre announced the graduation of the last batch in 2016 with 19 out of 80 young Bahrainis from the Grooming Bahraini Hospitality Talent (GBHT) Programme. The programme is part of Tamkeen’s customized employment initiatives where Tamkeen partners with employers to help them hire Bahrainis as well as train them to be able to acquire the skills needed to work in the employer’s industry.
The Grooming Bahraini Hospitality Talent programme in particular was designed to provide young Bahrainis who are looking to start their careers with world class hospitality training and employ them at globally-reputed hotel establishments.
Apart from Starwood’s internal training department, the institutions providing training to the candidates included Third Wave International (TWI) and the Bahrain and William Angliss, an Australian institute ranked among the top five hotel management schools in the world. The employees were trained in both class room setting, as well as practical on-the-job training with dedicated Starwood mentors for each student. The graduates are currently working in departments that include culinary, front office, food & beverage and housekeeping.
“This program is aligned with Tamkeen’s mission to make Bahrainis the employees of choice for semi-skilled and skilled professions. Hence, the focus is on enrolling the newly recruited employees in internationally accredited training program, in cooperation with the Westin and Le Méridien Bahrain City Centre which will improve their proficiency and productivity levels” Commented Amal Al Kooheji, Tamkeen’s Chief Operating Officer.
“We were pleased to have 19 young Bahraini trainees enrolled in this comprehensive program. We are very committed to fostering local talents, and we are certain the outcome of this program will not only add value to our businesses but also to the local hospitality industry as well. It is a unique opportunity to bolster both professional and personal growth for each and every one of these students. We congratulate them on the completion of this program and we are delighted to welcome them to the exciting, dynamic world of hospitality,” Said Anna Marie Dowling, Complex General Manager of the Westin and Le Méridien Bahrain City Centre..
“Third Wave International in collaboration with our international partner William Angliss is proud to announce that in Bahrain (including the 19 employees of today’s graduation) a total of 80 local nationals have successfully completed the GBHT programme, empowered to gain employment and embarked on a promising career in hospitality. This three month customized initiative supported by Tamkeen in partnership with International hotel chains no doubt augur well as a step to making this industry popular for Bahraini Nationals to seek employment going forward and also promote and encourage investment to a successful career in this sector,” said Dilip de S Wijeyeratne, Jt. Managing Director / CEO Third Wave International.
“We are extremely excited to be awarded the certificatein Hospitality from William Angliss as a start and we hope that Tamkeen, Starwood, William Angliss and Third wave international will join together once again and support us to get advanced level trainings which will definitely help us in our career growth in this industry.” Ahmed Jaffer and Hamad Al Hamad commented on behalf of the graduates. They emphasised that the training not only helped them in their professional life but also in their social life.
A proud mother at the ceremony expressed her happiness “Seeing my son on the stage, delivering the graduates’ speech proudly and confidently is considered a huge transition in his personality as this opportunity had strengthened his skills and abilities.” She added” Working in the hospitality sector is considered a challenging opportunity for Bahrainis yet is a vital step into integrating locals to be the face of the Kingdom’s hospitality industry. She added that she is now aware that the sector provides multiple competences under umbrella ranging from front office to back office support like Accounts, IT and HR thus providing ample opportunity for Bahraini youth.