Al Tayer inaugurates Standard Chartered annual Emiratisation induction programme 'Intelaq'

The inauguration was held at the Emirates Banking Institute in Sharjah where 50 UAE nationals recruited by Standard Chartered Bank towards the end of last year are undergoing a two-month induction course.

"On completion of the course the new recruits will undergo four months on-the-job training throughout the bank before being assigned positions," said Ray Ferguson, Standard Chartered Bank's Chief Executive Officer.

In all 50 nationals, 35 of them women, were recruited by Standard Chartered Bank in the UAE last year taking the bank's Emirati workforce to 26% of its total staffing.

"This year we intend to grow the number of Emiratis on our workforce further to reach 30% of our total staffing complement by the end of December," explained Ferguson.

"We also intend that by the end of the year all our branches in the UAE will be managed by Emiratis. These moves are all in line with Government requirements and live up to our desire to align our business with the development of the UAE."

The Standard Chartered 'Intelaq' Emirati induction course just launched will be repeated each year.

"Every 12 months another batch of nationals will be recruited to fulfill our Emirati quota ambitions," explained Mohammed Abdulla Al Sayyah, Head of Administration Gulf & Levant and Emiratisation. "It is important to us to ensure that we continue to invest in quality UAE nationals so we work to keep recruitment levels high.

"The bank has set a target for all its department managers to be UAE nationals by 2005, so we will concentrate recruitment on junior and middle management candidates who can be developed to take on additional responsibilities.

Al Sayyah, who joined Standard Chartered Bank in the UAE 26 years ago as a teller, says banking is now a UAE national's second employment choice after a government position.

"Banking as a career is an exceptional training ground for nationals, no matter what their long-term goals," said Al Sayyah. "Those wanting to diversify into their own businesses will find banking gives them a solid foundation and this experience applies across numerous sectors."

The 50 Emiratis currently undergoing the induction course come from all seven of the UAE Emirates and from all levels of qualification from secondary school diplomas to degree holders. They were recruited following briefings carried out at UAE universities and Higher Colleges of Technology. "All applicants were then subjected to assessments in maths, English and logic," explained Al Sayyah.

Al Sayyah further explained that Standard Chartered Bank also offers UAE national recruits the chance to be sponsored for further education. "We consider sponsoring our national workforce, on condition that once they complete their education they spend at least three years working for the bank, a key part of our investment.

"Our recruitment process for nationals is quite extensive because we need the best available and require commitment and a determination to learn. Nationals should also realise that once they are working in the bank they will be assessed as all other employees. They are judged on performance with no allowance made for their UAE nationality.

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