Building materials pioneer steps up training drive

Universal Building Materials Merchants Co., Ltd. (UBM), a leader in the Saudi building materials industry, has been a pioneer in implementing Saudiaization even before Nitaqat was announced.
Having realized the need to secure the long term sustainability of a people’s business, UBM’s management set their goals and took the opportunity of Saudiaization as a social responsibility that had to be fulfilled.
UBM’s program for Saudiaization has been named as “Kawader” and under this program, young talented Saudi nationals in the age group of 20 to 25 were invited to apply and were inducted for a comprehensive training program in all departments within the company.
UBM’s senior managers imparted intensive training to these Saudi graduates along with continuous evaluation while utilizing and re-inforcing their strengths and minimizing their weaknesses.
Upon completion of this one year training program, these young Saudi nationals emerge as UBM Kawader graduates ready to be absorbed within the company in various departments.
Trained Saudi graduates were felicitated at the Kawader Graduation celebration program recently.

UBM’s CEO Raghunath appreciated the enthusiasm of these young Saudi talents and said that in the first batch which commenced last year, 70 percent retention and induction into the mainstream work force was achieved and the program is running successfully now in its second year.
He said that apart from the training modules, the trainees are also getting exposure to International standard practices of the construction industry which is an added advantage.
As a company which is committed to fulfilling its social responsibility, UBM will continue to attract these young talented Saudis and will provide all ways and means to train and create the next generation Saudi workforce who will continue to achieve the company’s goals and realize the vision through a sustained manner.