Skilling and Resource Management

In 2012, our sister company Snathe Qatar was awarded a consultancy contract by Al Khayyat Contracting (KCT) which is one of the largest contractors in Qatar to assist them to developing a skilling and resource management program for their 12,000-strong workforce.

Our scope of works included:

• Designing and building a state-of-the-art training facility at the prestigious Mall of Qatar project;
• Designing modular training and evaluation programs for middle management, supervisors and blue-collar workers;
• Trade testing and training 6000 civil construction workers;
• Certifying workforce according to a standardised skill and competency-based evaluation process;
• Assessing and training all of their frontline supervisors;
• Responsible for selecting and recruiting workers from India;
• Restructuring their workforce into fixed size teams;
• Creating and running their labour resource department which would be responsible for the mobilisation, management and performance of the workforce.

This was a mammoth task. We recruited international experts who had a track record in delivering results. Over a 12-month period the team visited projects, trade tested workers to assess skills and competencies, and designed modular training programs that provided underlining trade knowledge that lead to improvement in skills. We were able to meet all of its objectives and successfully hand over the project to KCT. Detailed step by step technical manuals were provided allowing the KCT team to seamlessly manage the labour resource department.

The critical factor for us was to make sure that the client received a healthy return in investment (ROI). This was done by ensuring that we embedded in our processes systems that continuously flagged up potential bottlenecks, measured performance and provided immediate solutions that lead to maximum optimisation in all aspects of the project lifecycle.

Across the GCC construction sector the biggest issue facing employers is the struggle to recruit workers who possess the right level of skills. The lack of mutually recognised qualifications has led to a system where low productivity due to poor skills is the norm. To overcome this problem, the mind-set is to recruit high volumes of low salary unskilled and semi-skilled workers. The result is that neither countries of origin or destination have been focused on up skilling and recognised qualifications.

Our group has emerged as pioneers and leaders in skills training and change management. Working with Clients across the GCC we have introduced strategies that have successfully improved productivity. Our standardised training and evaluation documentations and performance management templates have created a change in mind-set for both employers and employees.