It's fairly safe to say that most medium to large-scale corporate organisations have some form of training scheme for employees these days.
And it's natural that employers want their staff to have the level of skills they need to perform to the highest possible standards in their roles within the company. It's also not unreasonable to suggest that it's mutually beneficial for an employee to progress through the ranks of an organisation.
So in-house training sessions, with a computer whiz or sales maestro delivering talks, are offered, or staff are sent to training camps, lectures and conferences to network and learn more about their craft. Some more recession-proof employers may even send staff on fact-finding missions overseas, if they're lucky.
But few opt for the method adopted by General Motors Middle East Operations when trying to equip their staff with the mental tools required to do the job.
A trip to the Dubai Autodrome on an otherwise innocuous Tuesday morning last week made me realise that the competition GM was putting on for its technicians was both novel and hugely profitable for the company. Not profitable in a monetary sense necessarily, but certainly in the way that it aids employee well-being and development.
On arrival I was greeted in the paddock area of the race track with a massive banner stating: "Welcome 2 Dealer Technician Skills Competition 2011".
Inside three of the bays, men in black polo shirts were studiously going about locating, diagnosing and repairing problems on GMC, Chevrolet and Cadillac cars while men in white polo shirts were standing over them, watching every move and checking boxes on a form. Meanwhile, men in blue polo shirts were walking around taking in the overall picture of what's happening.
This competition was GM's way of giving the forgotten men of the company - the technicians - their 15 minutes of fame.
"These guys are the ones out back quietly going about their business, repairing, making things work again," said Manny D Suriel, GM's regional services manager in the Middle East. "They don't usually get much praise for what they do so this is their time to be in the spotlight."
And in the spotlight they certainly were. Banners bearing each of the 36 finalists' images are draped everywhere, along with the tagline, "Fix-it-right-first-time Heroes - No sacrifice, no victory!"
The preparation and organisation that was put into the two-day finals event was quite impressive. But when you consider that GM Middle East invests US$10 million in technical and customer care training annually, you realise how seriously the company takes training and retaining the best staff.
More than 3,000 technicians from around the region entered the competition by first answering questions online. The top 50 per cent were then set a written examination and, from that group, 36 were selected to appear in the finals in Dubai. They arrived from seven countries and were made up of five nationalities; many had developed at GM's purpose-built training academy in the Philippines before going on to be stationed in cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah, Muscat and, of course, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
They were in the black tops, while a total of 56 white-topped judges looked on. The blue shirts were eager GM Academy students trying to learn as much as they can.
"Preparation for the whole competition took three months starting from February," said Harrie van der Schoot, GM's regional training manager. "These guys have all worked hard to get here and they are all very eager to win."
Over the two days the technicians had to visit 12 stations in the paddocks, covering every detail of fixing a variety of cars that come under the GM banner, such as Chevrolet Camaros and GMC Yukons. And the stakes were high, too.
Sponsors provided prizes such as a Dh18,367 gold bar and an Apple iPhone 4 for the winner and trophies for the top five technicians; one sponsor even offered Dh23,877 worth of diagnostics technology to the winning technician's dealership. There was also a prizegiving dinner for all involved in the finals, where the competitors donned their glad rags and played the part of A-lister for the night.
And Noel Pangan, of Universal Motors Agencies Dealership in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, must have felt like a Hollywood superstar: he was crowned the overall winner of the competition.
It's apparent that GM sees the internal benefits of running such a competition but, said Luay Al Shurafa, the firm's regional customer service director, the customer also reaps the rewards. "Since we started this competition three years ago, we've had a 30 per cent improvement in customer feedback," he said. "And at GM we have a fix-it-right-first-time policy that is benefiting from a competition like this - we've had a 12 per cent improvement in first-time fixes this year alone."
For GM, at least, it seems that the unsung heroes finally have something to sing about.
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Read more about the coronavirus
Specs
Price, base: Dhs850,000
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 591bhp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.3L / 100km
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Abu Dhabi World Pro 2019 remaining schedule:
Wednesday April 24: Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, 11am-6pm
Thursday April 25: Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, 11am-5pm
Friday April 26: Finals, 3-6pm
Saturday April 27: Awards ceremony, 4pm and 8pm
Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Scorebox
Dubai Sports City Eagles 7 Bahrain 88
Eagles
Try: Penalty
Bahrain
Tries: Gibson 2, Morete 2, Bishop 2, Bell 2, Behan, Fameitau, Sanson, Roberts, Bennett, Radley
Cons: Radley 4, Whittingham 5
Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
Results:
6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 2,000m - Winner: Powderhouse, Sam Hitchcott (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap Dh165,000 2,200m - Winner: Heraldic, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
7.40pm: Conditions Dh240,000 1,600m - Winner: Walking Thunder, Connor Beasley, Ahmed bin Harmash
8.15pm: Handicap Dh190,000 2,000m - Winner: Key Bid, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
8.50pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed Dh265,000 1,200m - Winner: Drafted, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson
9.25pm: Handicap Dh170,000 1,600m - Winner: Cachao, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
10pm: Handicap Dh190,000 1,400m - Winner: Rodaini, Connor Beasley, Ahmed bin Harmash
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203S%20Money%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202018%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20London%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ivan%20Zhiznevsky%2C%20Eugene%20Dugaev%20and%20Andrei%20Dikouchine%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%245.6%20million%20raised%20in%20total%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Friday's schedule in Madrid
Men's quarter-finals
Novak Djokivic (1) v Marin Cilic (9) from 2pm UAE time
Roger Federer (4) v Dominic Thiem (5) from 7pm
Stefanos Tsitsipas (8) v Alexander Zverev (3) from 9.30pm
Stan Wawrinka v Rafael Nadal (2) from 11.30pm
Women's semi-finals
Belinda Bencic v Simona Halep (3) from 4.30pm
Sloane Stephens (8) v Kiki Bertens (7) from 10pm
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
