As part of its community relations program, the Abdulallatif and Mohamed Al Fozan Company recently signed an agreement with the General Organization for Technical and Vocational Training for the National Certificate for Retail Sales Skills.

This initiative aims to cover the needs of both the Al Fozan Group of companies by providing them with trained retail salesmen

The program provides the young trainees with unique training to equip them with the necessary means to enter into the workforce in the Retail Industry.

Al Khobar, April 22, 2007: As part of its community services program, the Abdullatif & Mohamed Al Fozan Company recently celebrated the graduation of the first group of trainees who completed their course for the National Certificate for Retail Sales Skills. The course aims at providing the participants with the proper training and skills to qualify them for employment in this specialized sector.

The event was under the patronage of HE Dr. Ghazi Al Gosaibi, Minister of Labor and attended by HE Dr. Ali Al Ghufais, Governor of the General Organization for Technical and Vocational Training, government officials, Abdullatif & Mohamed Al Fozan Company employees and managers including the Managing Director of the Abdullah bin Abdullatif Al Fozan Company, and a number of business personalities in the Eastern Province. 

Held at the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Center for Science and Technology (SCITECH) in Al Khobar the graduates of the National Certificate for Retail Sales Skills (NCRSS) were joined by their families and a number of media representatives.  Culminating in the graduates training experience, the graduation ceremony fulfilled the essence of the agreement signed between Abdullatif & Mohamed Al Fozan Company and GOTEVOT, to launch the initiative to provide the necessary training for the Kingdom's youth wishing to enter the wholesale market trade. The signing of the agreement was in the presence and under the patronage of HRH Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz. 

The initiative aims to identify and solve the market needs for the identification and training of skilled workers for the Al Fozan Group and other companies. The training includes development of personal and work skills of the trainees; dividing the trainees in the NCRSS program into seven groups.  Each group received intensive preparation in ethics and disciplines in the sales field, specialized English training, reinforcement of pro-activity and positive actions according to the national and global work standards, which include window dressing and product display, knowledge of products, sales, office procedures, customer service, and related computer programs.

The training program lasts for a period of 16 weeks for university and college graduates and 24 weeks for high school graduates. The course encompasses their adaptation to employment in the private sector, providing the trainees with the opportunity to be a part of a real work environment, while at the same time allowing various companies an opportunity to interact with the trainees for future employment.  Training includes eight hours of theoretical training daily and then on- the-ground point-of-sale for the same amount of time.

A general implementation plan has been put in place to allow the trainers and trainees to evaluate the achievements to date.  Upon completion of each session, the trainees will be appraised according to a certain level of skills in the wholesale division, taking him up the growth ladder in order to acquire the necessary skills. 

During the course, each trainee receives a monthly remuneration up to of SR 1,500 in addition to medical insurance, an accredited certificate of training completion and a contract with one of Al Fozan companies upon graduation. Their training will be included in their employment contracting period. .

As part of the Group's vision and its corporate culture development, Abdullatif & Mohamed Al Fozan Company has launched this program in continuation of their expansion and development strategy, which is to be an integral part of the community by contributing to the training and development of the national workforce.  

There are over one million employees in the wholesale and retail market in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; the majority being non-Saudis. More than 90 percent are not university graduates. 

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For further information please contact:
Ahmed Al Hassani
Media Manager
SACCS / TRACCS - KSA
Tel: +966 2 663-2525       
Fax: +966 2 660-1874    
Email: ahmed@saccs.com

© Press Release 2007