Dubai, UAE: PDSi is launching a new initiative, The Workplace Readiness Progamme, designed to bridge the gap between teenagers and the world of work, through a structured work experience placement and workshop series. Starting in Dubai, the programme will continue to expand across the UAE in the coming months.

The choices teenagers make today will impact their personal and professional lives in the future. If they aren’t even sure what they want to study, how can they be expected to make the informed decisions needed to embark on a career journey? It can be a very stressful and uncertain time.

Added to this, there is a lack of opportunity to give them hands-on experience in the professional world.

Both public and private sector organisations in the UAE also face an increasing challenge to find the right talent to build the knowledge economy of now and the future. There is growing recognition that as well as skills development in areas such as STEM, ‘soft’ skills are in fact vital business skills needed today – but are often missing.

The Workplace Readiness Programme is designed to help embed the right skills and behaviours in teenagers before they enter the workplace. The structured framework (for teens aged 15-18) helps students to: 

  • Discover their strengths, values, motivating skills and career interests through an online assessment.
  • Understand where and how to apply these in the real world, at a critical time when they are making long-term decisions regarding university/their future. 
  • Learn what’s expected of them in a professional environment - and get a chance to put their learning into practice in a professional organisation with a 7-14 day work experience placement. 
  • Grow and maintain a professional network, one that they can continue to use as they develop. 
  • Build a solid foundation in the ‘soft’ skills required in today’s world of work. 

Following their online skills and values assessment, students are carefully matched (by PDSi) with a suitable placement, ensuring that they already have an active interest in the job area and that the opportunity offers value to all involved.

Dawn Metcalfe, Managing Director, PDSi said, “We’re firm believers that it’s never too early to develop the right skills and behaviours in people – even before they enter the workforce. In fact, that’s the prime time to do it. Experience also tells us that these are the skills missing in many businesses today. We want to help organisations connect with the talented, skilled young candidates who will be driving our economy forward in the near future.” 

PDSi is holding a free event for parents and teenagers on 1 June. For more information and to RSVP see here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/free-workshop-help-your-teens-gain-work-experience-build-new-skills-tickets-61783004630  

For downloadable information for parents, schools and companies, see here: https://pds-i.com/workplace-readiness-programme/ 

For more information contact:
Sarah Bahar
Head of Communication and Engagement
sarah@pds-i.com
+971 55267 4157

About PDSi

Founded in 2010, PDSi helps individuals, teams and organisations to drive behavioural and cultural change. It does this through advisory, coaching, mentoring, training and career counselling. PDSi works with organisations spanning both government and private sector and is a preferred supplier to London Business School.

© Press Release 2019

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