Gulf Air welcomes new batch of apprentice engineers

Twenty five apprentice engineers have joined the national carrier Gulf Air for a two year on-the-job-training after completing their initial theoretical training at Bahrain Airport Services (BAS). The training programme is sponsored by Tamkeen (Labour Fund).

In an induction ceremony held today at the Gulf Air Muharraq headquarters, the apprentice engineers met with Gulf Air Chief Executive Officer Mr. Björn Näf, Chief People Officer Mr. Ahmed Al Banna, Chief Technical Officer Mr. Jassim Al Marzooqi, members of the senior management and officials from Tamkeen.

"I am very pleased to welcome you all to Gulf Air for the on-the-job training," said Mr. Näf addressing the trainees. "These are exciting times and we need fresh, local talents like you, who can learn as well as contribute to the national carrier. You can look forward to an exciting career with Gulf Air once you complete your training successfully."

"Engineering is a critical division of Gulf Air’s operation that needs people with professionalism, integrity and teamwork spirit and I am sure you will be able to demonstrate these qualities during your training period."

In his welcome note, Mr. Al Marzooqi encouraged the trainees to take advantage of the collective knowledge of Gulf Air’s experienced and talented engineers and technicians and equip themselves. "You need to be pro-active; go and seek knowledge so that you can become a valuable resource to Gulf Air and to Bahrain," he said.

"As one of the biggest employers in the Kingdom and a fully owned Bahraini company, we at Gulf Air, are committed to develop local talents and we appreciate the progressive role Tamkeen is playing in this aspect," added Mr. Al Banna. "We are working closely with them and this training programme is the result of a Memorandum of Understanding we signed in September 2008."

Mr. Abdulmonem Al Shaikh, Manager of Human Capital Development at Tamkeen, explained the organisation’s role in building national talent in various fields and thanked Gulf Air for providing the all-important on-the-job-training opportunity for the apprentice engineers.

The trainees, who have already completed a two-year theoretical training at BAS, will be spending another two years in Gulf Air, where they will undergo intensive hands-on training in various units of its technical department on rotation. The airline will also pay an out-of-pocket allowance of BD 200 per month to each trainee during this period.