Alshaya Scoops Two Best Employer Brand Awards

02 Nov 2016

Retail franchise operator's commitment to building a great workplace recognised

Middle Eastern retail franchise operator M. H. Alshaya has reaffirmed its position as one of the MENA region's leading employer brands, after recently winning two Best Employer Brand awards – at the LinkedIn Talent Awards and the GCC Best Employer Brand Awards.

At the LinkedIn Talent Awards in Dubai, Alshaya was named one of 10 'Best Employer Brand' winners out of more than 800 companies across MENA. The company also scooped the 'Best Talent Acquisition Team - Kuwait' award for the second year running, beating 55 other companies in Kuwait.

Earlier in October, Alshaya was named as one of MENA's top 25 Best Employer Brands at the GCC Best Employer Brand Awards, run by the Employer Branding Insititute (EBI). The awards recognise and reward organisations that distinguish themselves as sought-after employers through innovative HR management policies, including learning and development opportunities and talent retention strategies.

Nicholas Beesley, HR Senior Vice President at Alshaya, said: "We're delighted to be recognised as one of the best employer brands in the region. Building a great workplace is one of our top priorities at Alshaya, and the development and growth of our people is the cornerstone of our ongoing growth and success. There's a real need to create rewarding private-sector jobs in the Middle East, and we are fully committed to not only creating jobs but to creating lasting careers."

Ali Matar, Head of LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Growth Markets, Southern Europe, Middle East and North Africa, said: "Organizations like Alshaya understand the importance of talent as a key operating priority to excel in their industries and ensure they continue to attract and retain the best employees. We congratulate all our winners on such a great achievement and wish them all the best for continued successes."

Alshaya is well known for its strong people development approach across its 46,000-strong workforce. The company's 'Grow With Us' programmes and in-house training provide long-term career development training to thousands of employees each year, while its popular summer internships - in partnership with organisations such as the Manpower and Government Restructuring Programme (MGRP) in Kuwait – have seen hundreds of young people get first-hand experience in the world of retail.

A major part of Alshaya's commitment to growing jobs in the region includes training Saudi females at its dedicated Alshaya Retail Academies, which it runs in partnership with the Human Resource Development Fund (HRDF) of Saudi Arabia. The Academies provide intensive retail training and a guaranteed job for successful graduates.