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Annual Report 2015
TamkeenBahrainwww.tamkeen.bh1738 3333
Empower
Tamkeen from the view of those it empowers
• Journey towards customization• Inspirational journeys • Evolving to meet customer needs
His Royal HighnessPrince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa
The Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander, and
First Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain
His MajestyKing Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa
The King of the Kingdom of Bahrain
His Royal HighnessPrince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa
The Prime Minister of theKingdom of Bahrain
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Our VisionEmpowering Bahrainis to prosper and contribute to the national economy.
Our MissionEmpowering Bahrainis according to market requirements and building enterprise capabilities to contribute to expanding the national economy.
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Meet our Board of Directors
Tamkeen’s Message
Overview of Tamkeen’s Strategic Focus From 2014/15-2017 (Impact)
Journey Towards Customisation
Inspirational Journey – Training Program
Inspirational Journey – Enterprise Support
Enterprise Support – Evolving to match customer needs
Training – More choices for businesses and individuals
Inspirational Journey – Training and Wage Support
Inspirational Journey – Enterprise Support
The Business Plan – How to write one
Finance Scheme – Encouraging businesses achieve their aspirations
Inspirational Journey – Training and Wage Support
Inspirational Journey – Professional Certification Scheme
Segments and Sectors – Analysing the customer’s needs Enhancing Customer Touchpoints Elevating the Entrepreneurial Spirit – The Bahrain Award for Entrepreneurship
Providing Value to Bahrain’s Economy – The Bahrain Shopping Festival
Financials
Contents
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In 2015, Tamkeen’s Board of Directors consisted of 8 members representing the organisations which play a vital role in the development of the private sector.
Representing the public sector on the Board were Shaikh Mohammed Bin Essa Al Khalifa (Chairman), Dr. Zakaria Ahmed Hejres, and Mr. Abdulellah Ebrahim Al-Qassimi.
Board members from the private sector were Mr. Khalid Ali Rashid Al-Amin (Vice-Chairman), Mr. Kadhem Isa Al-
Saeed, and Mr. Mohammed Adel Fakhro from the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry as representatives of businesses, Mr. Mohammed Abdulrahman Mohammed from the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions as representatives of the Bahraini workforce, and Mr. Hassan Ameen Jarar from the Bahrain Association of Banks as representative of the financial sector.
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Meet our Board of Directors
Shaikh Mohammed Bin Essa Al-KhalifaChairman
Khalid Ali Rashid Al-AminVice Chairman
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Dr. Zakaria Ahmed HejresBoard Member
Mohammed Adel FakhroBoard Member
Mohammed Abdulrahman MohammedBoard Member
Hassan Ameen JararBoard Member
Abdulellah Ebrahim Al-Qassimi Board Member
Kadhem Isa Al-Saeed Board Member
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2015 has been a year of both new direction and consolidation for Tamkeen. At the start of the year, we embarked on our new 2015-2017 strategy to further help Bahrain’s economy to continue to develop and expand.
Tamkeen’s Message
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We are pleased to report that we are making progress on our overall objective, which is to enable the private sector to become the key engine of economic growth, a goal which Tamkeen was tasked with achieving when it was established in 2006.
Since Tamkeen’s formation, Bahrain’s economy, reflecting global and regional shifts, has undergone a number of alterations which affected the dynamics of the market, as well as the nature of business operations in the Kingdom. As these changes have occurred, Tamkeen has also adapted to each new circumstance to stay focused on achieving its core objective. One of the primary examples is the role that technology played in improving our operations during this year; as businesses continued putting online technologies at the core of their operations, so have we. Consequently, we launched an interactive website that allows customers to apply online as well as we have switched methods of payment from physical means such as cheques, to adopting the global IBAN standard.
Since we have launched our 2015-2017 strategy, we stayed committed to achieving Tamkeen’s original purpose by enhancing the quality of our offerings, becoming more customer-centric as well as ensuring better results are achieved.
Rather than offering almost 200 standardized programs which required business and individuals to fit into specified categories, Tamkeen’s services are now concentrated around just three main support categories, the Enterprise Support Program, the Finance Scheme, and the Professional Certification program. These support services are highly customizable so that they can best fit the needs of each business or individual.
This customization element of the programs is essential for the achievement of our 2015-2017 strategic objectives and to ensure that our support matches the changing dynamics of the economy. At the end of 2014, and throughout 2015, we have been able to see the first indicators of the impact of such restructure as we continued moving forward through this customization route.
By the end of 2015, The Tamkeen Enterprise Support program has benefited over 1,000 businesses. In addition, through Tamkeen’s Professional Certification program, more than 250 individuals received different professional certificates representing various sectors. Through our Finance Scheme, in partnership with 7 local banks, more than 850 businesses have been able to fund new projects and ideas.
I would also like to congratulate the Tamkeen team, who worked hard to ensure that our objectives continue to be at the heart of everything we do. This results in Tamkeen receiving a number of awards during the year including the Regional Enterprise Agility Award for Supporting Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development from Entrepreneur ME magazine and the Best Sponsor of Productive Families Award from the Supreme Council of Women.
During the first part of the year, Tamkeen also supported a number of new initiatives to help develop Bahrain’s economy. This included the Bahrain Award for Entrepreneurship, patronized by his Royal Highness, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, First Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of Bahrain Economic Development Board. The first edition of the Award concluded in March 2015 and the second edition opened its doors for nominations in November 2015.
In addition, Tamkeen also launched the first edition of Bahrain’s nationwide Shopping Festival, which ran from December 2014 to March 2015, with the second edition entitled ‘Shop Bahrain’ running between December 2015 and January 2016.
As we move ahead, we will keep implementing our 2015-2017 strategy after the inclusion of feedback provided by our customers during the last quarter of 2015. It is imperative that we continue to evolve in order to ensure the success of businesses and individuals in the private sector, and subsequently ensure the diversification and growth of the Kingdom’s economy.
Shaikh Mohammed Bin Essa Al-Khalifa
Chairman of Tamkeen
As per the 2015-2017 strategy, Tamkeen is more focused on enhancing the quality of its offerings, becoming more customer-centric as well as ensuring that better results are achieved.
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3At the beginning of 2014, Tamkeen
began drafting its 2015-2017
strategy, which focused on three
main pillars with the aim to meet
the dynamic needs of Bahrainis
and private sector businesses:
• Customer centricity
• Improving quality
• Delivering better results
2 As Tamkeen moved towards its second strategic cycle, between 2011 and 2014, it continued introducing programs that catered to particular needs. During this cycle, Tamkeen focused on reaching out to the
public regarding its programs and what they can offer. By the end of 2014, “Tamkeen”
had become a householdname for Bahrainis.
1As part of the first cycle, which lasted
from 2007 to 2010, Tamkeen worked
diligently to study market conditions,
and formulated private sector focused
programs that were in-line with new
business and individual needs that came
up as a result of these conditions.
Overview of Tamkeen’s Strategic Focus
Throughout the years, Tamkeen has offered more than 200 programs, each with its own specific budget and plan. This came about as a result of regular feedback from the public for the inclusion of new initiatives that cover newer, more diverse and unique needs. The need for Tamkeen to update its strategy for the 2015-2017 timeframe arose with the requirement for a more comprehensive, actionable, impact driven approach in operations that would enable it to play its role in tackling the relevant labour market and private sector challenges, support the National Economic Strategy and fulfil its mandate.
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3At the beginning of 2014, Tamkeen
began drafting its 2015-2017
strategy, which focused on three
main pillars with the aim to meet
the dynamic needs of Bahrainis
and private sector businesses:
• Customer centricity
• Improving quality
• Delivering better results
2 As Tamkeen moved towards its second strategic cycle, between 2011 and 2014, it continued introducing programs that catered to particular needs. During this cycle, Tamkeen focused on reaching out to the
public regarding its programs and what they can offer. By the end of 2014, “Tamkeen”
had become a householdname for Bahrainis.
1As part of the first cycle, which lasted
from 2007 to 2010, Tamkeen worked
diligently to study market conditions,
and formulated private sector focused
programs that were in-line with new
business and individual needs that came
up as a result of these conditions.
To achieve these objectives, Tamkeen initiated a restructuring exercise that began in March. Since then, Tamkeen went through a number of operational changes, with the overall result being the consolidation of Tamkeen’s programs to 2 main functions: ‘Grant-based Support’ and ‘Financial Support’. However, as Tamkeen recognized the different priorities of each business sector and the need to offer customized “best-fit” solutions to serve the growth and development of Bahrainis, an additional support - the ‘Guidance and Advisory Support’ - was added by the end of 2015.
During 2015, Tamkeen implemented a number of changes besides the consolidation of programs in order to achieve its strategy’s three objectives. For example, to provide a better experience for customers, in-line with its objective of achieving customer-centricity, Tamkeen implemented a new electronic interface that allows customers to directly apply for programs without the need to physically visit a customer service center.
One of the initiatives Tamkeen implemented for achieving better results was the addition of a new requirement as part of the Enterprise Support program - a business plan that contains KPIs, time plans and goals; this would ensure that the support provided
achieves the maximum impact possible. The plan is automatically formulated as part of the online application process and this new requirement assists businesses (especially start-ups) to have a clearer outline of what they need to do moving forward. Based on the completion of the KPIs in the plan, Tamkeen increases the amount of its support to encourage businesses to achieve their goals.
An example for improving quality is Tamkeen’s implementation of a new IBAN payment process that reduces the payment time to customers and service providers.
By the last quarter of 2015, Tamkeen’s customization approach proved to be the best way forward for providing support to individuals and businesses as needs were found to be too varied.
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2015 onwards
Key support through consolidated programmes available online
Launch of Tamkeen Advisory Services Guidance Support
Advisory Support
Networking & Communication
Building
Market Awareness Campaigns
Career Guidance Support
Enterprise Support
Grant-based Support Financial Support
Finance Scheme Professional Certification Scheme
for Individuals
1 2 3
Journey Towards Customisation
aspect for the provision of specialized work-place related training to Bahrainis. Since its launch, the program’s structure has always been highly customizable whereby Bahrainis applying for the program can request to receive support for certification covering a wide range of sectors. It allows them to receive training, locally or abroad, in certificates provided by professional business-related institutions including industry veterans and practitioners, such as CIPD (The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development), ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), CII (The Chartered Insurance Institute), and CIM (The Chartered Management Institutes) to name a few.
This also includes certification provided and approved by international businesses or entities that have extensive experience in their field; this comprises certificates from CISCO, the IATA (International Air Transport Association), IBM, Microsoft, BBC, and others.
The main change to the Professional Certification program, which was implemented prior to 2015 and continued to be implemented during this year, is the ability for individuals to request the inclusion of any approved professional certificate
While the type of support Tamkeen provided remained relatively the same as previous years', the way it is delivered has changed. Business support services, whereby Tamkeen provides direct support to various business functions, are now completely consolidated under the Enterprise Support program. Instead of applying for only specific functions, such as receiving marketing or equipment support, in 2015, businesses have been empowered to be able to request support for several functions at once.
Prior to 2015, some business functions were also put under separate programs. For example, Tamkeen’s Career Progression program, which allows businesses to request Training and Wage Subsidy support, used to be its standalone program. With Tamkeen’s move towards customizing its support, the program has been integrated into the Enterprise Support program, so businesses can include, if they wish, wage and training support for their employees as part of their application instead of applying for two different programs.Just as enterprises can include training as part of their Enterprise Support applications, individuals who would like to further their careers have their own stand-alone training program. Tamkeen’s Professional Certification program forms a core
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2015 onwards
Key support through consolidated programmes available online
Launch of Tamkeen Advisory Services Guidance Support
Advisory Support
Networking & Communication
Building
Market Awareness Campaigns
Career Guidance Support
Enterprise Support
Grant-based Support Financial Support
Finance Scheme Professional Certification Scheme
for Individuals
1 2 3
In 2015, as Tamkeen moved forward towards customising its support to match the needs of each business and individual, Tamkeen’s support structure also had to evolve.
(if it is related to their field of work or prior academic qualifications), thus making the program even more customizable.
In terms of business loans and financial support, in 2015, Tamkeen’s Finance Scheme continued to be the main program for the provision of business funding, and has continued to function as per its previous support structure, which has always been highly customizable. Through the scheme, Tamkeen provides businesses with 50% of the interest required as part of a loan, and provides 50% guarantee to the lending bank. The reason the scheme has not gone through any major overhauls is due to the nature of funding provided by the scheme. Cash is the most flexible form of support, and allows businesses to invest as per their plans.
The major addition to Tamkeen’s support structure in 2015 is the inclusion of a new type of support to both businesses and individuals. While Tamkeen has been implementing changes to allow its programs to be molded as per different requirements and needs, it was found that businesses and individuals sometimes need assistance to be able to identify the exact requirements needed to achieve their goals and objectives.
In December 2015, Tamkeen announced the launch of a set of Advisory Services, a new platform which provides advisory and consultancy services to businesses, jobseekers and employees working in the private sector. Through this platform, and in collaboration with experts, Tamkeen provides eligible business owners and individuals with relevant guidance and advisory services at no cost.
In addition, this service platform is self-supported by the efforts of Tamkeen’s customer engagement team, which works diligently to engage with the public through various channels and means; this is done through Tamkeen’s Customer Service Centers, interacting with the public through community events, consultation sessions and other activities as well.
This support structure, which Tamkeen began implementing in 2015, serves as a basis for the provision of customized support for both individuals and businesses. The move towards customization allows Tamkeen to achieve its objective of empowering Bahrainis and making them the primary drivers for growth in the private sector and subsequently, forwarding the diversification and development of the Kingdom’s economy.
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The program comprised two years of theoretical study and two years of technical study, and I was among the first batch of proud graduates to get their license as the first Aviation Engineer; at the age of 22, I also became the youngest graduate in the history of Gulf Air.
It was challenging at times in terms of finding support in the field. Being a male-dominated industry, the idea that I, as a female, wanting to continue on this path, was unfamiliar to many. People did not take the idea seriously, including family and friends; however my passion for pursing this career motivated me to complete the program successfully as the first female Aviation Engineer.
At the time, the aviation training field in Bahrain was relatively in its development stage. The pursuit of my career in a challenging field, and as the first female to do so in this industry, could not have been accomplished without Tamkeen’s support through its training programs. The organization has developed training further within the field and allowed for these opportunities to be continually offered. Additionally, the financial support package offered by Tamkeen provided full services to ease the training program for participants such as: payment of fees during both the theoretical and technical training years, providing the tool books needed as well as providing type rating certification.
While I will continue to be in the engineering field, and specifically on-the-line, for the next year or two, but eventually, I plan to branch out into the administrative
Hind Al Awadhi Aviation Engineer
My journey into the field of aviation started long before my career took off as an
Aviation Engineer. I always had a passion for the field since childhood, but initially
I just wanted to be a pilot or a crew member. When I graduated early, at the age of
sixteen, I got the time to research my options and look at my choices in the industry
and that’s when the engineering aspect of aviation started appealing to me. After
having achieved a high GPA in high school, I applied to the Tamkeen-Gulf Air Aviation
training program along with over 500 other applicants, and was among the 30
handpicked students who received a full scholarship from Tamkeen.
part of the field to be able to have a more well-rounded career experience.
To any individual pursuing their goals and career objectives, my advice is that you should choose something you love doing, otherwise you risk limiting your career. Be sure to do it for yourself and be self-motivated on your own journey. Also be ready to face challenges, as it can be hard especially to find support in an unfamiliar field. Finally, if you love what you do, it will always be worth it. Personally for me, it was about wanting to complete the journey I started and to make a difference.
Personal conviction"Don’t let others define your capabilities for you and never compare yourself to others or pursue your career just to prove others wrong. By graduating as the first female Aviation Engineer, I was able to make a difference and hopefully others will be motivated to follow suit."
Inspirational JourneyTraining Program
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Since our start in 1970, we at Delmon Bakery have been considered among
Bahrain’s leading bakeries and confectionary facilities. With over 40 years of
continued quality product lines and services in the Kingdom, we have now
solidified our position as Bahrain’s largest bakery whose aim is customer
satisfaction and quality. Delmon Bakery has always strived to employ the most
innovative of methods to ensure maximum quality, including our use of the
latest state-of-the-art technologies. At the core of our business mission we
strive to satisfy our customers, who have trusted the brand for over 40 years.
When we received support from Tamkeen, it gave us that much needed opportunity to remain a major player in the market. With the low interest loans made available to us, we were able to purchase new machinery and raw materials and thus deliver on our promise of utilizing state-of-the-art equipment. The financial capital was further used to fund Delmon Bakery’s new marketing programs which helped us focus further on a vast market expansion.
Today, Delmon Bakery has many outlets throughout the Kingdom and operates an efficient delivery fleet ensuring a continuous and steady supply of all our products to Bahrain’s major supermarkets, catering companies, hotels and cold stores. We believe that the future of the bakery will remain prosperous and we will continue to thrive as our emphasis on satisfaction and quality remain at the forefront of our business.
Delmon Bakery’s market position as a major Bahraini bakery will be supported further as it complies with the ISO 22000 Food Management System standards thereby delivering on all parameters of food safety and security ensuring ample supply to the people of Bahrain at any given time.
Core Belief"We truly believe going above and beyond in accomplishing this by offering quality and hygienic foods at reasonable prices, offering in-demand products and exploring ways to keep costs low to ensure market preference."
Inspirational JourneyEnterprise Support
Osama Bin Mahmood Delmon Bakery, Bin Mahmood Holding
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Tamkeen also implemented a number of changes to facilitate the application process to their various support programs. One of which is the launch of an online portal, where customers can complete their applications online and follow up on the status of their applications.
Given the importance of business planning for the success of any business, Tamkeen encourages the applicants to do more thorough planning in the re-launched version of the Program. Through
CustomizedApproach
Enterprise Support Approach
BusinessDevelopment
EmployeeDevelopment
Tamkeen Advisory Services
Grant Scheme> > >Finance SchemeTailor-made Choices:
• Machinery & Equipment • Quality • Marketing & Branding • Business Consulting • Exhibition Participation • ICT
Customized Support
Enterprise Support Evolving to Match Customer Needs
Tamkeen works continuously to ensure that its support programs achieve exponential benefit for the individuals and businesses that collectively form Bahrain’s economy. Since its launch in 2008, the Enterprise Support program, has proven to be highly effective in reducing the operational gaps. This Program focuses on two main areas:
• Business Development • Employee Development
Previously, the Enterprise Support program included specific aspects of operations (equipment, accounting, marketing, promotion, quality and advisory), and as part of its restructuring efforts, Tamkeen revisited the Enterprise Support program in March 2014 and made a number of changes to make it more flexible and customer-focused. The Program was re-launched in September 2014 enabling customers to choose their own set of customized business solutions that best address their business-specific operational needs.
The Employee Development Program now also allows individuals to be placed in international locations related to their industry for the purposes of gaining a wider working experience. In addition, businesses can now apply to the Training and Wage Subsidy support for their Bahraini employees.
Start-upsGrowingand Mature Organizations
Others
34.5%61.6%
3.9%
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the online application, the system now automatically generates a business plan that contains goals, KPIs and a specific timeline, and assists businesses (especially start-ups) to have a clearer outline of their future plans. Based on the applicants’ capability to execute the business plan and set goals, they will receive a financial support of up to 50% of their estimated cost; companies that succeed to achieve KPIs set by Tamkeen will be rewarded by Tamkeen and will get up to 80% support instead.
In addition, Tamkeen launched a new electronic form of payment for faster processing. The system uses the International Bank Account Number (IBAN) system, which allows for swift electronic processing of payments to customers and suppliers.
In 2015, more than 1,000 enterprises benefited from the Business Development, 34.5% of which are considered start-up businesses and 61.6% growing and mature organization.
As part of its continuous efforts to support businesses and individuals across all stages of development, Tamkeen also launched its Advisory Services in December 2015 to provide advisory and consultancy services to businesses, jobseekers and employees
CustomizedApproach
Enterprise Support Approach
BusinessDevelopment
EmployeeDevelopment
Tamkeen Advisory Services
Grant Scheme> > >Finance SchemeTailor-made Choices:
• Machinery & Equipment • Quality • Marketing & Branding • Business Consulting • Exhibition Participation • ICT
Customized Support
working in the private sector. Through this new platform, Tamkeen, in collaboration with experts, offers eligible business owners and individuals with the relevant guidance and advisory services at no cost. For businesses, Tamkeen’s Advisory Services provides business mentoring to enterprises seeking direction and expert advice and enables them to improve and grow their businesses through long-term direct interaction with experienced mentors. Tamkeen also enables individuals to receive long-term career mentoring from industry veterans and professionals, as well as internship and volunteering opportunities across various sectors in Bahrain.
1,022 Enterprises benefited in 2015
8,778 Enterprises benefited till 2014
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TrainingMore Choices for Businesses and Individuals
Training has been a critically important aspect of Tamkeen’s support. Overall, more than 101,000,000 BD was
spent on training programs since Tamkeen’s foundation, and more than 94,000 individuals have benefited from
these programs. Tamkeen has also had a big impact on the way institutes provide training in Bahrain. This trend
of investment in training has continued during 2015, as training and human capital development constituted
almost 45% of amounts spent by Tamkeen on its support programs. In addition, there were a number of key
changes and new updates to Tamkeen’s training offerings during the year.
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Following Tamkeen’s Consultation Forum in November 2015, where representatives from 15 sectors presented their feedback and recommendations regarding Tamkeen’s support, a number of changes went into effect to ensure the smooth transition of responsibilities from the High Council for Vocational Training to Tamkeen.
One of the changes is the inclusion of Training & Wage subsidy as part of the Enterprise Support program. This allows businesses to provide their employees with specialized training, followed by wage subsidy for up to 2 years for the trained employees. Through this program, Tamkeen assesses particular skills gaps that exist within a business, then formulates a training plan and selects the appropriate training supplier to provide Bahrainis with the necessary certification and skills to bridge those gaps. The skills gaps that Tamkeen assesses belong to five different levels as per below:
With the transfer of responsibilities of the High Council for Vocational Training to Tamkeen, the inclusion of Training & Wage subsidy as part of Enterprise Support, not only allows businesses to receive training support, but also allows them to improve other business functions as well. In 2015, the Training & Wage subsidy, before and after its inclusion as part of the Enterprise Support Program, has benefited more than 2000 Bahrainis working in over 200 companies.
In addition to giving businesses the opportunity to impart their Bahraini employees with the necessary expertise and skills to close specific knowledge gaps in 2015, Tamkeen continued to provide individuals with unique avenues to specialize and grow in various professional fields. Tamkeen’s Professional Certification Program allows Bahrainis to receive training, locally or abroad, in certificates provided by professional business-related institutions and delivered by industry veterans and practitioners; this Program has proved to be very effective in the way it provides training that cover market gaps despite being highly demand driven.
Through the program, in general, Tamkeen provides 50% of the total fees required for the certification, with another 50% paid
upon the completion of the certification program. This serves to encourage applicants to pursue success in attaining the certification as much as possible.
By allowing Bahrainis to receive training from professional individuals and institutions that have extensive operational expertise, throughout the decade that Tamkeen has been working in, the gap between academic knowledge and operational knowledge has been narrowed down considerably.
In 2015, Tamkeen continued allowing any professional certificate, related to the applicant’s field of work or study, to be covered as part of the Program. The change, implemented in 2014, comes as part of Tamkeen’s drive to make its programs more customizable and offer various options for better progress and development.
As part of Tamkeen’s customization efforts, 74 new certificates were approved during the year. The program continued to serve as a catalyst for providing a platform that allows Bahrainis to become more aligned with international standards and local business expectations.
“As the global market has seen tremendous growth in terms of size and specialization, professional certificates have become a key qualification requirement that matches benchmarks of international competency of human resources. Bahrain’s market is no exception to this equation of growth. Professional certificates have been closely identified with the expansion of knowledge and skills of the workforce, and hugely contribute to the level of productivity. It also provides both a proof of mastery and an international credibility that is instant and unequivocal. An ACCA qualification for example is the same in London, New York, Hong Kong and here in Bahrain, which allows for the portability of skills and instant credibility. This creates a workforce which is valuable not only in the domestic market, but one which is also portable, especially within the GCC given inherent language and cultural skills.
Functional Competency: includes specific competencies which are considered a core part of the job within a defined technical or functional area of work.
Fundamental Competency: includes competencies that cover a wide range of skills and tools. It’s not related to a specific job role, but is still needed within the wider context of the enterprise.
Cognitive Competency: focuses on skills related to finding innovative or creative solutions to business problems such as analytical and critical thinking.
Interpersonal Competency: includes skills that allow the individual to function better in a team as well as in dealing with people inside and outside the organisation.
Leadership Competency: concerns skills related to management and executive decision making.
50over
10,500over
spent on TrainingPrograms on Individuals
Till date: 94,512
Individuals Trained(until 2015)
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During 2014 and 2015, through Tamkeen’s Training and Wage Subsidy Support, GARMCO successfully trained a total of 528 Bahraini employees who received a total of 23,257 hours of training. The training focused on nontechnical skills that employees needed, to better align their capabilities with the company’s overall objectives. The impact was significant, as it helped in building a healthy and positive culture, a culture that encourages learning and continuous development. As a result of the training conducted. The company was able to better assess the performance and capabilities of employees, and find the potential in them. Some employees were promoted to higher positions after successfully completing the training program. And some were even appointed in key managerial and supervisory roles, after proving their capability and competency throughout the training period.
Through the various schemes that Tamkeen has introduced to the market, benefiting both companies, as well as individuals. The Bahraini workforce has become more capable of positioning themselves into the market, and
Learning and development is considered one of the key functions at GARMCO.
It drives substantial improvements on a personal and organisational level, and
it significantly contributes to the success of the company’s journey towards
reaching to its overall goal and objectives. In 2014, the total learning hours
reached 87,915. And increased to 127,950 learning hours, in 2015.
progressing in their careers through continuous learning and development activities. While it is a successful initiative, there is still more potential for growth. In partnership with companies in specialized fields, Tamkeen can jointly work with them to develop and further prepare Bahraini employees to take on new roles. The training could also expand to on-job training and training abroad.
Learning activities are very critical to the success of any company. In GARMCO, learning takes place from the very first day a new employee joins and continues to the end of the employee’s work cycle. It ensures that employees are continuously expanding and gaining the necessary skills and knowledge that meet the standards of GARMCO. It also ensures that employees are up-to-date and have relevant market knowledge to enable GARMCO to compete effectively. We pride ourselves on being a huge contributor in preparing a professional and capable generation that will add to the advancement and success of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Driving Philosophy"Learning and development is not just an admin function for GARMCO, it is a strategic element of our operations."
Nawaf Zainal Head of Learning & Talent Development(Gulf Aluminium Rolling Mill B.S.C)
Inspirational JourneyTraning and Wage Support
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Since its foundation, we at Nine Senses Beauty Centre & Spa, have aimed
to assist women in reconnecting with their senses, and enjoy their
sense-ability. This comes as part of our objectives to provide the market
with an unparalleled sensory experience catering to spa and wellness needs.
Through continuous development and improvement, Nine Senses was able to
provide an unrivalled range of signature wellness treatments focusing on a variety
of services including: hair, health, beauty, nail care, rejuvenation, stress reduction
and recuperation using pure, natural and environmentally-friendly products.
When an opportunity arose to create a business around this need, we embraced it as it would allow us to make a difference in the industry and create an impact in the market. This was in part due to a major support obtained from Tamkeen in the form of a business loan granted by Bahrain Development Bank (BDB). This support allowed Nine Senses to move from the initial planning stages to implementation and becoming a real concept.
Following our establishment, Nine Senses managed to receive further support from Tamkeen through its Enterprise Support program which allowed for the development and implementation of effective marketing plans as well as acquiring key and necessary equipment.
Today, we are proud of reaching a state of local market recognition following careful and rigorous planning and execution. Currently, Nine Senses has expanded further as its facilities cover a vast amount of space in a popular Bahraini area easily accessed by the public.
In the future, we also want to bring our local Bahraini touch to more people, and possibly franchise in order to become a recognized beauty and spa brand across the region, which contributes to reflecting Bahrain’s talent, innovation and creativity.
Biggest Inspiration"After 12 years of experience in the same field of Beauty & Spa services, we found out that there is a need to build a unique Bahraini brand of beauty and spa services."
Inspirational JourneyEnterprise Support
Ali Al RayesNine Senses Beauty Center & Spa
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Business Essentials: The Importance of a Business Plan for Venture Success
At any given stage of a business venture, whether in the planning phase or after establishment, a business plan is considered crucial documentation which serves as the guide to map out a venture’s past, present and future with research, forecasting, objectives, expectations, growth opportunities, targets, performance measures, marketing tactics, communication plans and more.
In the early stages of any planned venture, a business plan acts as a written description detailing the trajectory of a business supported by data insights and expectations as well as a plan of action and strategy to achieve objectives. The essential elements detailed in a business plan highlight allocation of capital, resources and ability to demonstrate
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profitability and distinction in a given venture to potential investors, financiers, business support entities or partners.
A business plan’s structure is pillared by several components which aim to offer detailed insight into an entrepreneur’s venture with the following:
Executive Summary: A general outline summarising the venture and the objectives of the entrepreneur
Business Description: The industry description offering market insights as well as projections of the industry’s present and future developments
Market Strategies: Definition of target markets via market analysis to determine the venture’s positioning
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Competitive Analysis: Identification of primary industry competitors including strengths and weaknesses
Design & Development Plan: Budget development and product design are showcased
Operations & Management Plan: Daily business functionality which includes logistics, organisational structure, expenses and day-to-day tasks
Milestones & KPIs: Clear operational goals and timelines that are employed to monitor the business’ performance in relation to the strategic goals and objectives
Financial Data: Financial capital, projections, forecasting and expenses
In its compliance and adherence to optimal business practices, Tamkeen’s requirement of thorough business plans submitted by potential business owners has in turn resulted in receiving higher quality applications showcasing long-term strategic planning and guidance. Providing business plans ensures business milestones are highlighted and key performance indicators (KPIs) are developed, planned and met.
With its updated processes, criteria and evaluation procedures implemented In Tamkeen’s Enterprise Support Program - a key flagship scheme aimed to support enterprise growth and development - business plans have become crucial to assisting budding enterprises determine their business needs. Additionally, by requiring business owners to submit comprehensive business plans, Tamkeen enables them to fully consider their potential business from all aspects and ascertain their needs.
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SME grows and achieves sustainability
5
Clientdiscusses
requirementswith Bank
3
Bank approves loan
at reduced interests
4
SMEcustomer
approachesTamkeen
12
Tamkeen advices SME
on risk alleviation
SME contributes to
growth of economy
6
Finance SchemeEncouraging Businesses to Achieve their Aspirations
One of Tamkeen’s main objectives is making the private sector the engine of growth for Bahrain’s economy in achieveing sustainable economic development. One of the steps needed to achieve this is the creation of an environment that allows individuals with an entrepreneurial bent of mind to be able to bring their ideas to reality. This is a core element for the growth of any modern economy, as new ideas and concepts need to be injected into the market due to the continuously changing needs as well as the dynamic nature of the economy.
The creation of this environment requires both changes in culture as well as providing the physical means that will allow entrepreneurship to thrive. For example, one of the biggest
challenges facing entrepreneurs, start-ups and small businesses, is the provision of funding, as these types of businesses generally have high risk and banks may be reluctant in providing them with the necessary financing.
To help such businesses may acquire the funding they need, Tamkeen launched the Finance Scheme in 2007 whereby it supports 50% on the profit charged, approved by a bank to a business, in addition to providing a 50% of the principal as a guarantee to the financing bank. This way, Tamkeen alleviates the risk associated with new ventures and Small/Medium businesses, while only providing a fraction of the total financing.
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SME grows and achieves sustainability
5
Clientdiscusses
requirementswith Bank
3
Bank approves loan
at reduced interests
4
SMEcustomer
approachesTamkeen
12
Tamkeen advices SME
on risk alleviation
SME contributes to
growth of economy
6
Tamkeen’s goal through the program is however not to fund; banks have always served this purpose. Through the program, Tamkeen seeks to give entrepreneurs and business-minded individuals with the opportunities to realize their aspirations and goals. Of the 6,250 enterprises that benefited from the scheme to date, 83% are classified as small businesses and 16% are classified as medium businesses. And while Tamkeen only spent around BD 22 million in profit and guarantee payments, the resulting provision of more than BD 350 million in funding through partner banks, and the availability of a BD 412.5 million portfolio, have been instrumental in the creation and sustainability of a significant number of businesses in Bahrain.
During 2007, the program’s launch year, only Fixed Asset funding was provided to benefiting enterprises. To expand the program, new forms of funding were introduced during later years. This included Working Capital financing, Working Capital + Fixed Assets financing, Trade financing in addition to a number of other financing that were provided outside of these categories.
In 2015, around 900 enterprises benefited across all these categories, which is a reflection of Tamkeen’s strategy to making the Finance Scheme more flexible so as to address a variety of needs and requirements.
Partnerships with banks however, is critical for the success of this program, as they are the prime facilitators and funds providers. Tamkeen works very closely with these banks in order to ensure that businesses are provided with the right amount and type of funding to help them achieve their goals and objectives.
In 2015, Tamkeen worked with a number of banks, including:
• Bahrain Development Bank • Bahrain Islamic Bank
• BMI/Al Salam Bank • Khaleeji Commercial Bank
• Kuwait Finance House • Al Baraka Bank
• Ithmaar Bank
Since the launch of Tamkeen’s Finance Scheme, there has been a shift in the provision of funding to start ups and SMEs, even without Tamkeen’s involvement. The program effectively created a much more encouraging environment for banks to provide funding to Bahraini businesses.
The below illustration showcases how Tamkeen’s Finance Scheme adds value to both enterprises and banks. This in turn increases the overall number of businesses and subsequently creates further growth and development opportunities.
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As motivation plays a crucial role in employees’ satisfaction and eventually their retention, in 2008, BAS signed an agreement with Tamkeen to benefit from the Training & Wage support scheme which allowed BAS to offer its employees a salary increment. More than 500 of our employees enrolled in the various training programs offered by the scheme to further enhance their skills broaden their knowledge and expand their professional experience.
As a result, our employees were more motivated which reflected positively on their performance levels and loyalty to the company, and eventually on our overall productivity and quality of work.
Khalid Al-Bastaki Senior Manager - Training & Development
Bahrain Airport Services (BAS), one of Bahrain’s major private companies under a
government concession, is the sole provider of all aircraft support services at Bahrain
International Airport. Founded in August 1977, BAS has been professionally committed
to providing comprehensive ground support to more than 35 airlines operating
through Bahrain International Airport, including Bahrain’s national carrier- Gulf Air.
At BAS, one of the leading Ground Handling Agents (GHA) in the region, we believe
that Human Capital is our main asset.
Our focusIs on developing and enhancing our employees’ skills, knowledge and experience.
Inspirational JourneyTraining and Wage Support
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Inspirational JourneyProfessional Certifications Scheme
Creo InnovationFounder, Creo InnovationNoora Al Haddad
The first project I undertook was pro-bono because I believed it would reap societal benefits, and insisting on such a project was essential in helping us realize the CSR visions of our brand. By organizing an art exhibition with proceeds going to children cancer patients, we opened the doors to collaborate with many other firms which eventually helped us establish CREO as a reputable firm. The return on the work I was doing proved to me how far your dreams can take you. It was also the starting point to a new chapter full of ambitions and achievements and I was more motivated than ever to dive into this journey.”
The work we do at Creo is very much client focused therefore understanding client needs is essential to success. A challenge I experienced was the inability to understand the specific industry-focused jargon used by my clients. In order to address the challenge, I found a solution through Tamkeen’s practical educational courses which offer services to help prepare participants and enlighten them about different sectors. The professional certificate not only helped me to understand the needs of my clients, but also gave me the confidence to handle the detailed and specific client work efficiently. Tamkeen’s support allowed me to better enhance the communication I had with my clients where I am able now to further understand their needs, anticipate demand and provide effective solutions.
In the future, I aim to continue working on beneficial projects that not only help our clients but the community as a whole where we try to engrain the culture of giving and contributing to maintain our social unity.”
“My journey with Creo started about 3 years ago, and it began with my interest
in delving into projects and ideas that could benefit people’s way of life, society is
one of the core motivators that push me to work tirelessly for the greater benefit
of the community. Having my brother, who was one my biggest supporters,
was immensely rewarding in my quest of achieving my ambitions. I faced many
who questioned my abilities and aspirations and tried to convince me against
pursuing my idea. The thought of leaving my previous successful position was
shocking to all; however my ambition pushed aside any doubt.
Creo Philosophy"The work we do at Creo is very much client focused therefore understand client needs is essential to success"
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Customization of Tamkeen’s support requires the understanding of individual and business needs. To achieve this, a segmentation model has been put in place to understand common needs that are shared between individuals and businesses. This model takes into account the industry and the stage of development.
Tamkeen’s segmentation included grouping businesses into three different categories:
The segmentation was put in place to address correlating needs between the segments. For example, start-up businesses tend to require basic business function support more than growing or mature businesses. On the individual side, an example is the need for career progression amongst employees, which does not apply to jobseekers or students as it requires working in an established position.
In addition, individuals were also segmented into three different categories:
However, continuous efforts will be required from Tamkeen to understand needs even further. This is evident in the feedback collected from the public during the year, particularly during Tamkeen’s consultation session on the 3rd of November, which
included around 600 participants from all economic sectors and brought together professionals of different backgrounds including business owners, entrepreneurs, executives, jobseekers, students and other stakeholders. This also included feedback that was presented during specific sessions which were separately held with each economic sector.
As a result, Tamkeen organised and created nine Advisory Committees representing nine economic sectors comprised of professionals experienced in their respective industries. The Committees were formed to reinforce Tamkeen’s efforts to fully engage and actively work alongside the Private Sector to enhance Tamkeen’s offerings and build working relationships with sectors across the different facets of the economy.
The Committees, which officially started their involvement in 2016, will be tasked with providing feedback and recommendations to help develop and adjust Tamkeen’s
support programs according to sector-specific requirements and needs. They will also offer advice to help Tamkeen bridge the current gaps in specific industries and the private sector in general, as well as propose ways for possible cooperation with potential partners. The Committees will hold regular meetings every quarter to provide their feedback, and will highlight issues that require immediate attention.
The nine Advisory Committees represent the following sectors: Manufacturing & Oil/Gas, Real Estate & Construction, Accommodation & Food Services, Wholesale & Retail Trade, Health, Business & Support Service Activities, Information & Communication Technology, Education as well as Transportation & Logistics.
Segments and Sectors Analysing Tamkeen’s Customer Needs
Start-up Businesses
Students
Growing Businesses
Jobseekers
Maturing Businesses
Employees
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Manufacturing, Oil and Gas
Wholesale and Retail Trade
Information and Communication
Technology
Education
Health
Transportation and Logistics
Accommodation and Food Services
Business and Support Service
Activities
Real Estate, Contstruction and Utilities
AdvisoryCommittees
Advisory Committees’ Responsibilities• Identify sector trends and challenges
• Identify vocational training and education needs within sectors
• Obtain feedback and review of Tamkeen’s: – Policies – Scope – Products – Impact of its efforts to the sector
• Identify opportunities for joint projects and collaboration with other entities
• Intervention mechanisms that are best suited for market needs
• Recommending policy and funding prioritiespage 29
33,000Customers Visitors
11,500Bahraini’s Reached
285Community Events
102
36
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Enhancing Customer Touchpoints
One of the pillars for Tamkeen’s 2015-2017 strategy is customer centricity, which forms a core part of Tamkeen’s operations during the period. As such, Tamkeen launched new initiatives and continued enhancing previous offers in order to ensure that customer centricity remains at the heart of its support services.
Tamkeen’s customer engagement initiatives continued to be a catalyst for customer centricity. In 2015, the customer engagement unit held more than 280 community events that reached over 11,500 Bahrainis. These events formed a bridge that connects Tamkeen directly with the community. Almost all community events conducted by the customer engagement unit were exclusively on request basis, which allowed Tamkeen to engage directly with individuals and businesses that have the drive to further develop and evolve.
The team also handled more than 44,700 inbound calls, and 15,800 outbound calls. Overall, more than 33,000 customers visited Tamkeen’s customer services centers in Seef Mall, Bait Al Tijjar, Enma Mall, Sitra Mall and five representative offices. In addition, the team also handled more than 3,300 e-Mail enquiries.
Furthermore, in order to ensure that the quality of its programs is upheld to international standards and procedures, Tamkeen continued conducting various impact and assessment studies. In 2015, more than 78 studies were conducted covering different sectors such as Human Resources Development, Career Guidance & Progression, Aviation, Health Care, etc. to mention but a few.
Customer engagement at-a-glance
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33,000Customers Visitors
11,500Bahraini’s Reached
285Community Events
102
36
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Held under the kind patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, First Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of Bahrain Economic Development Board, The Bahrain Award for Entrepreneurship was announced at the end of 2014 with the aim to spotlight innovative talent in a private sector-driven economy and recognise the efforts, contributions and initiatives established by Bahrain’s entrepreneurs. In line with the Kingdom’s national economic vision, this award celebrates the achievements of Bahrain’s entrepreneurs and their socio-economic role directly affecting Bahrain’s economy across various fields.
The award is a testament to the success of the different initiatives supporting entrepreneurship throughout the Kingdom, accomplishing the mission that Tamkeen and their award partners set out to achieve, namely the development of Bahrain’s private sector and positioning it as the key driver of economic growth. The recognition achieved by the award highlights the role that both creativity and innovation have played in developing the Kingdom’s economy, marking that entrepreneurship, a core driver of pivotal change, has contributed in the growth of Bahrain’s private sector. The success of this award further cemented Bahrain’s position as a regional hub for entrepreneurship.
This national initiative, the first of its kind in Bahrain, is at its core a celebration of Bahrain’s thriving entrepreneurial sector and the impact these ventures have on both the local and the regional economy. The regional competitive scale meant enlisting a dynamic prize package for selected winners, offering them sustainable opportunities for development. The prizes included: enrolment in development programs, seed funding capital, business coaching, incubator space, growth plan development, certification and training as well as the opportunity to connect to a vast network of local, regional and international business leaders.
Elevating the Entrepreneurial Spirit The Bahrain Award for Entrepreneurship
100+
20
31
7
Applications received
Semi-finalists Winners
Shortlisted
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Besides meeting the set eligibility criteria, the six pillars that the applicants had to demonstrate were: enterprise growth, impact on Bahrain’s economy, optimisation and development of talent, leadership and innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and business responsibility.
The Bahrain Award for Entrepreneurship saw enormous collaboration as demonstrated with its Award Partners, Knowledge Advisors as well as a panel of esteemed judges comprising some of the region’s most renowned and high-profile entrepreneurs and business figures. Award partners included the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), the Bahrain Development Bank, whereas the Knowledge Advisors were BCCI, EY Bahrain and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation -Arab Regional Centre for Entrepreneurship & Investment Training and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce & Tourism.
The award in essence is a proof of Bahrain’s commitment to further encourage the growth of the entrepreneurial sector on the basis of competitiveness, sustainability and creativity while recognising Bahrain’s entrepreneurs, their initiatives and contribution to Bahrain’s economy. The award also contributed to advancing innovation, a key element to the ongoing development of the Kingdom’s economy.
Due to the success of the first edition and the economic and regional impact it has achieved, the second edition of the award has seen a high demand for additional categories, thus leading to the Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award as well as the Enterprise of the Year with international footprint. As a result
of popular demand, the nomination and application periods were extended further in the second edition to allow more entrepreneurs across many sectors to submit their ventures for consideration.
Entrepreneurial nominees were given the chance of recognition, via application or nomination, on a national scale with the five award categories:
• Micro-enterprise of the Year
• Start-up of the Year
• Enterprise of the Year (SMEs)
• Enterprise of the Year (Large enterprise)
• Sustainable Business Award (SME and large enterprise categories)
Two categories were also included, outside of the application process:
• Lifetime Achievement Award
• People’s Choice Award
Tamkeen’s creation and continuation of The Bahrain Award for Entrepreneurship and its growing regional success had in turn inspired business ventures to flourish in the Kingdom. With the celebratory aspect of the award, entrepreneurial motivation has increased within the country’s economy and has seen steady growth in various sectors, resulting in further diversification of Bahrain’s economic development.
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The Bahrain Shopping Festival
20
The Bahrain Shopping Festival, entitled Bahrain Noor El Ain in its inaugural year (2014), was articulated to continually add value to Bahrain’s economy by redefining Bahrain’s shopping experience and attracting a high volume of tourist traffic during the Kingdom’s most active festive season.
The festival, the first of its kind in Bahrain, saw the inclusion of malls, retailers and shoppers participating in deals, promotions, and activities aimed to attract and engage locals and visitors. The dynamic shopping festival saw the participation of over 20 of Bahrain’s malls which encompassed the registration of over 1,500 retailers.
Bahrain Shopping Festival, launched as the Kingdom’s first large-scale shopping carnival during the National Day celebrations, was designed to bring substantial economic benefits to the Kingdom’s retail and tourism sectors as well as the general economy while showcasing Bahrain’s premier offerings to entice local and regional visitors. The Festival utilised localised bazaars set in each governorate of the Kingdom to promote Bahraini and Bahrain-based vendors, local talents and products on display at rotating markets. Additionally, the Festival hosted specialised activities promoting Bahrain’s cultural heritage such as the Souk Explorer Challenge at Bab Al Bahrain’s Manama Souk, family-themed weekly carnivals at businesswomen’s incubator Riyadat Mall and a Farmers’ Collaborative networking event at the popular Budaiya Farmer’s Market, were included so as to promote Bahrain’s tourist activity hubs during the festival.
As the festival capitalised on the influx of visitors to the Kingdom, driving them to engage in the weekly bazaars, it also promoted a thriving range of activities intrinsic to Bahrain. Continually stimulating the tourism sector with initiatives such as Market 338 set in Bahrain’s restaurant hub in Adliya, the outdoor botanical food market in the Budaiya Farmers Market, Al Basta Entertainment Bazaar featuring traditional local musicians and artists at the iconic Bahrain International
Providing Value to Bahrain’s Economy Bahrain Shopping Festival
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The Bahrain Shopping Festival
20Circuit and the grand finale event at the Amwaj Lagoon which saw an influx of visitors both local and regional joining in this nationwide event.
Bahrain Shopping Festival proved to be a popular platform capturing Bahrain’s unique spirit and rich cultural identity through the nation-wide events aiming to stimulate the retail sector and boost the tourism sector. Throughout its duration, the national initiative saw a higher than usual inflow of visitors entering the Kingdom from neighboring GCC countries as well as further Arab countries on a weekly basis.
An integral part of the festival had shoppers redeem their purchases at participating retailers, malls and outlets with raffle vouchers, for a chance to win a variety of weekly mega prizes ranging from smartphones, tablets, television sets, airline tickets, furniture and cars. As a result of this never-before-seen selection of raffle prizes, shoppers’ participation saw an unparalleled surge with thousands from a wide range of nationalities submitting their raffle tickets.
Over 1,500 retailers also reaped the benefits of participating in the Shopping Festival’s ‘Shop and Win’ promotion, as total sales in participating outlets reached more than BD 18 million during the festival duration.
The success of the national initiative led to the launch of the second edition in the year 2015, under the moniker of ‘Shop Bahrain’. The second edition launched on December 24th 2015, and featured even more participation from retailers, shopping malls, vendors and the general public with visitation numbers climbing with each passing week of the festival.
With Tamkeen launching the Bahrain Shopping Festival in 2014 and subsequently continuing the celebratory event in 2015, the Kingdom has witnessed a steady increase in tourist numbers from neighbouring Gulf and international countries, which offered significant economic benefit to Bahrain.
