Latest news with #localTalent
The National
29-06-2025
- Business
- The National
Private sector companies tell of benefits recruiting Emirati talent as latest deadline nears
UAE business leaders making an investment in local talent are helping to change the face of an evolving private sector landscape as the government's Emiratisation strategy takes shape. Companies told The National of the importance of integrating citizens into their workplace culture and said it was crucial to think outside of the box when launching recruitment drives. Private sector firms with 50 or more employees must ensure 7 per cent of skilled roles are filled by Emiratis by June 30, with substantial fines levied from the following month for those caught flouting the rules. The latest six-monthly target is part of the country's mission to have 10 per cent of private sector jobs taken up by Emiratis by the end of 2026. More than 141,000 Emiratis were employed in private companies by the end of May, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation said. While businesses are eager to avoid financial penalties, they have been urged to adopt a big picture view of the benefits of unlocking the potential of thousands of new recruits. Learning curve Ben Crompton, managing partner of Crompton Partners estate agents in Abu Dhabi, said that starting early is essential as 'it's a learning curve for everyone involved'. 'First, we needed to know where to advertise to attract Emirati talent. Then, we needed to explain the nature of real estate pay structures [commission-based pay] in comparison to typical salaried jobs. 'We also wanted to ensure our Emirati team members were comfortably settled into a multicultural team, where English is the primary language. And finally, we needed to overcome assumptions about some Emiratis only preferring government jobs. This last challenge is merely an assumption,' said Mr Crompton. Mr Crompton said that the company has benefitted greatly from adding Emiratis to the workforce. 'Some of our clients who are local investors benefit from our Emirati team members' ability to connect with them both linguistically and culturally, and we now have even more success stories with Emirati team members working on highly successful projects that involve selling Emirati-specific properties.' Broadening scope Bader Alawadhi, executive director of Leader Group, which has an extensive portfolio of interests spanning from retail and real estate and shopping malls, said encouraging Emiratis to switch from the public sector remained a challenge. 'There is a limited pool of Emirati talent actively seeking roles in the private sector, especially outside government entities,' he said. 'Many qualified nationals are already in public sector roles that offer more attractive salaries and shorter working hours,' said Mr Alawadhi. Mr Alawadhi advised companies to broaden their scope when searching for Emirati hires and not to solely rely on recruitment portals established by the government. 'There are other talent providers and consultancies that can help access Emirati CVs. Unfortunately, many HR teams focus only on the usual platforms, which narrows the search. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation might also consider accrediting more sourcing partners to broaden the pool and help companies meet targets more efficiently.' Mr Alawadhi said that they've avoided fines on a compliance level 'but the real win has been seeing committed young Emiratis thrive within our teams'. Carving a niche Mohammed Al Gaith, a senior level worker in real estate, said that finding jobs in the private sector at the senior level proved much harder than junior level jobs. 'When I graduated around 2017, I secured a civil engineering role even before finishing university. At that time, the entry-level landscape was more open. But as you rise through the ranks, the dynamics change − networking, demographics and relationships begin to matter more than merit alone. 'I'm at the senior manager level. But even with that experience, I still face structural barriers. Emiratisation strategies in many organisations focus on entry-level or admin roles to tick the KPI [key performance indicator] box. There's far less emphasis on integrating Emiratis into strategic, decision-making positions. 'This misses a huge opportunity. Emirati professionals at the senior level can offer not just technical skill but cultural intelligence, stakeholder access and a long-term commitment to the national vision.' Mr Al Gaith advised young jobseekers to find a niche and build their career around it. He used the example that where 'there might be hundreds of civil engineers competing for the same role, there are far fewer project controls specialists or planners with deep expertise'. He added that carving a niche sets you apart and increases your value in a highly competitive market. Wealth of talent 'The work experience and knowledge gained in the private sector are extensive, given its dynamic and fast-paced environment,' said Maryam AlNuaimi, Emiratisation and early careers specialist at Marsh McLennan, a professional services company with a focus on risk and strategy. 'If companies take advantage of this initiative by implementing long-term strategies for Emirati employees, the benefits will be significant for everyone involved − the Emiratis, the companies, and the nation as a whole. 'I strongly encourage all companies to adopt this initiative, as there is a wealth of talented Emiratis with great potential,' 'Meeting deadlines is manageable if the company has a strategic recruitment plan in place for hiring Emiratis and has made an effort to maintain a solid pool of candidates to replace on time those who resign,' she added.
BBC News
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Young people open music venue to boost night economy in St Neots
Young people have come together to create a new alternative music night in their home town. Grace Marsh, 24, is one of three young people working to create a space in St Neots, to boost the Cambridgeshire town's night-time Sam Squire, 25, and Adrian Kabzinski, 28, the trio came up with C58 to host alternative music events next to the Citizen Squire explained their thinking, saying: "Why have I got go all the way to London to have a good night out... why can't we set something up in St Neots?" Ms Marsh, managing director at the Community Hub, said they wanted to bring people together by hosting different events and giving local talent a platform to also hoped it would familiarise people with the hub so they felt comfortable visiting or asking for help if they needed themes and sounds of the events will alternate to give people something new each time they visit. 'Thrive' By doing so, they hope it will give people a purpose to come into town and explore its nightlife, she added."There's enough space, enough capacity and so many cool, small businesses that do amazing signature cocktails and amazing craft beer - we want those places to thrive," she launching the space, the team said several people had been in touch regarding opportunities for budding young DJs to space will open for its first event, described as bringing Amsterdam to St Neots, on 5 July. The team hopes to eventually start a type of "fringe festival" across the town to encourage people to move between different Kabzinski, who has worked in hospitality since he was 16, said C58 aims to help local hospitality. "I sat there for ages trying to figure out how can we come up with ways to focus on the nightlife... what brings everyone together? It's the culture," he said."St Neots is actually a good place, we can make something out of it. This has given us a great blueprint to focus on the bigger things now. "You can have a venue but if you don't have a culture within that certain area, it's not going to happen... so that's the bit we're still working on." Mr Squire is CEO of Inspire 2 Ignite, which aims to reduce the number of young people not in education, employment, or hopes the venture will create opportunities like a hospitality programme for young people."There's so many people that, like Grace and Adrian, have loads of potential but they need the opportunity to showcase what that is. "We want to just amplify that to as many people in the community as possible." Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
News24
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
Soweto TV's Tidi Sehlako on shaping communities through music
Broadcasting from the heart of South Africa's largest township, Soweto Community Television (Soweto TV) has become a cultural cornerstone for local entertainment and representation. At the forefront stands Tidimalo Sehlako, the host of Just Music, whose platform seeks to elevate South African artists to compete confidently on the international stage. Tidi is crafting a space where local talent shines alongside global music, creating new pathways for homegrown artists. In an interview with TRUELOVE, she invites viewers behind the curtain of her remarkable career, offering an opportunity to get insight into her journey, creative process and vision for the future of South African broadcasting. The impact of Soweto TV The platform brims with local talent. In as much as it is showing young people what is out there and encouraging them to dream bigger, it is also showing the narrative that 'you start small, you start wherever you are with whatever you have and you will definitely make it'. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tidi Sehlako (@tidimalo_s) Through reaching communities that are on the outlying areas, they are also aiming for quality broadcasting. 'We're reaching more people, especially those who cannot afford all these streaming platforms, people whose affordability isn't in the middle class,' she says. Long-form impact in a short-form world Social media content continues to grow rapidly, with platforms like TikTok shaping how people consume content. As a result, attention spans and audiences have changed, engaging videos that deliver value in seconds. 'If you look at the time frame that it's on, it's catered for a specific demographic. You get young children coming from school. They knock off, come home and the first thing they want to do is get the lowdown on what's fresh in terms of music - what we're listening to, what's going to be trendy on TikTok. READ MORE | How Mongiwa Hazel Ntuli bagged an actuarial science degree at 17 'For those three hours from 14:00 to 17:00, whether they're doing homework or chores, we are there in the background or on the forefront if they're actually watching. They're listening to the music, the content and all the information we're giving them about music, helping them stay afloat in that area.' She notes that even though we are in the socoal media age and people overly scrolling, there is still an appetite for content that keeps you abreast of what's happening. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tidi Sehlako (@tidimalo_s)
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Beaches Jazz Festival Unveils Lineup for T.O.'s Biggest Free Summer Festival: Live Jazz, Salsa, Indie, House & More July 4-27
TORONTO, May 26, 2025 /CNW/ - The 37th annual Beaches International Jazz Festival returns with hundreds of live performances by top local talent and international artists to light up Woodbine Park, Jimmie Simpson Park, and Queen Street East from July 4–27, 2025. The Festival has become a cherished summer tradition for hundreds of thousands of Torontonians. It's completely free offering jazz, funk, salsa, blues, disco, indie, hip hop, house, ska, rock, and more welcoming all ages to gather, dance, and connect through the power of live music and community. Click here for the preliminary program. "The Beaches Jazz Festival is a world-class event and one of North America's top summer music festivals. It celebrates Toronto's vibrant diversity and community spirit with something for every music lover," said Jay Cleary, Artistic Director. 2025 Highlights Sounds of Leslieville & RiversideJuly 4–6 | Jimmie Simpson Park, 870 Queen St. food-filled fun featuring swing, jazz, and indie talent. July 4: The Jazz Mechanics, The Philcos, The Bomb (Tribute to the 80s) July 5: Free Swing Dance Lesson, Martin Loomer, Swing Shift Big Band, Jackson Steinwall, CMAGIC5, U.N. Jefferson, Tell it to Sweeney July 6: Angela Pincente Big Band, Ross Wooldridge Orchestra, MOKA, Zuffalo, Jerry Leger TD Salsa on the BeachJuly 11–13 | Woodbine ParkCanada's biggest outdoor celebration of Latin music and culture. July 11: DJ EL ALEX, Yani Borrell & Orquesta (2 sets) July 12: Santiago Moa, Banda Dura, SWA Divas, Ricky Franco July 13: Santana Forever, Araguacu Dance Class, 6 del Barrio (2 sets) TD Weekend at Woodbine ParkJuly 18–20 | Woodbine ParkReggae, funk, and T.O.'s biggest free 90s hip hop night hosted by Master T. July 18: "Get On Up meets Renaissance" July 19: Quincy Bullen, The Honeyrunners, The Bomb, Beatlemania July 20: Countermeasure, Shuffle Demons, Golden Feather, The Human Rights StreetFestJuly 24–26 | 7–11 PM | Queen St. E. from Woodbine to BeechT.O.'s ultimate street party with 30+ bands. OLG Weekend Series / Groovin' in the ParkJuly 25–27 | Woodbine ParkJuly 25: Celebrating 10 years of dance, community, and culture; 2-days of soul, funk, and house. July 26: Saturday Fever with legendary international DJs. T.O.'s biggest electronic & dance party under the stars. July 27: TANDM, Avery Raquel, CHLORINE, SheBad Johannes Linstead: From Spain to CubaJuly 22 | Beach United ChurchSpanish guitar concert benefitting the Michael Garron Hospital Foundation. Click here for tickets. TD Workshop Series: BigFamJamJuly 8, 15 & 22 | Drom Taberna, 458 Queen St. jams hosted by Jackson Steinwall. All musicians welcome. 9:30 PM. MEDIA ASSETS here & here. The Beaches Jazz Festival started in 1989 to unite the community through music. This month-long celebration draws hundreds of thousands of attendees yearly to support Canadian music talent, injecting millions of dollars into the local economy. Follow @beachesjazz for updates. SOURCE Beaches Jazz Festival View original content to download multimedia:
CNA
09-05-2025
- Business
- CNA
Singapore expands tech talent pipeline scheme
Singapore is boosting efforts to groom local talent for leadership roles in the global tech arena. It is part of the SG Digital Leaders scheme, with 19 professionals joining a growing network of other tech experts in domains like AI and quantum computing. Nicolas Ng with more.
