Transguard literacy initiative reads well

Transguard, an Emirates Group company, is celebrating a record year for its English training department.

Lynne McMurray, Executive Director at Transguard says: “At Transguard, we pay more than lip service to our commitment to ensuring staff training is practical, accessible and beneficial. We have seen a doubling of staff taking up our English lessons in the last few months – and we are witnessing increasing success rates.”

McMurray believes that with over 20,000 staff, Transguard’s language training initiative is currently the biggest of its kind in the Middle East. In the last 18 months, in the UAE, nearly 8,000 staff have taken advantage of English language training.

Many of the company’s staff who apply to undertake one of the 22 courses on offer – from elementary English to advanced communications - are cleaners or baggage handlers who are keen to move up the work ladder and further their career.

“We are keen to engender staff loyalty, and believe that via regular training, we can rapidly identify those with above-average aptitude. We employ a diverse workforce across our divisions, and it’s gratifying to see so many of them are keen to improve their communication skills,” adds Lynne McMurray.

English language training is provided through the “Common European Framework” which leads to officially, and internationally recognised qualifications in the form of an IELTS certification.

On joining Transguard, all staff members are tested for their English proficiency and those who excel are encouraged to take an internationally recognised Cambridge University English exam.

The language training centre also offers 96 hour development courses, for rapid language training, as well as a range of self- and home-study opportunities.

Another unique Transguard initiative is “The Conversation Club”. Launched at the start of 2011, the club has met with extraordinary success.  All levels of staff come together to chat in English; watch films and read in a relaxed, comfortable environment.

Transguard also provides staff living in its accommodation blocks with access to a library of some 1300 novels, as well as current magazines and daily newspapers.