Benefits of the ERB (Employees Retraining Board) for Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, those looking to find employment or improve their skill-set can consider an ERB (Employees Retraining Board) course. The ERB in Hong Kong is an independent statutory body with approximately 410 training courses all over Hong Kong, coordinating job training courses across a wide range of disciplines to connecting those looking for future opportunities to retrain with employers who may wish to hire them afterwards.
Benefits for the Individual
The unemployed can access the ERB (Employees Retraining Board) course prospectus and choose from a wide range of disciples and vocations. Placement-tied courses are designed to give unemployed individuals a new skill plus valuable experience on placement within the field. The courses are offered in construction, finance, hair and beauty, property management, and many more. Each course also seeks to develop an individuals' interpersonal skills, meaning that the courses will help improve employability across every field.
For those already in employment, there are courses which seek to develop core skills, thus paving the way for subsequent promotion. Core skills, such as maths and writing, can be improved, while skills such as how to conduct a job search and prepare for an interview are beneficial for those who are nervous about moving up the career ladder.
Benefits for Employers
The ERB (Employee Retraining Board) courses can be extremely useful for employers and businesses too. Not only can courses train specific employees to meet new performance targets, but the ERB also works with employers in the recruitment process.
This includes:
Job matching and referral. Those who have completed a placement-tied course undertake a three month placement. Employers keen to recruit graduate trainees can apply to the ERB for referrals from the pool of graduates seeking placement.
Industry service programme. This ERB service is a further platform for discussion and mutual assistance between employers in industry, the ERB, and its graduates. The ERB encourages and supports recruitment drives in various industries, linking employers with graduates.
Tailor made programmes. For employers offering twelve or more vacancies requiring skills not covered by existing ERB courses, the ERB body can design tailor-made courses. Employers can take part in selecting candidates for the course and benefit from the support of pre-employment training and post-employment follow-up to solve long-term recruitment difficulties.
The ERB also has the "ERB Manpower Developer Award Scheme," which recognises commitment to manpower development and training within organisations. Receiving this award marks out an organisation as an investor in people and as such, is beneficial to a company's reputation.
Benefits to Society
Through their range of training courses and services offered, the ERB benefits not only the individuals directly involved in the scheme, but also the community at large. People who have been trained to excel enhance the productivity of a region. Furthermore, the ERB supports some of the most vulnerable people in society, including the long-term unemployed, ethnic minorities, disabled people, rehabilitated drug-users, and new immigrants to Hong Kong. These groups are special service targets which the ERB seek to integrate happily and productively into Hong Kong life. Courses aimed at the youth offer similar benefits to society as educating and training the young is imperative for long-term stability within communities.
The ERB courses are designed to be of benefit to everyone. Those studying a course will learn new skills and gain access to potential employment; employers gain access to a pool of trained and committed potential staff, and Hong Kong as a whole benefits from reduced unemployment, increased engagement, and greater social cohesion. Through training and work-placement, the ERB is seeking to increase productivity for industry and improve life for citizens, particularly those who previously had reduced access to opportunity.
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