Employees Retraining Board

The Employees Retraining Board (ERB) organized its 3rd ERB “Manpower Development Scheme” Award Presentation today (18 December 2010) at the Plaza of Sha Tin Town Hall, with the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr. Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, GBS, JP, the Chairman of ERB, Dr. Ng Tat-lun, BBS, JP, the Vice-chairman, Mrs Agnes MAK TANG Pik-yee, MH, JP and the Executive Director, Mr. Ng Ka-kwong, BBS officiated the kick off ceremony. Around 400 guests from various sectors joined the bustling event, sharing the joyous moment of the awardees.

A total of 86 awards under 9 categories were presented to outstanding employers, trainees, strategic partners and training bodies for their invaluable contribution to the success of the ERB Manpower Development Scheme.

Eleven trainees were awarded “ERB Outstanding Trainees Award”. Highlights were the “Post-80s” who demonstrated strong determination to embark on their career journeys, an ethnic minority immigrant and a hearing-impaired new arrival who readily integrated into the local community, a non-engaged youth rejuvenated his learning motive and went back to school, and a new arrival recovered from the trauma of widowhood and bankruptcy to live a new life. The Award not only demonstrated recognition of the trainees’ positive attitude towards life and their courage in overcoming adversities, but it also honoured their unceasing endeavours to acquire new job skills through enrolling ERB training courses. Their shining stories are worthy examples for everyone to share.

The Chairman of ERB, Dr. Ng Tat-lun highlighted in his speech that ERB extended its service targets to cover people aged 15 or above with an education attainment of sub-degree or below in late 2007. Teaming up with 95 appointed training bodies, ERB now offered almost 600 job-specific skills training courses and generic skills training courses varying from entry-level job skills to professional certification training covering a spectrum of 30 industries, to serve over 2.6 million Hong Kong citizens.

Dr. Ng stressed that ERB endeavoured to scale new heights with new initiatives, in order to cope with the needs of society.

In more concrete terms, ERB was implementing a full range of new measures to enhance its courses and services. More diversified training courses were offered under the “Skills Upgrading Scheme Plus”, and more Industry Consultative Networks were set up to foster partnership with the industries. The network of appointed training bodies was expanded, and the quality assurance work strengthened. Moreover, an Enhanced Placement Service Model was implemented, the Smart Living job referral platform was upgraded, and a network of ERB Service Centres was established. The “ERB Manpower Developer Award Scheme” was given more publicity to emphasize the importance of nurturing manpower development in Hong Kong.

ERB “Manpower Development Scheme” Award Presentation is moving into its third year. In regard to the awards for ERB trainees, a total of 91 nominations were received. Eleven trainees were awarded “ERB Outstanding Awards for Trainees” while another 10 got “ERB Merit Awards for Trainees”.

To commend appointed training bodies for their contributions to ERB services on various fronts, 10 training bodies were awarded “ERB Outstanding Awards for Placement Services”, 3 were winners of “ERB Outstanding Awards for Course Development”, 5 got “ERB Outstanding Awards for Course Management”, another 5 with “ERB Outstanding Awards for Quality Services” and 3 with “ERB Outstanding Awards for Promotion and Marketing”.

Awards for instructors were presented to acknowledge their achievements in coaching and guidance of trainees in ERB courses. Six instructors were awarded “ERB Outstanding Awards for Instructors” while another 5 got “ERB Merit Awards for Instructor”.

As for employers, 69 organizations were nominated for awards. Among them, 2 won the “ERB Excellence Awards for Employers”, 10 got “ERB Outstanding Awards for Employers” and 15 got “ERB Merit Awards for Employers”. All winning organizations participated actively in ERB Manpower Development Scheme and accorded priorities to ERB trainees in recruitment, assisted in the promotion of ERB courses and services, provided career ladders for staff development and advancement, cared for their staff, and encouraged them to pursue continuous education.

“ERB Strategic Partners Award” was presented to an organization to recognize its contribution to ERB’s development of courses and services for the benefit of the ethnic minorities.

The stories of outstanding employers, strategic partners, trainees and instructors together with the lists of awardees can be found in the event booklet of the 3rd ERB “Manpower Development Scheme” Award Presentation uploaded on the ERB website http://www.erb.org/3rdmdsaward.