By Ayanna Kirton, Staff ReporterFOUR COMPANIES - Mother's Enterprise, Geon Contractors & Associates, Geddes Refrigeration, and Whatsonjamaica.com - received awards from the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica yesterday.
The awards were presented during the monthly job creation awards function at the Terra Nova Hotel, St. Andrew. The PSOJ's awards, sponsored by Cable & Wireless, recognise companies whose new investments have led to the creation of a minimum of 25 new employees.
OVERSEAS MARKET
Managing director of Mother's Enterprise, Carlysle Hudson, accepted the award on behalf of the company. According to the PSOJ, the local chain of fast food restaurants, which has plans to expand throughout the island, also has its sights set on the overseas market. Mother's is currently involved in a joint venture producing patties in the United Kingdom.
Geon Contractors & Associates, a real estate development company, is known for its high-end town homes in residential St. Andrew and has been able to maintain a viable level of business activity, despite unfavourable market conditions. The company's award was accepted by Hugh Gordon, chief operating officer.
NEW EMPLOYEES
Since last year, Geddes Refrigeration has hired 30 new employees. Managing director, Roy Lafayette, who accepted the award on the company's behalf, explained that in the past his company had relied on importing experts in air conditioner and refrigerator servicing and repair on a contractual, temporary basis. In recent years, however, this has changed. Due to the steady supply of trained technicians available locally, the company now recruits most of its technical staff from the HEART training agency, which provides a three-year training programme in this area.
Whatsonjamaica.com was presented with the Small Business Award for their creation of five jobs within the past 12 months. The web site, a portal for all things Jamaican, was created with the aim of stimulating demand for local goods and services. It was conceptualised by chief executive officer, Peter Couch, who accepted the award on behalf of the company.
Executive director of HEART/NTA, Robert Gregory, who spoke at the function, emphasised the need to change the profile of the Jamaican workforce. He said the global shift from the dependence on traditional industries such as agriculture, to a more knowledge-driven world, has resulted in the need for radical change.
Gregory explained that any workforce trained and certified to meet global standards would attract quality investors. He said the transformation of the local workforce would enable Jamaicans to take advantage of the competitive global business environment and the opportunities it presents.
The executive director pointed out that in addition to putting Jamaica into the pool of knowledge-based employees worldwide, properly trained, highly-skilled employees would also be able to increase the quality of life for themselves, which would in turn lead to the creation of a healthy Jamaican economy.
