Unilever Sri Lanka recently marked the completion of its inaugural LEaD (Learn, Explore, Develop) training program at its head office.
Eighteen second year engineering undergraduate students of the University of Moratuwa completed the seven-month program which was launched in October 2016.
Unilever embarked on this initiative to ensure that the nation’s future engineers meet the high global standards brought on by rapid development and shifting technology landscapes.
One main area of focus was soft skills which were developed to meet corporate expectations.
The program exposed candidates to the inner workings of the Unilever supply chain where they learned about the FMCG giant through its various processes, explored the factories and were able to develop their careers through formal training.
Applications for positions in the program are called for each year on the Unilever Careers’ Facebook page. Once enrolled, candidates needed to commit two half-days or one full-day each month to participate in interactive learning sessions. Managers from Unilever were assigned to mentor individual students through the course of the program.
“These lessons will be invaluable in shaping their young minds and help them determine their future.
They are now armed with a firmer understanding of the industry and a set of experiences that will set them apart from their peers in the job market,” said Director, Industrial Training Division, University of Moratuwa, Nihal Wijeyewickrema. Supply Chain Director, Unilever Sri Lanka, Noman Lutfi said, “A ready talent pool is at the core of our successful Supply Chain and we at Unilever want to ensure that it stays that way. With the LEaD program, we have gone the extra mile to create that talent pool by constantly nurturing the resources at an early stage.”