Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP) is committed to nurturing young people through different initiatives, including for the 17th consecutive year, sponsoring the Modern Apprenticeship Programme, co-hosted with Breakthrough. The kick-off ceremony of this year’s programme was held recently. About 20 apprentices will be sent on four-month internships and life planning courses. Staff mentors at various SHKP entities will provide one-on-one guidance and mentoring to help the apprentices tackle different workplace challenges, foster personal growth and map out future career paths.
At the kick-off ceremony of the Modern Apprenticeship Programme 2019 with the theme ‘Exploration and Practice at the Workplace’, SHKP Executive Director Adam Kwok and Breakthrough General Secretary Joyce Man helped complete the equipping of a space shuttle for launch, which was a metaphor for the apprentices unleashing their immense potential and finding their own flight path. Accompanied and witnessed by their mentors, the apprentices took an oath to take off.
In his speech at the ceremony, Adam Kwok said, “In line with SHKP’s corporate culture of continuous improvement, various new elements have been added to the Modern Apprenticeship Programme to meet changing needs. This year, in addition to gaining on-the-job training at SHKP, the apprentices will work as interns in different non-governmental organizations and visit several social enterprises to diversify their knowledge and broaden their horizons.” Breakthrough General Secretary Joyce Man said, “This year’s programme has expanded the target group to students as young as 16 years old to help them obtain work experience and find their aspirations earlier for better life planning. We also hope that apprentices will learn from and complement each other to achieve breakthroughs and advance even further.” Joyce Man expressed her gratitude for SHKP’s dedication to nurturing young people with Breakthrough for more than a decade. She said she believes the guidance and support of SHKP mentors will help the apprentices discover their interests and potential so that they can build a brighter future.
The Modern Apprenticeship Programme this year provides workplace exposure to construction, project monitoring, property management, shopping mall promotion, hospitality and clubhouse services at SHKP entities. Apart from gaining on-the-job training, the apprentices will learn first-hand soft skills from SHKP mentors, such as social skills, team spirit and problem-solving techniques. The apprentices will also participate in a series of personal growth workshops and meetings, where they will set goals in small groups and work towards achieving them with the help of tutors and industry professionals to seek identity through self-learning. Breakthrough will provide training and sharing sessions and support for the programme’s mentors, peers and parents so that they can learn how to communicate with young people to provide them with appropriate guidance.
SHKP constantly places great emphasis on training and supporting young people, and has run the Modern Apprenticeship Programme with Breakthrough since 2003. The programme has nurtured the growth of over 300 young people who struggled with limited academic horizons by helping them to acquire relevant vocational skills for personal development.
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Photo captions:
1. SHKP Executive Director Adam Kwok (front right) and Breakthrough General Secretary Joyce Man (front left) officiate the kick-off ceremony of the Modern Apprenticeship Programme this year, which will send 20 apprentices on internships at different SHKP departments and subsidiaries.
2. Experienced SHKP staff will comprehensively guide apprentices by passing on knowledge and experience
