Kent launches UAE Graduate Development Programme to support young Emiratis

• Kent has launched its 2023 Graduate Development Programme, a three-year scheme involving 23 Emirati graduates.

• The 2023 programme follows the successful completion of the 2022 programme with Kent meeting its Emiratisation goal for the year with a 2% growth in their Emirati workforce and a strong ICV score.

• Matthew Bishop, SVP of Operations MEA, at Kent, said, “Our UAE graduates programme works to nurture and support our young talent by providing a tailored hands-on experience, mentorship and knowledge development. Allowing us to contribute to the sustainable growth of the UAE and securing a brighter future for us all.”

Kent, a leading engineering company in oil and gas and low-carbon energy headquartered in Dubai, has launched its 2023 UAE Graduate Development Programme focusing on nurturing Emirati talent in support of UAE's vision for economic competitiveness and growth.

Kent’s three-year graduate programme currently holds 23 Emirati nationals, and pushes for a flexible and tailored approach that focuses on the development of each candidate. Kent’s recruitment team looks to source graduates from official government bodies, such as the UAE government's training programme in partnership with Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and Nafis. The graduates are then embedded into different business functions, including operations, HR, and finance, to give them a well-rounded experience of Kent as an organisation.

Among the graduates is Amna Al-Ali, an Environmental and Sustainability Engineer who has been on the programme for two years. Amna shared:

“I’ve had the best opportunity to learn a range of skills throughout my time with the team here at Kent. As a woman in STEM and Emirati it’s great to know that global companies are dedicating their time and resources to supporting our career growth and development.”

Having successfully met the UAE’s Emiratisation goal in 2022 with a total Emirati workforce of 4% located in Abu Dhabi, Kent aims to continue supporting the UAE’s government aim of boosting opportunities and inclusion of Emirati nationals in the private sector. Additionally, Kent currently obtains a solid in-country value (ICV) score, portraying Kent’s ambition to support the UAE government’s goals of promoting local capabilities while attracting greater interest in the local industrial sector.

Matthew Bishop, SVP of Operations MEA, at Kent, said, "Investing in new talent is not only the right thing to do, but it's also the smart thing to do, as at the heart of energy transition lies the next generation of leaders, visionaries and problem-solvers. Our UAE graduates programme works to nurture and support our young talent by providing a tailored hands-on experience, mentorship and knowledge development. Allowing us to contribute to the sustainable growth of the UAE and securing a brighter future for us all."