Value of trained experts in KSA's construction sector

Advanced Construction Technology Services (ACTS), a consulting organisation in the field of construction materials and geotechnical engineering, has underlined the importance of having highly trained construction professionals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, especially given the construction boom being witnessed in the Kingdom over the past few years. ACTS pointed out that the quality of professionals could, to a large extent, influence the sustained progress and vitality of Saudi Arabia's construction sector, which is expected to achieve 5.4 percent growth this year, fueled by increased government spending into social and economic infrastructure.

"Saudi Arabia gives a lot of importance to training; in fact training is a key strategy in the Saudisation of jobs at all levels. However, what we have observed is that, in the construction sector, training is still undervalued. While some large companies in the Kingdom embrace training as a key to better workforce, most other construction companies consider training as a cost burden and a time where their people are not productive. This is a mindset that needs to gradually change, since training is vital to improving quality by creating more skillful and technically proficient construction professionals, particularly in markets like the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and KSA," said Dr. Maher El Barrak, Head of ACTS Training & Consultancy Division.

In recent years, ACTS has provided training programmes that lead to ACI (American Concrete institute) certification to several companies in Saudi Arabia, such as Saudi Aramco; Saudi Bin Ladin Group; Sodamco; BASF; Saudi Diyar; Al Mabani; and Saudi Ready Mix, complementing the similar trainings it has offered to major regional organisations in the Gulf such as Transgulf Readymix Concrete Co; Al Falah Ready Mix Concrete; Ready Mix Beton; and Etisalat in Dubai; and Qatar Building Company (QBC); CH2MHILL; Gulf Cement Company; EXOVA; Al Jaber Trading and Contracting; Green point Ready Mix Concrete; Qatar Alpha Beton; and Geotechnical Group company in Qatar.

ACTS is the local sponsoring group of the American Concrete Institute (ACI) for its certification programmes in the Middle East. ACI is the world authority in concrete construction and produces the main building codes that are universally adopted in engineering design and concrete construction. ACTS has been offering these courses since 1996, and has trained more than 5,000 personnel all over the MENA region and certified more than 2,000 in the various ACI certification programmes.

ACTS training division conducts regular training sessions related to the construction field and provides the trainees with the possibility to become ACI certified in different disciplines. They also offer in house and specific training courses which are tailor-made to fit customer needs. The targeted trainees for these programmes are engineers, managers, inspectors, technicians, contractors, and material suppliers. In some cases, even construction lawyers have attended ACTS training courses.