With one department head, Najwa Salman Al Ahmed, already in place, leading the human resources team, the bank is keen to replicate her success across the workforce.
Over the last three years, BBK has hired a total of 28 female employees, representing 34 per cent of total recruitment over the period. Furthermore, the current ratio of women to men is at 37 per cent, which is higher than the market average in the Kingdom’s private sector.
As part of the many policies introduced in support of women’s empowerment, BBK has an initiative in which every effort is made by management to identify and develop high-potential female employees in order to increase the number of women at mid and senior management level.
The bank’s plans to develop female workers include:
- Accelerating their training plans.
- Putting them on advanced leadership and executive programmes.
- Encouraging them to pursue a career path through participating in mentoring and coaching programmes.
- Creating a flexible working environment that supports learning and development and the advancement of female employees.
In support of these initiatives, the bank has introduced a Women’s Empowerment Award as part of its annual recognition programme for management teams or individuals showing the greatest efforts in supporting women’s empowerment and development in the workplace. This is aimed at increasing awareness of women’s empowerment issues.
BBK has undertaken many initiatives in support of women’s empowerment, the backbone of this ibeing the Women’s Empowerment Policy which has the main purpose of establishing a clear vision and set of guidelines for the development of services, policies, procedures and practices that promote gender equality and empower women both internally and externally.
The Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait was established in 1971 in both Bahrain and Kuwait. Its shareholders consist of the general public and the government of Bahrain.
In recognition of the bank’s efforts, BBK took first place in 2017’s Princess Sabeeka bint Ebrahim Al Khalifa Award for Bahraini Women’s Empowerment.
Chief executive, Reyadh Yousif Sater, said: “I am delighted to receive this award on behalf of the bank and would like to express our sincere gratitude to HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ebrahim Al Khalifa, whose significant efforts and contribution continue to ensure talented Bahraini women are well represented in the workforce and the economic and social development of our country.
“This award reflects the bank’s unwavering commitment to achieving gender equality by providing fair and equitable opportunities for all and creating a corporate culture that supports the development of our entire workforce. The Bahraini woman is an extremely valuable asset in our human resources and plays a vital role in the elevation of our society. Facilitating gender equality is a significant component of our ambitious CSR [corporate social responsibility] programme and is in harmony with Bahrain’s Vision 2030.”
