Enrich, a centre of excellence for training

by Lalin Fernandopulle

Enrich Lanka, a consultancy and training entity in the country, with a local and global footprint has embarked on an islandwide and international student training program to fine-tune and develop professional and leadership skills among youth.

"Our aim is to lay the foundation and set the trend for students to be leaders in society and their chosen profession one day, Managing Director, Enrich Lanka, Jaliya Weliwatta told Sunday Observer Business and Finance outlining the company's journey to be the centre of excellence for training and consultancy.

Excerpts:

Q. What made you launch this company?

A. I started my career in the Gulf and worked for five years in Doha and Kuwait. After my return, I joined the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) and contributed towards the Nenasala project for many years. I continued my studies and gained an MBA from the Open University of Malaysia and tried my hand on venturing into my own business and founded Enrich Lanka in 2013.

Q. What are the main features that your company seeks to leverage on?

A. Project consultancy is at the core of the company. However, my aim is to bring the add-on feature of other business entities such as surveying, training and event management. Our many divisions serve a wide range of local, regional and multinational clients and emerging market leaders in multiple business areas.

Acquiring the most up-to-date knowledge in different management functions and an up-to-date knowledge of the latest technology and using this knowledge to maximize the value added services to clients is a major challenge.

By persistently working towards continuous improvement and stretching our potential, we have succeeded in developing models and tools that serve to identify our clients specific needs and addressing them in the most effective and efficient manner. We believe that this represents our main competitive edge, and we strive to constantly upgrade and fine-tune these methodologies to be in line with local and regional business environments.

Q. Can you elaborate on your current workforce?

A. The company comprises industry experts and academically qualified professionals.

Q. Can you elaborate on the services you provide?

A. We focus on professional training for managers, executives, youth, SMEs and school teachers. We also conduct training programs locally and overseas. We have introduced a new training module. With regard to event management, we have conducted events in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, China, India and Dubai. Enrich offers services that cater to market needs.

Q. How do you place your company in harmony with the country's current development strategies?

A. Sri Lanka is on a solid growth path in all major sectors such tourism, agriculture, education, hotel industry, IT, imports and exports. Skilled personnel are needed to fulfill manpower needs in these sectors. Today, many lack basic and intermediate skills. Enrich will look into filling that gap through training programs.

Many corporates aspire to venture into international markets. Enrich will provide third party services such as project consultancy to meet this need. Our company will provide expertise to small scale companies that strive to develop their businesses with strategic plans and increase market share.

Q. What makes your company stand out from the rest in the industry?

A. We offer clients the best service to suit their needs. We encourage young professionals in any of our key featured segments to join us and provide their expertise and broaden their experience.

We also provide services in an institutional capacity building, training of trainer services, curricula development, vocational and technical training services, social and educational sector surveys, outcome evaluation survey, feasibility studies and corporate plan preparation, data analysis and report writing.

Q. What are the challenges and opportunities?

A. The market today has a plethora of opportunities and to grab it, we need to face many challenges. In an open economy, there are opportunities for all entrepreneurs. My vision is to see Sri Lanka developed with unity, equality and opportunity. I am concerned about our youth, education, employment and the economy. The right model for increasing opportunity in Sri Lanka is through a social economy.

Q. What are the company's plans for the future?

A. Enrich hopes to create an environment for Sri Lankan students to interact with world leaders. We want students to be leaders in their chosen profession and in society. The leadership and professional training program will help build future leaders.

The program comprises enhancing study skills, self-learning skills, memorization skills, leadership skills, behavioural skills, and social skills with international exposure. The program is conducted by professionals from renowned institutes and universities with experience in student development in Sri Lanka and the UK for Sri Lankan and foreign students between 11-15.

It will provide experience that one gains outside the classroom. Students will develop learning, memory and behavioural skills, interaction with global leaders and obtain overseas exposure. The program sessions will help students to understand the need to learn and practise the application of skills. It will help in understanding the industry, customer and the competition.