Taking lifts and escalators is essential in urban life; nevertheless, the lack of lift and escalator repairers is challenging the industry. Serving Hong Kong for over 50 years, Mitsubishi Elevator Hong Kong Company Limited established a comprehensive training system more than 20 years ago to train youngsters as specialists. With attractive salaries and benefits, employees are well-retained. Although there is a keen competition for talents, Mitsubishi Elevator keeps its "Quality in Motion" promise.

Mr. Douglas Kwok Man Wai, Deputy Managing Director, felt delighted for Mitsubishi Elevator receiving the Employer of Choice Award and Next Generation Development Award. Mitsubishi Elevator insists on providing all-round training. The Awards confirm Mitsubishi Elevator's efforts in young talent development. He emphasized, "Mitsubishi Elevator has implemented horizontal and vertical development in its training programmes, aiming at equipping technicians with professional skills and knowledge, and assisting them to obtain professional qualifications."

Taking apprentices and technicians as examples, there is a clear career path in Mitsubishi Elevator. Mr. Hau San Piu, who has worked in Mitsubishi Elevator for 17 years, said "My public examination result was dissatisfying. After graduating from Diploma Programme in Electrical Engineering, finding a job was uneasy due to the economic downturn. I felt blessed to have entered Mitsubishi Elevator as a Technician Apprentice where I accumulated skills and knowledge." Later on, he received Mitsubishi Elevator's subsidy to take Higher Diploma in Electrical Engineering. With continuous efforts, he is now a Supervisor managing frontline employees in Maintenance Divison.

"All roads lead to Rome. Many started as apprentices. With proper attitude, we have bright prospects." Mr. Hau said sometimes he receives opportunities to visit Japan, Korea, Singapore and China for training. Specialists from Japan often visit Hong Kong to impart the latest knowledge to the technicians in Hong Kong, fulfilling Mitsubishi Elevator's "Quality in Motion" promise.

4-year Apprenticeship Programme Leading to Professional Qualifications

Ms. Elsa Tai Kit Yue, Deputy Senior Manager of HR and Training Department, introduced Mitsubishi Elevator's Apprenticeship Programme. It is mainly for secondary school junior high school graduates. They can study and acquire skills about lift and escalator from the masters. "Besides providing full subsidies to apprentices for part-time studies in Vocational Training Council, Mitsubishi Elevator offers work opportunities in maintenance, annual test, installation, moderization and test of commissioning. We regularly evaluate the apprentices' learning progress. Upon the completion of the programme, they can charter as professional technicians and enjoy higher salaries. Since the Apprenticeship Programme was established, there are around 40 young apprentices every year. Outstanding apprentices are selected to visit Japan for work exchange.

Receiving "Mitsubishi Elevator's Outstanding Apprentice Award" in 2018, Mr. Chung Chi Man said the 4-year Apprenticeship Programme enabled him to gain skills and experience from masters and adapt to supervisors' requirements quickly. "Being awarded, I was invited to join the 1-week work exchange in Japan. It was eye-opening as I could better understand manufacturing process and testing methods of lift and escalator. I also gained more skills and knowledge, and felt the passion of the Japanese. During the training, I was arranged to sit at the safety harness on the roof of lift to experience various situations, e.g. lifting, falling and sliding. This experience enhanced my safety awareness. Now I would take precautionary measures seriously!"

Emphasis on Training; Promoting Continuous Education among Employees

Besides the Apprenticeship Programme, Mitsubishi Elevator provides scholarships to encourage life-long learning by subsidizing employees. For instance, technicians are subsidized to take part-time degrees, aiming at nurturing them as engineers. Meanwhile, Mitsubishi Elevator takes care of employees' wellbeing by organizing sports and social activities regularly, e.g. footballs, basketball and badminton actives for the employees and their family members.

"Mitsubishi Elevator stresses team spirit and affinity among employees. It often organizes banquets to foster friendship among employees!" Ms. Tai said in the talent shows of the banquets, the coworkers' talents were discovered. There were even pipers and Tai Chi masters among us. Everyone was delighted and it showed our team spirit.