NCB's Corporate Learning Campus achieving excellence in human potential

National Commercial Bank's (NCB) Corporate Learning Campus (CLC) is fulfilling its mandate as an integral part of the recruitment, selection and placement process for employees of the bank. Under the leadership of Rickert Allen, senior general manager for the group's Human Resources Division, the CLC takes pride in the fact that it is living up to its mantra of 'delivering next-in-class learning for sustainability'.

Located at 2 1/2 Altamont Crescent in the heart of New Kingston's business district, the CLC is a state-of-the-art facility where prospective NCB employees are introduced to every aspect of the bank's operation. It is also home to several career development courses and seminars for employees which are held throughout the year.

On a recent tour of the facility, Allen explained to The Gleaner the operations of the campus. The application process for aspiring team members of NCB is now totally automated. Applications are completed online, so when new employees step into the company, they already know where to find the information they need. Having had their skills, abilities and knowledge pre-matched and been shortlisted, the process through the bank's doors would have been quicker ... after all, in banking, time is money.

Paperless system

"We don't use paper. Applicants upload their resumés and after selection and the interviews, they come into the CLC and go through the one-day orientation process. This begins with an informative video presentation that answers all potential questions. It gives an in-depth look at the bank's culture and introduces the chairman and managing directors who deliver messages to the new employees. The eCampus was launched in May 2006 and the eOrientation programme began in June 2011. These are integral to the modern approach being taken by NCB to ensure its customers receive the best in human expertise.

"When the new employees see our presentation of the bank's operations from top management to line staff and hear the voices of the chairman and group managing director, they will realise that we are the employer of choice and they can make a meaningful impact here," Allen noted. He said every employee soon realises that, at NCB, they can climb the corporate ladder to the top.

So seriously is the exercise taken, Allen says, after orientation, prospective employees are tested and given certificates. Plus, the CLC is registered with the University Council of Jamaica and it is equipped with a well-resourced eLibrary where course and industry material is just a click away. All courses offered at the CLC match the business strategy of value creation provided by NCB.

The NCB On-Boarding Process

Connecting: Visit the website where positions are advertised, apply and be selected for an interview.

Introducing: Be introduced to NCB via virtual orientation platform - a one-day session at the CLC and welcome session on the first workday.

Integrating: First week of learning about the organisation, being assigned a peer advisor and doing necessary courses to successfully complete probationary period.

Committing: In the first 90 days, employees get further training, do function-specific learning, complete mandatory courses, and are tracked to see how they are assimilating prior to being confirmed at the end of probation.

Thriving: In the first year, unit management monitors, guides and assesses performance of employee, assessment through performance appraisal is done, and employee gets opportunities to continue improving skills at the eCampus.