Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1498223
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 30 APRIL 2023 14 14 COMMERCIAL BOV supports Inspire to raise awareness about Autism: April was World Autism Awareness Month RAISING awareness about people on the Autism spec- trum and how they can be inte- grated into their communities and inclusion at the place of work is a fundamental aspect of World Autism Awareness Month. Throughout the month of April, the Inspire Foundation sought the support of entities like Bank of Valletta to help raise awareness about Autism and how an employee on the spectrum can be supported and integrated into the workforce, thereby contributing fully to- wards an organization's goals. For such employees to feel comfortable, the first step is to raise awareness, so that their peers can appreciate their dif- ferent abilities and strengths, such as excellence at pattern recognition, thinking 'outside the box', and outstanding at- tention to detail. On the other hand, it is also important to recognize the challenges they may face, particularly in rela- tion to social skills and repet- itive behaviour. Autism Spectrum Disorder is a complex neurodevelop- ment disability, characterized by difficulties with social skills, repetitive behaviours, speech, and nonverbal communication. This disorder can be detected from an early stage in a child's life. Since autism is a spectrum disorder, every person with au- tism has a unique and person- al journey, each representing a wide range of strengths and challenges. Speaking about the Bank's involvement in this initiative, Ray Debattista from the Bank's People and Culture explained that, with a workforce of over 2,000 employees, Bank of Val- letta has one of the largest workforces on the islands and recognizes and values each and every employee. "We are con- scious that every individual has different abilities and special circumstances that we need to respect and develop. These are cornerstones of the Bank's people strategy". He thanked the Bank's CSR team headed by Charles Azzopardi for carrying out an initiative that puts in the spotlight topics that are rele- vant and critical to the Bank's cultural composition. The Inspire Foundation has built a solid reputation as an NGO working with individu- als who need support in coping with different abilities, includ- ing autism and cerebral palsy. Through its dedicated profes- sional staff and volunteers, it provides a range of services and resources that provide patients with a more cost-effective ser- vice, long-term sustainability, and added value. Revised regularisation of development regulations launched THE Planning Authority (PA) has revised the regulations on the regularisation of existing development carried out before 2016. This revision will affect many individuals and families since, if their property can be regularised, the burden prevent- ing the financing of bank facili- ties or the placing on the market will be lifted. The procedure for regularis- ing buildings was introduced in 2016 to assist owners whose property is not fully compliant with PA policies and regulations due to minor irregularities. Persons whose property with minor irregularities and which has small parts falling outside the development zone may now apply to have the property reg- ularised. Those whose entire property has no permit or lies entirely outside the develop- ment zone will not be eligible. It is not the first time the PA has issued regulations to address buildings with infringements; however, the amended regular- isation scheme will now include as well properties located entirely in a Category 1 Rural Settlement. Every request for regularisa- tion will be evaluated on a case- by-case basis, and the PA may reject any applications it deems are not compliant with the pro- visions of the regulations – in- cluding injury to amenity and adverse impacts on the rights of third parties. Since launching the Regular- isation Scheme in 2016, the PA has received over 19,500 appli- cations for regularisation. Thou- sands of families and individuals have benefitted from this proce- dure, including cases where one would have inherited, bought, or owned property with minor ir- regularities for a long time. Meanwhile, it is good to know that the payments paid in this Regularization process goes to its PA's Development Planning Fund. This PA uses this fund to invest in a wide range of urban restoration schemes, including finance for Local councils and NGOs. Meanwhile, for more infor- mation on Regularization of Existing Development, the PA suggests consulting with one's architect so that they may guide and help in line with the updated regulations. Leading training and HR consultancy firm announces launch of ACCA and OTHM courses THINKTALENT, a well-es- tablished HR consultancy firm and leading provider of be- spoke and accredited profes- sional education and training has recently announced the launch of new courses in part- nership with the Association of Chartered Certified Account- ants (ACCA) and the Organi- sation for Tourism and Hospi- tality Management (OTHM). These courses are designed to provide individuals and or- ganizations with the tools and knowledge necessary to suc- ceed in today's ever-changing business landscape. The cours- es' intake is currently open for enrollment. The available courses include ACCA Diploma in Account- ing and Business MQF Lv5, OTHM Diploma in Business Management UK Lv4 - MQF Lv5, OTHM Diploma in Strate- gic Leadership & Management UK Lv7- MQF Lv7 and OTHM Diploma in Human Resources UK Lv7- MQF Lv7. With more courses launching soon, including ACCA Corpo- rate and Business Law (LW), ACCA Taxation (TX) as well as OTHM courses in Education, Accountancy, Internal Quality Assurance, Health and Social Care Management, Informa- tion Technology, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Tourism and Hospitality Man- agement, and Strategic Mar- keting amongst others. These courses offer both in-person and online options, and personal guidance is pro- vided to ensure a smooth learn- ing experience. The courses are globally recognized and can be used as a pathway to higher ed- ucation and to enhance career prospects. To learn more about these courses and to apply, inter- ested individuals can contact admin@thinktalent.com.mt or visit https://www.thinktalent. com.mt/acca-courses/ for full information on ACCA cours- es or https://www.thinktalent. com.mt/othm-courses/ for OTHM courses. ThinkTalent Ltd is a Further and Higher Education Insti- tution licensed by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) License Number: 2017/04.