Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/313770
Events 37 maltatoday, Sunday, 18 May 2014 More brand new TV series on GO HSBC Contact Centre and MCAST offering career training in banking GO's TV subscribers will be able to enjoy a range of brand new TV pro- grammes and the return of popu- lar series throughout May across a number of channels including FOX, FOX Life, Food Network, ITV Choice, Nickelodeon and Discovery Channel. The new series being launched include sitcom Mixology being broadcast on FOX Life every Friday at 8.00pm, Andy Bates Brazilian Street Feasts which will be broad- cast on Food Network starting 12 May, Haunted Hathaways airing for the first time on Nickelodeon on 25 May at 7.40pm, and crime dra- ma Shetland which starts on ITV Choice on 26 May. Returning series with new sea- sons include Cougar Town on FOX Life, 24: Live Another Day, Accord- ing to Jim and Burn Notice on FOX as well as Roadtrip with G. Garvin and Tastiest Places to Chowdown on Food Network. Other returning programmes are; Vera and Agatha Christie's Poirot on ITV Choice; Deadly Dilemmas, Extreme Car Hoarders, Outback Truckers and Behind the World Cup on Discov- ery Channel; and Legend of Korra on Nickelodeon. Elizabeth Scerri from GO's TV Content Team said: 'GO is the home of premium TV entertainment whether it's drama, comedy, life- style or sports, and throughout May subscribers will be able to enjoy yet more great new programming for all the family." More information on GO's TV service and the various packages available can be obtained from all GO retail outlets and exclusive resel- lers, by calling Freephone 80072121 or visiting www.go.com.mt HSBC UK Contact Centre Malta is collaborating with the Malta Col- lege of Arts Science and Technol- ogy (MCAST) to offer students a 3-month, fully paid training course followed by on-the-job work expe- rience at HSBC Contact Centre's premises in Swatar. Once the full time training course is successfully completed, students may join an evening part-time team at the HSBC Contact Centre with the prospect of continuing work at the Centre on a full-time basis. "This is a great opportunity for MCAST's business and banking students to benefit from full-time training over the summer period as well as part-time on-the-job expe- rience when school starts again in October," said Site Head of HSBC UK Contact Centre Malta Linsey Jones "In this way, we are offering stu- dents an important first step to- wards a career within the HSBC Contact Centre." "Students from other faculties who have a good command of English and IT skills are also encouraged to make the most of this unique op- portunity which offers professional training, career progression, and a highly social and motivating work environment," said Jones. HSBC UK Contact Centre Malta forms part of the UK network of contact centres for HSBC support- ing UK customers. The Centre cur- rently has over 400 employees who provide assistance to UK account holding customers with their daily telephone and Internet banking needs. Currently, the Centre is on the lookout for persons with good command of English and IT skills that are eager to learn, grow and achieve. FIMBank appoints Head of Trade Finance FIMBank plc has appointed Maarten van Alkemade as Head of its Trade Finance Department. A Dutch national, van Alkemade joins FIMBank from Coalogic Pt y Ltd, where he worked as a con- sultant for banks and commod- it y resources companies across Africa. Prior to that, he served as Finance Director at Metmar Trad- ing, a major commodit y trading, processing and mining group. Maarten van Alkemade's bank- ing career also includes stints at RaboBank, ABN Amro, and more recently Standard Bank in Johan- nesburg, where he was Head of Structured Trade and Commodit y Finance, and responsible for com- modities, including energy, agri- culture, metals and minerals, for the African continent. Commenting on this appoint- ment, FIMBank President Mar- grith Lutschg Emenegger stated, "We are very pleased to have Maarten on the team. His vast experience in commodit y trad- ing and trade finance in general will prove invaluable in our drive to develop further our extensive range of trade finance products, and to enhance the already high qualit y of service for which FIM- Bank is renowned ". He will be working closely with Dr. Armin Eckermann, FIMBank 's Head of Trade Finance Group, in order to advance the commodit y and transactional trade finance business of FIMBank in the wider setting of the Group's new share- holding structure. For more information about the FIMBank Group, visit www.fim- bank.com. Emirates Group announces 26th consecutive year of profit The Emirates Group today an- nounced its 26th consecutive year of profit and company-wide growth, ending the year in a strong position despite competitive pressure and a global economic environment that is only slowly recovering. The fi- nancial year ending 31 March 2014 also marked an unprecedented lev- el of investment across the Group, continued expansion of its global footprint, and the achievement of new capacity milestones. Released today in its 2013-14 An- nual Report, the Emirates Group posted an AED 4.1 billion (US$ 1.1 billion) profit, up 32% from last year. The Group's revenue reached AED 87.8 billion (US$ 23.9 billion), an increase of 13% over last year's results, and the Group's cash bal- ance remained strong at AED 19.0 billion (US$ 5.2 billion). "Achieving our 26th consecu- tive year of profit in a financial year marked by record increases in capacity and significant busi- ness investments across the Group, is testimony to the strength of our brands and our business funda- mentals," said His Highness (H.H.) Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Mak- toum, Chairman and Chief Execu- tive, Emirates Airline and Group. "Throughout 2013-14 the Group has collectively invested over AED 22.0 billion (US$ 6.0 billion), the highest amount ever in one finan- cial year. We know that to be a sus- tainable and profitable business we have to keep adding value to our stakeholders, our customers, part- ners and employees. To do this, we need efficient new aircraft, quality products and services, and cutting- edge facilities. Every dirham invest- ed has been carefully considered against short and long-term goals - be it enhancing our capabilities, improving our product, or expand- ing our business footprint." The Group also continued to in- vest in and expand on its employee base, increasing its overall staff count by 11% to over 75,000-strong representing over 160 different na- tionalities, across its more than 80 subsidiaries and companies. Reve- nue per airline employee increased by 4% to AED 1.9 million (US$ 0.5 million). "We are moving into the new fi- nancial year with confidence, and a strong foundation for contin- ued profitability with our strong balance sheet, solid track record, diverse global portfolio and inter- national talent pool," said Sheikh Ahmed. "Operating in a dynamic and highly-competitive environ- ment means we have to stay agile, and work even harder to meet and exceed our customers' expecta- tions. With the help of our 75,000 strong multicultural workforce, we have no doubt that we will be able to capitalise on the opportunities in the year ahead." Similar to the last financial year, the Group declared a dividend of AED1 billion (US$ 280 million) to the Investment Corporation of Du- bai. MCAST students talking with staff members from HSBC UK Contact Centre Malta about embarking on a banking career Maarten van Alkemade