Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/516462
Events 49 maltatoday, Sunday, 24 May 2015 Arkadia Marketing Ltd is the overall winner of the Business Leaders Malta Employee Research Award in the Over 150 Employees category. Arkadia came on top as a result of its good practice at the work- place and the healthy dynamics between employer and employees. Arkadia Marketing Ltd employs 388 people, out of which 194 work in Gozo. Part of the Mizzi Organi- sation, Arkadia started out with the commercial centre in Victo- ria, Gozo, in 1998. Over the years, it increased its portfolio with a foodstore in Portomaso, 2 Arkadia FoodExpress convenience stores, one in Paceville and the recently opened Swatar outlet, and 8 high- street brands for women, men and children's wear and accessories: Peacocks, Parfois, Orsay, Suite Blanco, Tape a' l'Oeil, Piazza Ita- lia, On Top and Pimkie. It also runs a logistics centre in Xewkija, Gozo. Arkadia will also be responsible for the regeneration of Valletta's indoor market, or as it is popu- larly known as Is-Suq tal-Belt – a €7 million project that will bring a new lease of life to the neglected site, with several food stalls, cater- ing establishments and a lounge area. "We are honoured that our hu- man capital management strate- gies have been recognised by this reputable and independent bench- marking exercise," said Shirley Grixti, HR Manager for Arkadia Marketing Ltd. "We have always carried out in- house employee engagement sur- veys to gauge our staff 's satisfac- tion. This was the first year that we opted to outsource the survey to give our employees more ano- nymity in their replies. We are glad that the results acknowledge we are on the right track and we strive to continue improving on what we have already achieved with our staff." For the Employee Research Study, every participating com- pany is invited to answer a ques- tionnaire designed to examine the successes and shortcomings of human capital management strategies. Employees rate their employer for leadership, commu- nication and teamwork, training and development, reward and recognition, corporate culture, performance orientation and em- ployee wellbeing. This year, there were 16 par- ticipating companies clustered in three categories defined by company size. The highest scor- ing organisation in each category is acknowledged by receiving an award. On Saturday 9 May, after several months of intensive prepa- ration and testing, the ZYPPEE WiFi Network was of- ficially launched at the Ziggy Party at Aria Complex. Zyppee hosted the VIP area where se- lected guests, Zyp- pee staff and com- petition winners were welcomed. The party at Aria Com- plex was a great suc- cess thanks to the great music played by DJ Ziggy and his crew. Zyppee's WiFi network at ARIA was put to the test where hun- dreds of party-goers connected to the ZYPPEE WiFi network si- multaneously and were browsing, streaming and uploading photos and videos at high speed available at the venue. Like Aria, Zyppee is available in a host of public locations around Malta, Gozo & Comino such as Spinola Bay and Paceville in St. Julian's, Valletta, Sliema front, Ta' Qali, Bugibba, Mellieha Bay and Mgarr in Gozo amongst others. The service Zyppee is currently offering is quite straightforward: Wifi Hotspots around Malta, Gozo & Comino where users can connect and enjoy Free WiFi for 30 minutes per day or subscribe to a very affordable service that costs just €3 per month! The aim of the Zyppee network is to provide a cheaper alternative to 3G and 4G to avid smart phone and tablet users in public areas. Robert Runza, Chief Executive Officer at Ozone Ltd (operators of the ZYPPEE network) remarked, "Malta needs a public WiFi serv- ice that is easily accessible and af- fordable. We are working around the clock to increase locations and make the service even more widespread". The Zyppee WiFi Network is part of Ozone Ltd, a leader in the local networking and tel- ecommunications sector. www.zypppee.com Adrian Buttigieg is the new Ex- ecutive Chef of The Waterfront Hotel in Gzira. The 29-year-old has extensive experience in the five-star hotel catering business both in Malta and abroad and has also won various awards for his culinary talents. Adrian started out his career with a distinction for a Higher National Diploma in Culinary Arts from the Institute of Tour- ism Studies, specialising in creat- ing hot and cold dishes from both national and ethnic cuisines, des- serts and baked products. His fa- vourite style is preparing food a la carte, where his art and creativity find most space. During his studies and working for some time in Malta, Adrian also worked in Luxembourg under Michelin-star chef Cyril Molard for a year. Throughout his career, he won various local and international awards, acknowledging his cu- linary art and skills. He won the Junior Chef of the Year in 2007 and in the following year he formed part in the Junior National Team of Chefs. He later moved to the Senior Chef Team with the Malta Chef Society, competing locally and beyond. Last year, he won Bronze at the Culinary World Cup Luxembourg as part of the Malta National Team of Chefs. "We are proud to have Adrian heading our kitchen brigade and taking the food experience we of- fer at The Waterfront to the next level, both for our hotel guests and the many patrons who visit our outlets," said General Manager Mario de Celis. "He has been handpicked not on- ly for his creativity in the kitchen, but also for his leadership quali- ties which are crucial to manage our 25-strong kitchen brigade." As Executive Chef, Adrian is re- sponsible for the Regatta and Ba- silico restaurants and Star Café at The Waterfront, as well as Seasons Event Caterers, an outside cater- ing company which forms part of the Mizzi Organisation. The Waterfront Hotel will be launching new summer menus across its outlets in the coming weeks. Magister Academy English language school re-opens under new management New executive chef for The Waterfront Hotel Zyppee WiFi network launch Arkadia Marketing Ltd rewarded for its good practices in the workplace Morgan Parnis and Alice Azzopardi from Business Leaders Malta presenting the award to Arkadia Marketing Ltd HR Manager Shirley Grixti Adrian Buttigieg IELS Malta, one of the largest English language schools in Mal- ta, recently took over Magister Academy in St Julian's. Magister Academy, an English language school located in a quiet residen- tial area in St Julian's, has been providing ELT programmes for more than 20 years. "Magister Academy provides a different experience from IELS, and offers an alternative solution for students who wish to learn English in a centrally located resi- dential school, combining classes and accommodation under one roof," said General Manager Alex Lanczet. "The school will con- tinue to operate under its exist- ing brand name and will focus on providing affordable English language courses, comfortable accommodation, and exciting so- cial programmes to international students." Magister Academy has recently undergone extensive refurbish- ment to modernise its premises, adding new residential accommo- dation on the upper floors. The school offers modern, airy class- rooms, spacious accommodation and fully air-conditioned, com- fortably furnished rooms, with private bathroom facilities. Other facilities include a com- munal kitchen, a library, comput- ers with internet access, a self- study area, a sun terrace and free Wi-fi throughout the building. The school is open all year round, providing courses in general, in- tensive, communicative and busi- ness English. In addition to the onsite residence, students can also opt to stay in a variety of sur- rounding hotels and host-family accommodation. IELS Malta is jointly owned by Mizzi Organisation and FTI Group GmbH. For more informa- tion about Magister Academy, vis- it: www.magisteracademy.com. (From left) – Daniela Vassallo Medici, Robert Runza (CEO), Alex Frendo (Marketing Consultant), Rhiannon Bartell