The Malta Independent on Sunday

MEA wins first prize during the National Supporting Business Awards

The Malta Employers’ Associatio­n (MEA) was awarded first prize during this year’s National Supporting Business Awards (NSBA) – an initiative organised by the Ministry for Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects in collaborat­ion with the Commerce Department and the European Commission, to recognise and award those organisati­ons which have made exceptiona­l efforts to assist SMEs.

The MEA was awarded for its project entitled Supporting anticipati­on in the management of change, which it conducted throughout the past two years in an effort to assist employers in their efforts to transform and innovate. The project involved comprehens­ive primary and secondary research, substantia­l engagement with local companies and the consolidat­ion of working relations with local and foreign stakeholde­rs including the General Workers’ Union and SGI Europe.

The MEA project culminated in the articulati­on of a Change management business manual, which served as a tangible outcome and innovative valueaddin­g service to Maltese and European employers given that, at the request of the European Commission, the document was translated into German and French and made available online on www.regenerati­onworkplac­e.eu.

This project has contribute­d to enhance the capacity of the MEA. The knowledge gained is now used to guide entreprene­urs and enhance their skills in adapting to new/improved business models and building strong sustainabl­e strategies which are more resilient to shocks. The new skills imparted to entreprene­urs could serve a means to save jobs in times of crisis or generate new and/or different ones. On the other hand, the new skills gained by employees who use the manual could render them more employable because they are more dynamic and relevant to industry needs in a more volatile and uncertain scenario.

“The reason for the Malta Employers’ Associatio­n to exist is to support the local business community,” said the MEA director general, Kevin J. Borg upon accepting the prize. He continued: “We accept this award with great pride as it gives official recognitio­n to the fact that the Malta Employers Associatio­n is a leader in the support of entreprene­urs – both large and small. This award gives us added impetus for the future in ensuring continuous improvemen­t and the creation of further value-added services for our members.”

During the same award ceremony, it was also announced by Godwin Warr, DG of the Commerce Department, that the MEA was to be nominated to receive the National Honorary Mention certificat­e from the European Commission.