Al Shirawi Contracting Company, the UAE’s leading waterproofing specialist, has become the first local company to employ the training services of the US-based National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), an international authority in the roofing industry for information, education, technology and advocacy.

The partnership with NRCA will help educate its employees on the latest global practices and enable them to design, recommend and install high-performing waterproofing systems for projects in the UAE.

Under the training framework, 24 employees participated in advanced four-day training and earned distinction as NRCA Authorised Modified Bitumen Applicators (MBA).

The employees were also certified as authorised trainers through the NRCA Train-the-trainer programme, allowing them to impart their knowledge on polymer modified waterproofing liquid applied systems installation to company’s field workers.

Navin Valrani, the CEO of Al Shirawi Contracting Company, said: "In the industry since 1971, Al Shirawi Contracting has built a solid reputation for itself."

"Now, as we are gearing up for further market dominance, we believe this multi-million investment into training and up-skilling of our workforce will result in increased efficiency in processes, greater productivity and project successes," he stated.

Sharad Bangera, the general manager, Al Shirawi Contracting Company, said: “While training is integral to achieving our strategic objectives, we also see it is an important step to increase employee satisfaction and their morale. Skills development is essential to improve our people’s capacities to work and their opportunities at work. The enthusiastic response we received from our team was very heartening,” he added.

The training was delivered by John G. Schehl, the executive director of Rise Programme, NRCA, Dane Allen Bradford, former president of NRCA and Standard Committee head and William Ronald Steinmetz, the executive member of NRCA.

Al Shirawi Contracting Company had recently executed waterproofing work for several large-scale projects in the UAE including Meraas’ Bvlgari Hotel and Residences, Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City- District One villas, Mirdif Hills Development, Silicon Park, Al Maryah Central and The Royal Atlantis Resort and Residences at Palm Jumeirah, stated Bangera.-TradeArabia News Service