RPG to expand HR pilot project

The RPG Group, which has interests in retail, power, IT, lifesciences and entertainment, plans to expand its human resources initiative ‘Corporate University’.

‘Corporate University’ is a centralised curriculum.All employees of the company can take up management and HR related courses throughout the year. The project was introduced in Mumbai around May 2007, and has trained nearly 700 people at various levels of management in areas where they required a push.

Now, the firm wants to expand the initiative the cities where group companies are present. Gurpreet Singh, general manager, OD and learning, RPG enterprises said that the initiative came out of the group’s target to become a $10 billion group from the current $ 3.5 billion, by 2012. The company has a headcount of over 42,000 employees and has hired 34 summer interns for 2009.

“Our mandate is to create consistency and build capability. The programmes are open to each employee of the RPG group from the executive level onwards,” said Singh.

Programmes as part of the initiative include one each on leadership skills, manager skills and three on business skills. The model used is that of — Educate – Remind – Reinforce. The programme introduces new behaviours and skills to managers via classroom-based interventions by specialised trainers. An online feedback tool has been designed to provide regular feedback to managers.