Unilever Frontliners Academy launched

Unilever Bangladesh has recently launched the "Unilever Frontliners Academy" (UFA) in a bid to support the government in addressing the issue of skill development in the country.

The platform aims to up-skill the youth and assist them in obtaining frontline sales and marketing jobs in the fast-moving consumer goods industry, according to a press release.

This initiative is also in line with the company's social promise of up-skilling 10 million youth globally for better opportunities.

The academy's first batch, consisting of 34 graduates, has already completed their training courses, and secured jobs with Unilever's distributors.

The company officially recognised the 34 graduates through a ceremony, handing out certificates at the Divine Distribution and Company, Khilgaon in the capital.

"With the pilot learnings from Dhaka, we are now going to roll this out in Pakistan and other African countries, in our first phase of rollout," said Tanzeen Ferdous, marketing director of Unilever.

"From the pilot program, we learned that the academy provides a safe environment for women to first learn and experience the job, without fully committing to it. Thus, through this platform the contribution of women intake in the team is expected to double," he added.

In addition, the second phase is now underway at Joypurhat with 43 students.