Building Careers with Skills
by: BTM - Sun, 07 Sep 2025
Dr. Tony Degazon, Regional Manager for City & Guilds (MENA), discusses how vocational education is shaping Bahrain and the wider GCC, empowering young nationals to meet evolving labour market demands.
As Bahrain and the GCC pursue ambitious economic diversification under initiatives such as Vision 2030 and the Economic Recovery Plan, vocational education has become a key driver of workforce development. Dr. Degazon says: “Vocational education offers a practical and strategic route into employment, especially for young nationals. In Bahrain and across the GCC, governments are localising their workforces through nationalisation programmes like Bahrainisation, Saudisation and Emiratisation. Vocational pathways provide the skills and certification young people need to access meaningful careers in priority sectors such as logistics, health, construction and ICT. These are both job-readiness programmes and nation-building tools.”
City & Guilds works closely with ministries, employers and training bodies across the region to ensure qualifications meet real-world demands. “Our qualifications are developed with strong employer input and mapped to industry requirements,” he explains. “Whether it is rail technicians in Riyadh, fashion designers in Manama or IT support staff in Dubai, our programmes are shaped by employer demand, aligned with national frameworks and benchmarked to international standards.”
Preparing Youth for Change
Dr. Degazon believes vocational education offers a strong alternative to traditional academic routes. “University education has its place but it is not the only pathway to success,” he says. “Vocational programmes provide faster, more affordable routes into skilled employment, focusing on applied learning and work readiness. In a region where youth unemployment remains a concern despite high academic enrolment, vocational training gives young people the tools to start working, start businesses or move flexibly between sectors. It is especially valuable in countries like Bahrain, where small and medium enterprises are a key driver of growth.”
With rapid advances in AI and automation, City & Guilds has updated its qualifications to keep graduates competitive. “We are embedding digital literacy, problem-solving and AI awareness into our programmes,” Dr. Degazon explains. “National visions are investing heavily in smart infrastructure, green energy and digital transformation, so training must go beyond technical skills to foster adaptability, critical thinking and lifelong learning. We have also introduced micro-credentials and digital badges to help learners stay relevant in fast-changing industries.”
Driving Regional Growth
Opportunities for vocationally trained professionals are expanding rapidly. “We are seeing huge demand in sectors like aviation, hospitality, healthcare, digital services and education,” Dr. Degazon says. “Saudi Arabia is investing in giga-projects like NEOM that require thousands of skilled technicians and supervisors. These are specialised, well-paid roles vital to the region’s economic future. Vocational graduates are a perfect fit if the training is modern, modular and aligned with employer needs.”
Strong partnerships are key to successful outcomes. “The most effective collaborations combine global credibility with local relevance,” he notes. “In Bahrain, for example, we work with providers to adapt qualifications to meet Tamkeen’s employment funding criteria and sector requirements. When international partners co-design with national stakeholders, the result is a more competitive workforce.”
Dr. Degazon concludes: “The next decade will belong to those who can learn, adapt and apply skills. Vocational education is no longer a second option; it is a smart, strategic choice for GCC youth.”
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