GCCS BITESIssue 03 | Dec 2014

Tighten Your Belts!We are fi nishing 2014 on a strong note with our 3rd UN win, UNISFA – provision of food ra ons and bo led water to the UN troops in Abeyi, Africa. As we are busy mobilizing for this contract, I am confi dent of our capabili es in transla ng this achievement into a success through the learning we have incurred from other UN missions, and the capabili es of our team. We have accomplished a lot this year despite poli cal and economic diffi cul es that were faced. For 2015, we are well posi oned to win new businesses in all of the countries we operate in.

In Australia, at APG, we have added a mobile camp fl eet to our assets, which now enables us to off er mul ple solu ons for customers down under. At ACS, we have launched ACS Facility Management Services, which will build on the success of the life support unit and is a step in building the integrated solu ons provider for the mining, oil and gas

industry. In Indonesia, we con nue growing our top and bo om lines by winning contracts and running them ghtly.

Closer to HQ in UAE, we are running a successful business for the French troops repatria on out of Afghanistan through DGS France and expand our client base through EGCL. In Iraq, we have added another fl agship name to our customers’ roster: ENI. We have successfully completed the construc on of and are opera ng the Ahwar Accommoda on Village in West Qurna II, which is a cornerstone in fueling our growth for next year.

Our Engineering and Construc on department has secured two lucra ve new civil engineering contracts thus adding another capability on top of designing and building camps, eventually opening new doors for future expansion.

We have merged our Supply Chain... con nued to page 2

Message from the CEO

Message from the CEO

Issue 03 | Dec 2014

page 2

Tighten Your Belts!

con nued from page 1... with our UN Opera ons unit to provide seamless services to the UN and bring uninterrupted support for our opera ons on the ground. This is also a step in making Supply Chain a profi t center, building volumes to maximize the returns. We are close to comple ng the last and fi nal milestone for UNAMID and have achieved zero APLs at UNFICYP. Furthermore in Africa, we succeeded in providing waste management services to the French troops in Mali, refurbished and built Tullow Oil’s base camps in Uganda.

On the systems front, we launched eforms automa ng administra ve processes. We are currently launching a new warehouse management system, Exceed, which is get integrated to Oracle, and the new procurement so ware. This will bring be er transparency and cost effi ciencies to our opera ons. We are inves ng in our talent by launching a full training module, Peoplewise and upgrading our HRMS. Finally we have established a back offi ce center in India where we outsource some of our accoun ng and fi nance func ons to.

As we review our achievements, we need to assess how we faired vs. budget. The best metrics are always numeric ones because numbers don’t lie! While we con nue to break new grounds in achieving higher revenues year on year, we must do a be er job in transla ng that income into opera ng cash. This is the only way to achieve and sustain a healthy growth and provide job security.

We need to ghten our belts and be conscious of every penny. We must work on fi xing any defi ciencies to ensure we lay the ground for a strong year ahead and to be ready for a solid performance in 2015. What does this mean to you and how can you contribute? I ask each of you to set an objec ve for next year to do everything in an excellent way, the best way you can on a personal level and professional level while keeping in mind the cost impact it has. Push yourself to think, how you can increase the profi tability of, or decrease the cost on the company through your contribu ons and act on it. Everyone can make a diff erence.

As we con nue to refi ne and implement our strategy for the next fi ve years, it is important for us to keep our eyes on the opera ons and maintain our service excellence with an outstanding safety record. We have iden fi ed three services that we specialize in: Facility Management Services, Engineering & Construc on and Supply Chain Solu ons. All our ac vi es fall under one of these three umbrellas. I cannot stress enough the importance of upholding our newly refi ned core values D.I.V.E.R.S.E (stands for Delivery, Integrity, Versa lity, Excellence, Reliability, Stewardship & Safety and Engagement) which has evolved with our objec ves and growth. They are now easier to s ck in our memories. We are DIVERSE!

I take this opportunity to thank you all for your hard work in 2014. Keep it up and we set higher targets for ourselves for next year. Let us make 2015 a shining star in our track record. I wish you and your loved ones a happy and prosperous new year, full of good health and lots of wealth.

Sincerely,

Rashad SinokrotCEO

Message from the CEO

Issue 03 | Dec 2014

page 3

ValuesDelivery

Ac ng on our commitment to exceed clients’ expecta ons without compromising on service.

IntegrityEstablishing trust in all our rela onships through consistent service standards supported by strong

code of ethics and governance.Versa lity

Adap ng to the challenging markets we operate in. Global touch, local reach for sa sfac on and fl exibility.

ExcellenceBuilding a culture of quality and execu on excellence to be er serve our clients.

ReliabilityCoun ng on us for tenacity, responsiveness, ini a ve and crea vity to bring eff ec ve and proac ve

solu ons to our clients’ needs.Stewardship & Safety

Leading a posi ve impact on the communi es we serve while implemen ng the highest safety standards to protect all our stake holders.

EngagementPartnering with our staff , clients and the communi es we serve. One Team, One Goal working

together for sustainable rela onships.

VisionTo create an everlas ng heritage for our clients, our people and our communi es through becoming your preferred choice in the construc on and life support services

industry.

MissionTo deliver recognizable quality, capability and the highest standards in service to provide those we serve with a safe environment, a home away from home. Our approach is one of teamwork, striving for con nuous improvement and driving cost

compe veness, off ering you value for your money.

Corporate Values, Vision & Mission

Issue 03 | Dec 2014

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Compe on : Sharing Great Ideas

We believe that great ideas can come from anyone in the organiza on regardless of the place of workor posi on. Our people are our greatest asset and they are at the forefront of our business. Who knowsour business more than you do?

That is why we are launching a new compe on “Sharing Great Ideas” whereby we encourage all ouremployees throughout the organiza on- at all levels to share their ideas on how to make our businessbe er in diff erent areas. Simple ideas o en have the greatest impact and it can come from you!

We are encouraging all of our employees to share their ideas in diff erent areas to:1. Improve Sales2. Improve Service3. Improve Teamwork4. Reduce Costs

We have a simple form to complete (forms are available with your HR Team) to provide a descrip on of your Great Idea(s) in any or all of the above categories. Entries submi ed will then be forwarded to ourGreat Ideas Commi ee for evalua on. All Great Ideas selected will be implemented in our Company.

No idea is a bad idea! Five winners will be determined: the employee who submits the best idea ineach of the four categories will receive a cash prize of $500 each; the employee who submits the TopIdea can look forward to an exci ng prize… an all-expense paid weekend for two in The Atlan s, ThePalm in Dubai, UAE! The winners will be announced on our fi rst GCCS Bites edi on for 2015 by end of April 2015.

So, write down your ideas and make sure to send them to sharingoursuccess@gccservices.comg @g nolater than February 28, 2015.

Let’s share Great Ideas and make GCC SERVICES a be er pplace to work! to work!

image credit: h p://brainteck.com/

Sharing Great Ideas!

Issue 03 | Dec 2014

page 5

By Jerilee Joseph, Government Rela ons Manager

GCC SERVICES was awarded a USD 58 Million Contract on 20th November 2014 for Provision of Food Ra ons and Other Services, in support of United Na ons interim Security Force in Abyei (UNISFA). The contract is for a period of three years, plus two op onal years.

The UNISFA Mission currently has 4,045 Troops located in the Abyei Area and Kadugli, Sudan. The Abyei area covers 4,000 square miles of desert, farmland, and oil fi elds located along the ill-defi ned border between Sudan and South Sudan.

The Opera ons involve procurement of all food supplies, logis cs to Sudan and onward to Abyei, distribu on of food to troops in Abyei, Agok, Diff ra and Kadugli, and maintenance of all facili es. The contract represents an opportunity for GCCS to expand opera ons in Sudan and to maximize our Supply Chain Opera ons and Khartoum Warehousing Capacity.

Anita Atwine, HR Supervisor GCCS Uganda

“When a team outgrows individual performance and learns team confi dence, excellence becomes a reality” - Joe Paterno

We cannot agree more with Mr. Paterno as we, at GCCS Uganda have experienced frui ul results of Teamwork. It is in mes like this that you realise the type of team we are. With the combined eff orts of every team member in all departments, the GCCS Uganda worked together as one and became untouchable. We are overjoyed for having successfully acquired the ISO 1900:2008 cer fi cate again. We couldn’t have done this without the unwavering hard work and solid teamwork from all departments.

Congratula ons and let’s con nue to aim higher!

UNISFA Food Ra ons Warehouse Site

By Manjeet Sahota, Human Resources Manager EGCL

It came at most appropriate me, when we were strengthening our business development ac vi es; we were faced with a challenge of mobilizing a new client, with 3 loca ons spread across diff erent direc ons in Abu Dhabi in just 10 calendar days!

Our new client is His Highness Sheikh Sultan Al Nahyan’s Personal Aff airs. It is an organiza on... con nued to page 6

GCCS Wins a 3rd UN Food Ra ons Contract!

We did it again!

New Contracts Awarded to Emdad Gulf Catering Logis c

Issue 03 | Dec 2014

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con nued from page 5... that maintains private farms (among other businesses). We were awarded the contract to feed the staff working in these farms. Though it is the same organiza on, each loca on put forward a diff erent set of requirements and preferences. Despite this, our team did very well and sa sfi ed the clients’ tastes. Not only did we impress them with our hygiene standards, we also got good feedback on the taste and quality of food that we serve.

As we se led for the mobiliza on of these farms, we struck another contract win, 20 days following the fi rst award. We were awarded hospitality & catering services for SCAD (Sta s c Centre of Abu Dhabi). SCAD is a government en ty, which opened a new avenue for us to expand business in the public sector. It is located in an area which is surrounded by many government offi ces and departments, giving us opportunity to exhibit our services.

The month of November (2014) brought a lot of posi ve energy to the team, having mobilized 2 contracts with 4 loca ons in a short span of 20 days. The morale of the team is very high; it is a thorough example of working together! All other EGCL opera ons added their contribu on by providing their exis ng staff for these mobiliza ons, whilst the HR Department gave them replacements in the weeks that followed mobiliza on.

We know we s ll have a long way to go, but we eagerly look forward to 2015. The tempo to move forward and grow the business has been set and is gaining momentous pace. May we win more contracts, retain our clients and con nually grow!

GCCS Holds 1st Leaders’ Retreat in DubaiBy Roda March Collado

GCCS Leaders’ Retreat was a remarkable 4-day event for our GCCS Leaders throughout the organiza on. The 1st Leadership Retreat was held last September 21 – 24, 2014 in Dubai, UAE. It was well a ended by our leaders- from the CEO to the Country Managers, General Managers to the execu ve team members from corporate offi ce.

The four-day event was centered on the theme “Working Together”. To ensure this theme is realized, the fi rst day was marked with a welcoming dinner cruise among the par cipants with some of team members from diff erent departments at Corporate. This kicked off the event and broke the ice. Second day was packed with enriching presenta ons from the diff erent countries and corporate offi ce departments. It was an opportunity for all to get to know and understand the nature of opera ons and ac vi es of the diff erent countries and departments. Third day didn’t disappoint and s rred the spirit of working together through the fun-fi lled yet impac ul team building ac vi es facilitated by Rohit Bassi of InLearning. The third day was concluded with formula ng ac on plans together based on the needs conveyed by the par cipants during the open discussions. This is when the leadership retreat’s theme was translated into ac on. The last day was a chance to see the corporate offi ce and get a chance to meet team members whom, most o en than not are just familiar by names.

Most of the par cipants conveyed their apprecia on of the event and are looking forward to next year’s leadership retreat.

above: Ge ng their heads together & working together! below: Our GCCS leaders!

New Contracts Awarded to Emdad Gulf Catering

Issue 03 | Dec 2014

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By Marc Russo & Charles Be erman, ACS

Agent of ChangeACS has always prided themselves on being agile and fl exible boas ng a fast response to client’s ever-changing needs. A er enjoying several consecu ve years of favourable market condi ons and subsequent growth and profi tability, it was iden fi ed in the second half of 2012 that the growth and profi t margins that had been enjoyed by Australian Camp Services in their tradi onal business of remote site catering, were unlikely to con nue as the Australian mining investment phase began to wind down. The Directors set about iden fying alterna ve future sources of revenue and profi t, diversifying from their customer profi le of Mining, Construc on camps, Oil and Gas.

Brain storming sessions were conducted to create a list of possible new business opportuni es to achieve revenue growth and diversifi ca on. The idea was to think ‘’outside the square’’ and as such, wanted to keep ideas as broad, free and crea ve as possible, to encourage new ideas. Given the core business strengths are in management of labour and the provision of services, the ideas predominantly focused on service industries, closely aligned to our strengths.

A er exploring all of the iden fi ed opportuni es, some were discarded upon further research, some were added to the “possible list”. Finally, it was determined that Facili es Management align with ACS’s exis ng strengths and this will facilitate easier transi on.

The following iden fi es why:• Having past performance to quality brand name clients providing an underlying marke ng benefi t• Core business comparable ac vity in terms of tasks and du es, in remote and this FM is purpose built for an urban se ng.

• Diverse range of customers provided varied sources of revenue streams outside of tradi onal remote site catering.• Rela vely low risk, not capital intensive.• Diversifi ca on of customer base.

Launching ACSFMThe name ACS Facili es Management (ACSFM) was chosen providing a link to the tradi onal business through the acronym ACS and the choice of corporate colours.

Its new unique iden ty was also established with the use of a very diff erent logo, to represent the urban based target market.

Opportunity was engineered through rela onship building with one of Adelaide`s larger contractors to Government related to the past performance from the remote site business ACS.

ACSFM work is currently based solely in metropolitan Adelaide and performed predominantly during normal business hours, far removed from the 24/7 365 nature of remote site opera ons. con nued to page 8

The staff generally operate in teams of two with u lity style vehicle and equipment. The jobs from the client are received by way of a web based Portal and these are assigned, by a central co coordinator based on geographic areas. Each morning the teams are dispatched from the ACS Head Offi ce with their job sheet, and list of addresses for each job. Typically a team will go to between 2 to 6 job loca ons each day. Each vehicle has GPS monitoring and the central operator can see in “real me” the loca on of each team.Each team is provided a Tablet with mobile data capabili es. Before and a er photos of every job are taken using this tablet and transmi ed back to head offi ce throughout the day. The tablets are also used to manage the Portal and communicate the status of the work and its level of comple on throughout the day.Through working together with GCCS, some administra on work is being performed by the Agility Data Processing centre (ADPC) in Hyderabad India; this has provided dual benefi ts: Cost effi ciency and Produc vity increases through ability to have work performed overnight, ready for the next day’s trade.

Building Facili es Management

Opera onal Management Insight into ACSFM

Issue 03 | Dec 2014

page 8

con nued from page 7... Ini al trading commenced with just cleaning services. An exis ng trusted employee of Australian Camp Services who no longer wanted to work the Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) roster of a remote site was appointed to perform the services. Being able to transfer exis ng employees who may otherwise leave the organisa on when FIFO work no longer suits their lifestyle is another benefi t of a complimentary business unit.

A er two months of providing, cleaning, waste management services, outdoor & garden maintenance, and successful client rela onship building, lead to the addi on of demoli on and specialist cleaning services.

This necessitated new equipment, procedures, and learnings. The workload was beginning to build and with daily management requirements taking an increasing amount of me from ACS staff , and the desire to improve opera onal

effi ciency lead to the decision to recruit a division manager. Whilst two exis ng members of ACSFM had some capability to lead teams, their skillset was not deemed suffi cient to run the division, Hence a selec on process from outside the organisa on commenced. A candidate with signifi cant experience in similar work and with qualifi ca ons in Hor culture was subsequently recruited.

Trajectory & PlanningWhile there were similari es to the ACS tradi onal business, many of the processes and tasks were new. This necessitated the purchase of equipment not used in the tradi onal business. Scheduling a casual workforce and balancing it against fl uctua ng workloads also proved to be challenging.

Ini ally excessive levels of labour were used to meet deadlines but resulted in ineffi ciency and cost overruns. This was all part of the learning curve. Tracking performance of individuals in real- me is the next challenge to maximise profi tability in a compe ve environment.

The scope and specialisa on of services will be expanded so the business can move further up the value chain into higher margin ac vi es.

Further expansion of the customer base and geographic expansion is being targeted. Acquisi on targets that ideally operate in the States of Australia that have synergy with the tradi onal ACS business are being ac vely explored. These acquisi ons are not necessarily large scale but will provide a self-suffi cient entry point into new geographic areas from which organic and subsequent developed growth can then be generated.

The new business is s ll in its infancy being the fi rst year of opera on. Though there is a planned strategy behind the expansion, ACS is moving into a new sector and on the lookout for opportuni es not previously iden fi ed. Opportuni es that complement the service delivery vision for the business unit may present themselves along the way. may take the business into areas not originally envisaged.

The quote below, a ributed to Roman philosopher Seneca, reminds us that we make our own ‘’luck’’.

“Luck is what happens when prepara on meets opportunity”

Year End Party Celebrated GCCS Corporate Staff Celebrated with their Families & GuestsBy Roda March Collado

It was a cool and sunny Saturday last December 6, 2014 when corporate offi ce staff with their families & guests celebrated the annual GCCS Year End Party. Back in Al Badia Golf Club’s Picnic Brunch, each a endee enjoyed and savored the green, picturesque surrounding, lovely table se ng, and scrump ous food cooked and served right before their eyes.

The event was brightened further by Norman Yap’s (Engineering & Construc on) an cs and jokes as he led everyone through the day’s program. It was also a day to recognize Loyal Service Awardees for staff who have been with the Company for 5, 10 years. con nued to page 9 Staff with their families & guests enjoying the event

Building Facili es Management

Issue 03 | Dec 2014

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con nued from page 8... 5-Year Service awards were given out to Alistair Smylie, Deeb Mustafa, Madhawee Perera, Roda March Collado, Said Azoury and Sivasankar Durgam. Nelson Camacho on the other hand, was given the 10-Year Service award. Mr. Saji Varghese, Director of Quality & HSE, bagged for 2nd year in a row the Director of the Year award.

To heighten the holiday spirit, staff par cipated in ‘secret santa’. Par cipants were thrilled to fi nally meet their santa and gratefully received their well-thought gi s.

Everyone enjoyed the games and prizes given out, but that was not all. Santa Claus made a grand entrance and greeted each one with a joyous holiday gree ng. Gi s were given by Santa to the li le ones and even the grownups scuffl ed to take a picture with the famous man in red suit.

The program was concluded with much posi vity and enjoyment. Everyone le the venue with wide smiles, gi s, and with bright holiday spirits with them.

By Bill Gibson, Asea Pacifi c Group

Business FrontHere in Australia 2014 has been an interes ng year to date with highs of 100% occupancy of our hire fl eet un l September to lows of 50% occupancy since September. While the 50% of occupancy is within 1 contract, it is an cipated the contract will run un l mid-2015.

As we fast approach the Christmas period, we fi nd historically the enquiries slow considerably and... con nued to page 10

We, at APG had a great a ernoon un l evening last Saturday, 6th December 2014- star ng with a fi ercely compe ve game of Pu Pu and then wining and dining into the evening.

(Photo L to R: Donna, Bill, Tania, Sara, Simon, Carolyn, Tim and Shaun)

Look who were thrilled to see Santa!

APG: From 2014 Onto 2015

Year End Party Celebrated

APG Celebrated Christmas Party

Issue 03 | Dec 2014

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con nued from page 9... and don’t return un l mid to late January. Hopefully this year will be diff erent. However, we will have to wait and see.

Our 30-person container camp is now at prac cal comple on and we are looking forward to a hire or sale in the near future.

Adani Mining is crea ng much interest with a proposed 388 kilometer rail link and coal mine in the Galilee Basin in the northern area of central Queensland. Once this project proceeds, it will provide much needed opportuni es.

We are currently providing assistance to 2nd er contractors.

Other markets other than mining are being ac vely pursued such as educa on, defense and medical.

As we all know our market changes very quickly and we look forward to an improvement during 2015 with much be er mes during 2016.

Personal NotesIn September of this year I was faced with a health issue. This has seen my role change considerably over the past months and will con nue to do so un l February 2015. While the long term prognosis is looking good, there is s ll much more work to be done before complete recovery.

We hear a lot about the GCCS Family and the commitment to the well being of staff . I have experienced these ideals fi rst hand and I am humbled by the support I have been given and off ered. Illness and injury can be very lonely if you have to cope alone. I am forever grateful for the support given to me during this period of my life.

On a day to day basis, my dear wife and family help me through the down periods and make the most of the good periods. Along with my friends, I have a constant reminder of the good mes to come.

With the support of Rashad, my colleagues in Australia and the GCCS staff , the journey to full recovery has been made much easier. My wonderful staff (and friends) here in Queensland have advised me, “they have it under control”. They prove this everyday with their support, dedica on and professionalism.

This period has taught me to enjoy the li le things and let your experience take care of the issues in life. There is a work / personal life balance and my hope is everyone can fi nd that balance.

I acknowledge there are many of you who have family and friends who are ill and can assure you the best medicine is your support and encouragement. You are never alone.

All the best, Bill

What is Business Development?By Conor Ward, Director of BD Corporate

Plainly stated, Business Development (BD) is about pursuing opportuni es for the company for long-term growth and value from customers, markets, and rela onships.

However, while BD may s ll mean many diff erent things to many diff erent people, at its core a BD person’s job should be focused on 3 ac vi es:

1. Customers: fi nd new ones and extract more value from current ones.2. Markets: fi gure out where new customers “live” (both geographically and in terms of “buying mind set“) and fi nd a way to reach them.3. Rela onships: build and leverage rela onships based on trust and integrity to facilitate opportuni es. con nued to page 11

APG: From 2014 Onto 2015

Issue 03 | Dec 2014

page 11

con nued from page 10 In the simplest of terms, Business Development is about fi nding out out how to sell more to our current customers, or loca ng new customers to whom to sell. But to suggest that “that’s all there is to it” is to suggest that running a marathon just requires pu ng one foot in front of the other. Of course, running a marathon requires training, stamina and single-mindedness to make sure you don’t collapse before the fi nish line. Similarly, Business Development requires a combina on of skills to ensure that the value created from an opportunity persists for the long haul:

The BD Skillset: Strategy, Sales, and Rela onship Management• StrategyHow should you go about pursuing an opportunity? How do you know which direc on is best? Just because an opportunity is in front of you, doesn’t mean it’s a good one. Understanding the fundamentals of the business, and the business of your customers, partners, and compe tors, is cri cal to being able to make wise decisions in the pursuit of long-term value. Being able to assess an opportunity for its poten al to create long-term value, determine the paths available to you to pursue it, and understand the values and risks of one path vs. another are core BD func ons.• Sales Whether you’re selling services, as in GCCS, a product, or the idea of a partnership / alliance, almost every BD role has some element of sales. The process of naviga ng through an organiza on, iden fying decision-makers and uncovering their needs, and concisely demonstra ng the value of what you can off er are core sales skills… needed whether you’re selling a product, service, or partnership.

• Rela onship ManagementBD requires not only having a network to help you facilitate a deal, but also an understanding of how to build and maintain new rela onships to leverage them when needed. Rela onships with partners, customers and colleagues can all be crucial factors in not only ge ng in the door to a BD opportunity, but keeping that door open!

So, who does Business Development?The people with “Business Development” on their business cards are the ones who focus on the full spectrum of BD ac vi es, from sourcing business development opportuni es to evalua ng the opportuni es’ poten al to create long-term value and following through on the execu on.

HOWEVER, in fact, the BD Department relies heavily on the support and strength of every other department in the company. Whether Finance, HR, QHSE or Opera ons, each department’s input is important in the BD process. By delivering a quality service to current clients, by hiring the best people for the job, by providing fi nancial return for stakeholders, by implemen ng interna onally recognised QHSE standards, etc., we demonstrate to poten al customers that we are the outstanding service provider of choice.

Perhaps none of you in these non-BD departments consider yourselves to be serving a “Business Development” func on. In reality, you are all crucial elements of a collec ve BD team that seeks to grow and create long-term value for GCC Services.

Welcome to my world!

Yes, you read it right. As emphasized by our CEO in his message, our Company has evolved and we’re adap ng our values, too. Be sure to get yourself familiar with our values, it’s easy to remember as you can use the acronym - D.I.V.E.R.S.E.

Just a quick review, it stands for: Diversity -Integrity-Versa lity-Excellence-Reliability-Stewardship & Safety-Engagement. Descriptors of our values are in page 2 of this issue - in case you missed it.

So, the next step is to LIVE OUR VALUES! Remember, we are D.I.V.E.R.S.E!

What is Business Development?

GCCS Launches its New Set of Values

Issue 03 | Dec 2014

page 12

By Marle e Mil adous, GCCS Cyprus

On 11th November 2014, Anita Young, Project Manager of Cyprus Opera ons and her team welcomed GCC Services CEO Rashad Sinokrot to Cyprus for a brief 2-day visit. Mr. Sinokrot a ended the November Contract Progress Mee ng with UNFICYP and was informed of the opera ons from their point of view.

Addi onally, he also had an opportunity to meet with the staff members, some for the fi rst me. The staff were pleased to welcome him and gave him a tour of the facili es.

Wan ng to make Mr. Sinokrot feel at home and knowing his enjoyment of Japanese cuisine, Anita Young arranged for dinner at Akakiko Restaurant where Mr. Sinokrot and the GCCS Cyprus Team enjoyed a relaxing evening of fi ne wine and dining.

All of us in Cyprus would like to thank Mr. Sinokrot for his visit and extend a warm invita on to visit again in the future.

Comple on of Level 2 Safe Manual Handling

By Marle e Mil adous, GCCS Cyprus

GCC SERVICES Cyprus’ warehouse staff received another cer fi ca on. They completed and were awarded a cer fi cate in HABC Level 2 in Safe Moving and Handling (QCF) with an average score of 94%!

As we all know, heavy and frequent li ing and manual handling can cause back injuries and they are a major cause of occupa onal health issues. However, they can o en be prevented; and this is exactly what this course aims to do. It is impera ve for GCCS to make sure all employees work in a safe environment and training is vital. Ans it is with pride we congratulate our warehouse staff for taking and comple ng this with fl ying colors.

Again, congratula ons, Stavros, E ychios and Marios!

The en re GCCS Cyprus team with Mr. Rashad Sinokrot

GCCS CEO Visits Cyprus

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page 13

A precious one from us has gone,A golden heart stopped bea ng…

Kanagasabai Pathmanathan (known as Pathu) has been part of GCC SERVICES’ family since January 2008 and on 19th of September 2014, we were forced to bid him farewell, bowing to the will of nature. Energe c, posi ve, and hard working at the age of 36, Pathu was taken away from us.

All our respects go to his family, whom we would like to thank for their warm welcome to our General Manager, Farazdal Al Timimi, who represented the team of GCC SERVICES – Iraq, in his visit to Pa u’s homeland, Sri Lanka. A moment that was described as extremely emo onal, where a bond was built without words needed to be said. …Pathu,

The blow was hard; we never thought your death would be so near

Wherever you are, know that a memory is kept, of the one we will never forget

Our heart is with your family- for only those who love can tell the pain of par ng without farewell.

Father of the deceased staff , Mr. Kanagasabai, published in a local Sri Lankan newspaper his apprecia on of the support and coopera on GCCS Iraq has extended in expedi ng the repatria on of the mortal remains of his son. To quote from the above newspaper clipping, he expressed...

“ I appreciate your promptness in dispatching the coffi n of the deceased in me. this shows your valuable coopera on enable us to receive the deceased body. I immensely thank your esteemed Company - M/S. Gulf Catering Service in Basra-Iraq... warmest thanks to Mr. Farazdak Al Timimi, General Manager and staff , too...”

Again, our sincerest condolences to the family.

GCCS Iraq GM, Frank Al Timimi presents the condolences book to the family of the deceased

Bidding Farewell

Family Thankful for the Support

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page 14

By Benoit Guillermit

During the close past, Agility-DGS France ac vi es had been marked by the mobiliza on of a new contract in Mali. Awarded in September 2014, Agility-DGS France started a new contract (laundry services) for the European Forces located in Mali. Further, a tender including specialist group Ecolog and the incumbent, Agility-DGS France had been pleased to be awarded. The mobiliza on required to send on ground on several occasions our COO from Paris to arrange everything and be ready for a start on 3rd of November 2014. The contract has been awarded for a fi rst short period, un l 31st of May 2015, with a poten al extension un l 31st of May 2016.

Koulikoro is about 60 km East of Bamako, the capital of Mali. It is the loca on where the European Forces are located to train the Malian Forces. European community had decided to support Mali to allow them to independently run the country on their own at the earliest.

At Koulikoro, about 450 European forces are located to support the teaching European mission. No less than 21 na onali es are gathered in Koulikoro. Most of the European Forces are coming from Germany, who provides most of the medical support.

The scope of work of this contract is full laundry services including:• Supply of all equipment (non-professional items despite the fact that these non-professional have a lower life cycle than professional equipment),• Supply of all detergents with European Cer fi ca on,• Supply of special detergent for the German trainers,• Delivery of laundry services- 6 days per week (from 07h30 to 17h30)

One of the fi rst challenges to face a er the award of this new contract was to get the required equipment available and ready. We managed to supply all of the required equipment (washing machine, dryers and steam irons) and cleaning products from France- as the Client requested European cer fi ed materials and products. That was the most cri cal challenge as all of these items should be

be shipped by sea freight (which took 15 days) from French port to Dakar Port (Senegal) and then by land transport (which took 15 another days) from Dakar Port to Koulikoro.

With a very close collabora on with our French supplier and with GIL France, we succeeded to load all the items within 10 days a er the awarded date. O en the requirements change and they requested for us to provide 500 addi onal clothes bags. Thanks to EGCL it had been possible to get the used ones coming from our previous (closed) similar opera on at Abu Dhabi on the French Naval Base. Thanks to Maud, these used clothes bags had been added to the blandly new clothes as made in the EAU to be shipped to Mali on me.

Even if the container arrived on me at Dakar Port, we faced yet another unexpected challenge at the arrival port. The freight forwarder lost our container and found it a er 15 days of search. This incident resulted in the container arriving just 5 days before the star ng date of the contract.

With the help of our Malian partner, we have been able to install and test all equipment in two days. At the same me, our Client informed us that we must start our services on the 31st of October instead of the 03rd of November 2014.

con nued on page 15...

Updates & Progress: Agility-DGS France

Issue 03 | Dec 2014

page 15

con nued from page 14...Our main challenge was to test in real condi ons all equipment and to organize the team’s work in one day. Thanks to a very close coopera on with the Client, it had been found 40 volunteer European trainers for which we realized a real test of all laundry processes. The test was successful.

We were ready the day before the new star ng date!

The recruitment and the training of a new team of 11 laundry women and men took place at the beginning of October 2014 to operate such services. The team members were exclusively recruited locally- all of them are Malian. We recruited people who have solid experience in laundry services.

This organiza on and the eff orts and of all Agility-DGS France team made possible it possible for us to be ready 3 days in advance in lieu of the offi cial start date. The contract is now running smoothly and some developments are considered.

This contract is the second one for the European Forces we have se led in Mali. We do expect to get addi onal opportunity for cleaning services.

The two awarded contracts (Waste Management & Laundry) provide past experiences when The United Na ons had already RFI related to laundry, waste management and catering services. For the two fi rst RFI, our contracts with the European Forces had provided accurate and relevant informa on about the Malian specifi ci es and the how-to-do in this country. And last but not the least, this second contract had reinforced the good rela onship and partnership with Malian en es, which may help in the near future.

Some mes, we fi nd ouselves surprised when someone approaches us and say, “You have used the logo inappropriately.” We have diff erent reac ons at mes, thinking, Is it that important? Should I care?

Let me tell you this, yes, we should care and we should use our logo responsibly. Not only that, when using any offi cial medium of communica on, we should be using approved templates. On the next page, Michel Karam, Senior Manager- Marke ng & Communica ons explains why is it important and why we should care about how we present “our brand”.

If you are not sure if you are using the correct logo or templates, please feel free to send your clarifi ca ons/ queries to: gccsbites@gccservices.com.

Our laundry services delivered by highly experienced Malian staff

Our staff handing out laundered clothes to clients

Updates & Progress: Agility-DGS France

Are You Using the GCCS Logo Correctly?

Issue 03 | Dec 2014

page 16

By Michel Karam, Senior Manager - Marke ng & Communica ons, Agility

So what is branding? And why is it so important for our business?

Branding goes way beyond just a logo or a graphic element. When we think about our brand, we really want to think about our en re customer experience… everything from our logo, website, social media experiences, the way we answer the phone, to the way our customers experience our services. When we look at this broad defi ni on of branding, it can be a bit overwhelming to think about what is involved in our brand.

In short, our brand is the way our customers perceive us. It is cri cal to be aware of our brand experience and have a plan to create the brand experience that we want to have… a good brand doesn’t just happen… it is well thought out and we should have a strategic plan.Many small organiza ons and start-ups neglect spending necessary me thinking about their brand in the broad sense, and the impact it has on their business.

Let’s look at the 9 most important reasons why digging into our brand is important:

1- Branding promotes recogni on. People tend to do business with companies they are familiar with. If our branding is consistent and easy to recognize, it can help people feel more at ease in contac ng us and purchasing our services.

2- Our brand helps set us apart from the compe on.In today’s global market, it is cri cal to stand apart from the crowd. We are no longer compe ng on a local stage. How do we stand out from the thousands of similar organiza ons around the world?

3- Our brand tells people about our business DNA.Our full brand experiences start from the visual elements like our logo- to the way we answer the phone, and how we tell our customers what kind of company we are. Are all of these entry points telling the right story? Giving the same message? 4- Our brand provides mo va on and direc on for our staff .A clear brand strategy provides clarity that our staff needs to be successful. It tells them how to act, how to win, and how to meet the organiza on’s goals.

5- A strong brand generates referrals.People love to tell others about the brands they like. People wear brands, eat brands, listen to brands, and they’re constantly telling others about the brands they love. On the fl ip side, you can’t tell someone about a brand you can’t remember. A strong brand is cri cal to generate referrals or viral traffi c.

6- A strong brand helps customers know what to expect.A brand that is consistent and clear puts the customer at ease, because they know exactly what to expect each and every me they experience the brand. con nued to page 17

Why is Branding Important?

Issue 03 | Dec 2014

page 17

con nued from page 16...

7- Our brand represents us and our promise to our customers.It is important to remember that our brand represents us… we are the brand, our staff is the brand, our marke ng materials are the brand. What do they say about us, and what do they say about what we’re going to deliver (our promise) to the customer?

8- Our brand helps us create clarity and stay focused.It’s very easy to wonder around from idea to idea with nothing to guide us… it doesn’t take long to be a long way from our original goals or plans. A clear brand strategy helps us stay focused on our mission and vision as an organiza on. Our brand can help us be strategic and will guide our marke ng eff orts saving me and money.

9- A strong brand provides our business value.A strong brand will provide value to our organiza on well beyond our physical assets. Think about the brands that you purchase from (Coca-Cola, Wrangler, Apple, Ford, Samsung, etc)… are these companies really worth their equipment, their products, their warehouses, or factories? No, these companies are worth much more than their physical assets…their brand has created a value that far exceeds their physical value.

Wrapping it upThe best branding is built on a strong idea… an idea that you and your staff can hold on to, can commit to, and can deliver upon. Our brand needs to permeate our en re organiza on. When our organiza on is clear on the brand and can deliver on the promise of the brand, we will see tremendous fruit while building brand loyalty among our customer base.

By Im az D. Velji, Business Development Manager, QMP

Quality Meat Packers Limited (QMP) is a privately owned company with a commitment to quality and innova on. Our company is guided by a family commitment to quality that goes back to our founding in 1970, when the company established its fi rst butchery outlet in a posh Nairobi suburb.

Today, Quality Meat Packers operates... con nued to page 18

QMP’s commitment to quality is demonstrated in the interna onal quality standards that they adhere to which include:

• Export Cer fi ca on By The Government Of Kenya• Gazze ed Approvals from Government of Saudi Arabia., Egypt, Oman and many other foreigncountries in the Middle East and Africa• ISO 22000:2012 Food Safety Management System including HACCP by BVQI• Halal Cer fi ca on By The Supreme Council Of Kenya Muslims

Why is Branding Important?

QMP is Interna onally Cer fi ed

A Growing Partnership: GCCS and QMP

Issue 03 | Dec 2014

page 18

con nued from page17... the largest privately owned slaughterhouse and meat processing plant in Kenya. The QMP plan has a slaughter capacity of about 100 metric tons of meat per day with equivalent facili es for deboning and sausage produc on. Our beef, lamb, mu on, chicken and processed products are unique as we are one of the few ver cally integrated agribusinesses in the region. This ver cal integra on gives us total control of the origin and freshness of all products and enables us to ensure quality at every step from farm to fork.

A Growing PartnershipThe partnership between QMP and GCCS is one that has grown from strength to strength. The visits by GCCS teams over the years have only worked to cement this partnership even stronger, and clear advantages have emerged including QMP’s ability to provide organic grass-fed beef and lamb/goat products that are made to custom order. As both companies look to the future there is strong growth poten al for both tradi onal markets, including the UN market, as well as other markets such as mass catering, camp catering and other fi elds that have wide opportuni es for synergies to be realized.

One of QMP’s delivery trucks

Isola on pens u lised for raising poultry animals

Rabih Hussein Zeaiter, GCC SERVICES’ Chief Baker for the UNAMID Food Ra ons contract par cipated in the UN Pool Tournament held in EL Geinena Darfur from 3-6 September. Rabih competed against 26 players through three days of elimina on games – emerging as the tournament’s

champion. He was presented with a trophy from UNAMID’s tournament organizer, Laurence.

In his daily work, Rabih oversees the produc on of 3,500 kgs of bread on a daily basis at El Fasher, El Geinena and Nyala in Darfur. Work in the GCC SERVICES bakeries is challenging – with work con nuing throughout the day at Nyala and Geinena and un l 9 PM at El Fasher. Rabih and the bakery team prepare excellent breads, rolls, croissants, and pastries – but they are best known for making the best pizza in Sudan!

Free me and something to do when there is me to relax are hard to fi nd in Darfur. Rabih has added the UNAMID Pool Tournament Trophy to his winning record.

Congratula ons!

L-R:UNAMID’s Laurence, GCCS’ Kamal, Rabih & Benidicto

A Growing Partnership: GCCS and QMP

Rabih Wins UNAMID Pool Tournament

Issue 03 | Dec 2014

page 19

By Deepak Thalikkan, HR Assistant EGCL

“The ISO cer fi ca on is a tes mony to any organiza on’s unfl inching commitment to quality and service standards.” This quote from Times of India website about ISO cer fi ca on aptly captures what it signifi es. Quality Management System (QMS) has very elaborately documented procedures addressing highest level of specifi ca ons to be achieved during various stages of food produc on, transporta on, delivery and service. The QMS norms help enhance systems, improve areas of weakness and reduce process in-effi ciencies. This system ensure compliance to all applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

That is why we feel a sense of pride as we received the recer fi ca on for ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 22000: 2005 a er undergoing intense evalua on for our adherence to deliver safe food. This achievement only encourages us to further raise the bar and off er only the best to our customers.

It was a daun ng eff ort from the EGCL Team and Mr. Shemim, our QHSE Offi cer, to get the task accomplished,

whilst the support from Mr. Ajeethan, Mr. Sandeep and guidance from Mr. Saji from Corporate, were a great facilita on for achieving the recer fi ca on.

Upon receipt of the Re- Cer fi ca on Mr. Samir Sammour aptly quoted; “The success is good and is a result of a period of work and passing the test, but maintaining this success takes more work and con nuous eff orts and we must maintain our compliance to all the rules and regula ons of the ISO system.”

By Maria Clarice Carabuena, HR Offi cer Corporate

13 enthusias c employees of GCCS Corporate Offi ce have par cipated in the 51st Toastmasters Mee ng sponsored and presented by Tristar Toastmasters Club. A warm welcome was given by the members of the club spearheaded by their Club President, Mr. Arthur Los Baños last 12th November 2014 at their headquarters in Jebel Ali Industrial Area 2.

In the two (2) hours session, our employees were given the chance to observe, par cipate and learn how Toastmasters is run by a corporate club. con nued to page 20...

GCCS Staff members with Tristar’s Toastmasters club members

ISO Cer fi ca on Renewal for EGCL

GCCS Joins Tristar Group UAE’s 51st Toastmasters Mee ng

Issue 03 | Dec 2014

page 20

con nued from page 19One of the ac vi es run that day was the “Round Robin Session” wherein all the a endees were asked to use the phrase of the day which is “push the envelope.” Though bounded with self-consciousness, our employees were able to use the words smartly. Indeed, they have pushed their envelope to stand and speak in front of people.

Part 2 of the session is all about pu ng the person on the spot. This me, our colleague Rajendra Appala from Engineering & Construc on Department, courageously volunteered to speak about the randomly selected table topic. Though he exceeded the allowable me limit, he fi nished his speech with pride.

Indeed, it was a great experience for all the GCCS a endees. Big thanks to Tristar Toastmaster Club members for giving us the Toastmasters experience!

By Maria Clarice Carabuena, HR Offi cer Corporate

Training & Development is one of the three areas of concern during the 2013 Employee Sa sfac on Survey result. That is why this year, the Company strengthened its training program by progressively addressing the training needs of its staff .

Last 14th - 16th October 2014, GCC Services Corporate Offi ce spearheaded the 3-day training on Nego a on Skills which took place at Bonnington Hotel JLT and was a ended by a total of 19 par cipants from various countries of opera on. 14 were from Corporate Offi ce, 2 from Abu Dhabi, 1 from Cyprus, 1 from Sudan and 1 from Uganda.

Day one of the training session focused on the fundamentals of nego a on planning and it is a ended mostly by offi cer and supervisory level staff . The succeeding days tackled more in-depth skills in nego a on and these sessions are primarily dedicated to those frontrunners during the nego a on process.

The training was facilitated by CIPS (Chartered Ins tute of Purchasing & Supply), which included a series of workshops

including a video role-play sessions, through which the par cipants have the opportunity to prac ce the techniques learned and get acquainted with each other in a more enjoyable atmosphere.

In a statement given by Mr. Newton Matope, Director of Supply Chain & Opera ons, he defi nes nego a on as “A dialogue between two or more people or par es intended to reach an understanding, resolve points of diff erence, to gain advantage for an individual or collec ve, or to cra outcomes to sa sfy various interests. Nego a on is a key skill of the procurement and supply management professional. The ability to nego ate eff ec vely is so fundamental, that without it, an eff ec ve purchasing and supply management service cannot be provided.”

He added that, “Although some people have a natural fl air for nego a on it is a skill which not only needs to be learned through professional training, coaching and experience but requires refresher training. The training conducted is one of the staff development ini a ves to equip our staff s who either has to nego ate directly or indirectly as part of their work with skills that will enable them to interact with suppliers and contractors for the benefi t of GCC Services.”

We are hopeful that the par cipants gained signifi cant knowledge and were able to hone their nego a on skills and use these in the workplace.

We look forward to facilita ng more training that benefi t not just some but all countries of opera ons of GCC SERVICES and leverage on collec ve competencies.

GCCS Joins Tristar Group UAE’s 51st Toastmasters Mee ng

GCCS Spearheads Nego a on Training

Issue 03 | Dec 2014

page 21

Two employees at GCCS Indonesia shine, looks forward to a bright future with GCC SERVICES

For this edi on of Spotlight, we feature two employees from our GCCS opera ons in Indonesia. Both are quite new to the organiza on but have fl ourished with their careers and skills. Let’s get to know them.

We are proud to introduce one of our dedicated staff , Rani Gus awa , a local villager from Nunukan. She joined GCC Services Indonesia on 10th February 2014 and became well known among the laundry crew. She has blossomed to be one of our best employees. We fondly call her Rani; she is an excellent employee, diligent, loyal, and friendly. She enthusias cally shared with us that GCC SERVICES is her fi rst Company and ever since, she was keen on learning and understanding the GCCS’ opera onal standards. She manages to work under pressure and coordinates well with the supervisor-in-charge and clients.

Working for the Company, she hopes that someday, she will be given the opportunity to work to another GCC SERVICES loca on (overseas) to gain more work experience and enable her to enhance her skills further. At present, she always does her best and works towards progressing her career within GCCS Indonesia and possibly with GCCS Group as well.

Let’s get to know another remarkable staff from GCCS Indonesia. La Iwan as he is always called by his friends and known within the GCCS Indonesia - JRN Seruyung site. He is well known from the Housekeeping Division, high spirited individual, loyal, good at his work and loved by our clients in PT Sago Prima Pratama.He is from southeast Sulawesi Tobatano, but grew up in Nunukan. He joined the Company on April 25, 2014 along with some of his friends from the local areas- Sebuku and Nunukan.

At the beginning of his career, he did not know much of the opera ons. He had li le idea about housekeeping and the catering industry in general. He started out as a Room boy, thanks to his outstanding performance, he progressed in his career and became a team leader. He shares that the challenges he is now facing are greater than what he used to face. It’s no longer taking care of a few units, now, not only he ensures each team member performs well but oversees the over-all performance of the housekeeping team. He sees to it that all rooms within the Camp Seruyung are kept and maintained well, ensuring a Home Away From Home experience for its occupants.

From someone who was clueless of housekeeping to someone selected as the best employee of GCC SERVICES Indonesia based on the performance reviews for 2014. What a progress he has made!

With all of these being said, La Iwan looks forward to con nue to work with GCCS Indonesia, gain more experience, progress further in his career and be able to provide a be er life for his family, too. Without a doubt, he is determined to con nue to work hard, be a good leader, con nue to develop himself and grow with GCC SERVICES.

Rani of GCCS Indonesia

La Iwan of GCCS Indonesia

Spotlight

Issue 03 | Dec 2014

page 22

By Jerilee Joseph, Government Rela ons Manager

On 23rd September 2014 our UNAMID Food Ra ons Project in Al Fasher, Nyala and El Geneina received Food Safety Management Systems ISO 22000:2005 third party cer fi ca on.

The warehouse facili es were audited by Lead Auditor Adnan Niaz from TuV Nord. Our Corporate QHSE Director, Saji Varghese and Ajeethan Kizhussery, Internal Auditor conducted the Internal Audit and prepared the team at the three Darfur warehouses.

Many thanks to our UNAMID QA Team led by Baha’a Afaneh, our UNAMID Food Safety Team Leader and the team members Mahmoud Hassan, Odecious Madzvimbo, Manoj Karthikeyan, Kamal Belgacem and Najeed Kavukadavath who worked relessly to make this happen.

Congrats to Harry and Team UNAMID on a aining this impera ve milestone in the remote loca on like Darfur in a record me!

By Jerilee Joseph, Government Rela ons Manager

August 27 – 28, 2014, A 2 Day In—house Training Program was conducted at each of our UNAMID Food Ra ons Project Loca ons - El Geneina, Al Fasher, Nyala and Khartoum.

Introduc on to Warehouse Opera ons, Forkli safety, First Aid, Basic Firefi gh ng, MHE handling, Picking and Packing were some of the training topics covered.

A total of 169 staff members par cipated and received cer fi ca on in this interac ve training program. Training was developed and conducted by Agility Egypt Warehousing Team represented by Hussein Mahmoud El Hussieny & Mohamed Abdel Fatah. Our staff proudly showing off their cer fi cates

GCCS UNAMID Project Team Puts ISO 22000 on the Menu

Warehouse Opera ons & Safety Training

Issue 03 | Dec 2014

page 23

By Anafel Bernardo, GCCS Libya

2014 proved to be a very challenging and game changing year for ALZAD/ GCCS Libya. The fi rst quarter of the year seems very promising with several poten al clients showing great interest in ALZAD/ GCCS Libya’s services. However, during early summer, war broke out, impeding and slowing most business ac vi es for both foreign and local en es. We had no choice but to temporarily seize opera on for security reasons. Opera on was suspended, most of the foreign staff opted to be repatriated and for us Filipino staff , we evacuated and headed to the neighboring country Tunisia for our own safety. From Tunisia, it was decided that we would stay out of Libya and head straight to Morocco, where Filipinos do not require visa.

Journey back to Libya:While we were in In Morocco we con nued to work remotely and coordinated with the skeletal workforce that was le in Libya to con nue some of the opera on such as the guesthouses and some other jobs in town. Within a short period of me, Mr. Saddik decided that it is safe to resume back to normal work. Lady luck was not really on our side and proves to test our faith as our fl ight back to Libya got delayed for more than 8 hours and really to be quite honest, it gave us a bad premoni on, but our eagerness to return back got us thru and soon we head back to Libya.

The fl ight back to Libya was sure smooth and we hardly had any problem. We arrived in Mi ga airport where passport control was done manually which leads to a lot of delay. A er passport control and collec ng our luggage, we were greeted by familiar faces who excitedly welcomed us back.

Ge ng the gears back to work:

A er a delayed and excrucia ng fl ight, we immediately resumed work in our temporary offi ce, which con nued for a couple of days un l we decided to formally start holding offi ce back in Krimea. A er 2 months, we slowly cleaned up and fi xed the area. Construc on and transfer to the new main kitchen in Krimea area resumed.

We held a func on to our client Mabruk Oil Opera on despite the short manpower we managed to pull it off and delivered a highly sa sfactory service to our client. Keeping true to our company mantra: “Aim for Service and Success will follow”

More hurdles and overcoming them:However, despite the li le ray of hope we had, the situa on in Libya is s ll uncertain, as one client a er another advised us that they will require to suspend or decrease our current job, thus leaving us with no choice but to comply and start to implement strict cost cu ng measures in order to sustain our remaining opera ons. Fortunately, our banque ng side of the business proved to be gaining momentum as clients started contac ng us and book for func ons and wedding events. The impeded construc on work in our new main kitchen was nearing comple on and we looked forward to having a grand opening, hopefully by early 2015. All of these kept us busy and fueled our daily ac vi es.

Some mes, we get all worried and red but we chose to stay ,not for the one bad thing that had happened recently, but for all the many good reasons we gained throughout the years of our service. We stayed and con nued to strive for a be er tomorrow.

Lastly the most important thing is we are safe and opera ng showing strong resilience as we want to see things improve for ALZAD/ GCCS Libya, our second family . When things get be er in Libya, we will be big for sure. HOWEVER , it’s a pa ence game for now. The least we can do is stay posi ve, and look forward to long term progress, hopefully not so distant from now. Who would think they went through tough situa ons?

Keeping the Drive Alive

Issue 03 | Dec 2014

page 24

GCCS Sudan UNAMID UpdatesBy Steven Smith, GCCS Sudan

The last few months have been busy in the UNAMID mission with minor modifi ca ons to the warehouses and the extension of our bakery buildings.

The warehouse teams have also benefi ted from training given by our friends in Agility in Egypt. Agility sent 2 trainers to the UNAMID mission and spent a month travelling around all 4 sites, training all the Local and Interna onal staff in Opera ons, Warehouse Safety, Maintenance Safety, Fire Figh ng and First Aid. The trainings were well received by all the staff and big thanks go out to Hussain Mahmoud El Houssainy and Mohamed Abdel Alime Abdel Fa ah for providing the training. We defi nitely look forward to their next visit!

On the opera onal front, things are running smoothly with our warehouse team busy delivering food ra ons to the UNAMID con ngents, while our Khartoum warehouse team are busy accep ng goods into mission from suppliers and forwarding the goods on to the sector warehouses in Darfur.

We have also had a few new addi ons to the team and would like to welcome them to UNAMID and Sudan in general. They are: Joshua Kithuku, Mohamed Shaheen, Isaac Essien, Julius Kagoda, Dzingai Matsika, Angela Osodo, Jeremia Wanyaike, John Gatu, Lionel Awaka, Hugues Djenga and Angelica Muthoni.

There have been addi onal construc on works in Nyala and El Fasher with extensions being completed for both bakeries. These extensions were completed by a local construc on team and both extensions took around one month to complete.

This modifi ca on has almost doubled the space inside the bakeries and has given the bakery teams a much be er working environment.

The whole team is looking forward to the fes ve season including the New Year while working at the sites.

The en re GCCS Team in Sudan - UNAMID mission would like to wish all of GCC SERVICES staff and their families a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Issue 03 | Dec 2014

page 25

By Jerilee Joseph, Government Rela ons Manager

Twenty-eight GCC SERVICES Dubai Offi ce staff members joined hundreds of volunteers from schools, government offi ces, private companies and organiza ons in the mass UAE community event “Clean Up UAE Campaign 2014” at Ras Al Khaimah, behind Sheikh Khalifa Hospital on 9th Dec. 2014.

The event in Ras Al Khaimah was under the patronage and in the presence of H.E. Engr. Sheikh Salem bin Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi - President of the RAK Civil Avia on. The campaign began with hois ng the Clean Up UAE fl ag, followed by a performance by the Ras Al Khaimah police military band and an opening speech by Mrs. Habiba Al Mar’ashi, Chairperson of Emirates Environmental Group (EEG).

The clean up at Ras Al Khaimah included 1,200 par cipants equipped with co on gloves and biodegradable plas c bags, dedicated to collec ng the trash discarded in the area. A total of one ton of trash was successfully collected at Ras Al Khaimah: ranging from picnic ware, to car parts and res.

The Clean Up UAE ini a ve is a na onwide campaign that aims to create awareness among the local community about environmental issues, with special emphasis on waste management, waste reduc on, and recycling. GCC SERVICES proudly did its part to clean up the environment.

By Marle e Mil adous, GCCS Cyprus

Our Fresh fruit and vegetable supplier, Amalthia makes deliveries to our warehouse twice a week. They provide all of the requested products plus extra provisions, in order to ensure that we meet delivery compliance and quality meets the highest UNFICYP standards. At the end of each week, we are naturally le with a surplus. There is no addi onal charge to GCC SERVICES for the excess fruits and vegetables apart from what was ordered.

Now, what to do with the le overs? Our project manager was approached... con nued to page 26

GCCS Par cipates in Clean Up UAE

GCCS Cyprus Makes Charitable Dona ons

Corporate Social Responsibility

Issue 03 | Dec 2014

page 26

con nued from page 25... by our colleague, E hychios Papanicolaou regarding this. E hychios had been made aware through neighbors and the local church that several families have been nega vely impacted by the economic crisis in Cyprus. More par cularly, families where one or more members, have lost their income.

It was agreed that the excess vegetables would be donated to those less fortunate. The Papanicolaou brothers take the vegetables on a Friday to their home, where the needy are called to come and collect what they will need to feed their families.

We are very proud of the boys that they are sensi ve and caring enough to want to help the needy a er their working hours and to open their home; and we are pleased to do our part here at GCCS.

By Anita Atwine, GCCS Uganda

“No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.” - Aesop’s Fable

Nothing beats the feeling of giving back! O en mes we think that what we give should be a lot or that we should give when we have more than enough or the impact of what we give should be big. It is having such mentality that keeps us from giving; it holds us back from taking ac on. Our willingness to give should be backed by ac on, it doesn’t ma er how much we give, know that whatever we give makes a diff erence.

It was on such grounds that GCCS Uganda chose to give back to the less fortunate in two communi es of Kaiso and Kyehoro, where most of our opera ons take place. We iden fi ed the orphans, the elderly and the disabled, as part of our CSR plan. Over 360 items were distributed to the community members. It was a good feeling to reach out to them especially around this me of the fes ve season; the items came right in handy.

We are more than blessed as a team to have reached out to these communi es and we, at GCCS Uganda look forward to con nuing our outreach programmes, touching the lives of our less fortunate brothers and sisters in the communi es where we operate.

E hychios with one of the local community members

GCCS Cyprus Makes Charitable Dona ons

The Most Rewarding Experience

Corporate Social Responsibility

Issue 03 | Dec 2014

page 27

By Jerilee Joseph, Government Rela ons Manager

GCC SERVICES will lead a CSR program as a part of the Agility Educa on Drive.

Our designated program involves the refurbishment and ongoing support of the El Geneina primary school. El Geneina is located in North-western Darfur and is one of our UNAMID food ra ons’ warehouse loca ons.

The school has a total of 903 school children aged 7-15 years. There are 20 teachers. Some of the classrooms have dirt fl oors, no desks and no chalkboards. School supplies such as books, paper, pens, pencils and crayons are desperately needed. School bags and uniforms are also much needed.

Gamal el Khaitam, Depot Manager for the El Geneina site will lead our team. He is currently assessing the repairs necessary to improve the buildings. We will begin by working to repair the roof and concre ng the classroom fl oors. At the same me, we will work to provide teaching materials.

Our long term goal is to ensure that the children have an opportunity to study and to obtain the bright future as portrayed on the walls of the school.

Entrance to the El Geneina School compound in Darfur

An overfl ow classroom accommodates addi onal students

The female teacher’s offi ce has 12 teachers sharing 3 desks

GCCS Joins Agility Educa on Drive Corporate Social Responsibility

Issue 03 | Dec 2014

page 28

By Marle e Mil adous, GCCS Cyprus

Cyprus’ Project Manager, Mrs. Anita Young wanted to share with all GCCS Employees the rich, historical and delicious cuisine of Cyprus while at the same me providing another opportunity for her staff to employ more team building ac vi es. Her solu on: the staff will get together and prepare from start to fi nish, a tradi onal Cypriot meal; to be enjoyed by all a erwards.

It was jointly decided at a staff mee ng what meal would typically represent the cuisine of Cyprus. It was also decided who would prepare which part of the meal. Addi onally, research was done on the history of Cyprus and its food.

From ancient mes Cyprus was called the “island of the sun” because the sun shines for 340 days a year. Its climate is considered one of the healthiest in the world. The climate of Cyprus never fails to delight its visitors and every season has a charm and beauty of its own. The sun shines con nuously and average yearly temperatures rise to 30° C (86° F).

Gazing back through the centuries, one can explore Cyprus̀ rich history in gastronomy with indigenous products and unique recipes that cannot be found anywhere else. Cyprus has a variety of authen c recipes for food and a variety among which the most ancient wine in the world, Cyprus cuisine, being a Mediterranean one, is one of the healthiest in spite of the fullness in fl avours.

The date was set for the 20th November 2014. The staff gathered in my kitchen and the prepara on began. Marios and E ychios jointly prepared Avgolemono, a tradi onal chicken rice soup made with egg and fresh lemon juice, giving it a tangy citrus fl avor without being overwhelming. The fi nal product was delicious and the boys were rightly proud of their accomplishment! Stavros followed with a garden salad. Salads, due to the abundance of fresh ingredients are served at nearly every meal. Stavros fi nished his salad with a light olive oil based dressing, perfectly seasoned. In place of vinegar, Stavros used fresh lemon juice which gave the salad a delicate fl avor enhancing the fresh produce. The main course was Moussaka. I chose this to accent the Greek infl uence on the Cyprus culture. Moussaka is made with layers of potatoes, eggplant (aubergines), seasoned minced meat and topped with béchamel sauce. Finally, Project Manager, Anita showed off her skills as a chef by preparing Galaktoboureko. A tradi onal custard pie made with semolina and light phillo pastry. Once the meal was prepared, we all sat down, raised toasts to our success and enjoyed the well-deserved dinner.

I have shared here our recipes on this page and wish everyone “Kali Oreksi”! (Bon Appe t)

Recipe: Cyprus CuisineSouppa Avgolemono

Ingredients120g Rice3 pcs Eggs2 pcs Juiced lemons 1 pc Chicken stock cube1 ltr Water

Method1. In a large saucepan add the water and stock cube, bring to boil.2. Add the Rice and cook un l tender, then simmer. 3. Meanwhile, whisk the eggs and lemon juice un l smooth.4. Ladle 1 cup of liquid into the egg and lemon mixture, then whisk to combine.5. Add the lemon & egg mixture back to the simmering liquid, s r un l the soup thickens as the eggs cook. Add salt & pepper to taste. Serve with a lemon wedge for extra zing.

Greek Salad

IngredientsLe uce 1 – rinsed, dried & choppedRed Onion 1 – thinly slicedBlack Olives 200gGreen Pepper 1 – thinly choppedRed Pepper 1 – thinly choppedTomatoes 2 - choppedCucumber 1 - choppedFeta Cheese 100g – cut into small squaresOlive Oil 6 table spoonsLemon 1 juicedBlack pepper to tasteOregano 1 tspcon nue to page 29

Issue 03 | Dec 2014

page 29

Recipe: Cyprus Cuisine Greek Salad

con nued from page 28Method1. In a large bowl, combine the le uce, onion, peppers, tomatoes, cucumber.2. Whisk together the Olive Oil, Lemon Juice, Oregano & Black Pepper. Pour dressing over the Salad, toss lightly, sprinkle the cheese & Black Olives on top.

Moussaka

Ingredients250 ml Olive oil2 large aubergines, about 1kg. 1 large onion, fi nely chopped 3 tablespoon roughly chopped fl at-leaf parsley 2 garlic cloves, fi nely chopped 1kg. minced pork or beef 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon dried oregano 1 bay leaf 125ml white wine 500g tomato sauce500g. potatoes, peeled

Bechamel Sauce:1 egg120g. bu er 125g. plain fl our 1 litre warm milk a li le fresh grated halloumi cheese (op onal)

Method1. Trim the hats off the aubergines, then slice the aubergines lengthways into 5mm (¼in) slices. Sprinkle quite generously with salt and leave in the sink or in a bowl for about 30 minutes to draw out any bi er juices.

Method (Moussaka con nued...)2. Heat 3 tbsp of the oil in a wide non-s ck saucepan. Sauté the onion, add the parsley and garlic and cook for another minute then add the mince. Cook over a medium-high heat un l the meat browns. Add the spices, bay leaf and season. 3. When the mince is golden, add wine. Let most of the wine evaporate, then add tomatoes and simmer for about 30 minutes, uncovered, s rring o en. Break up any clusters. 4. Meanwhile, slice the potatoes lengthways into 5mm (¼in) slices and pat dry. Heat 4-5 T of olive oil in a large non-s ck saucepan and fry the potatoes un l cooked through. Remove to a plate lined with kitchen paper and sprinkle with a li le salt. Rinse the aubergine with cold water and pat dry. Fry in batches in the same pan. It is done when if you press down with a fork, they should be almost like a purée. Remove each batch to a plate lined with kitchen paper, adding only a tablespoon of oil if possible between batches. 5. Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/. Arrange the potatoes in one layer on the bo om of a roas ng pan. Evenly spread the minced meat mixture on top of the potatoes. Follow with the aubergines on top of the minced meat. Press it down and you should s ll have about 2½ cm (1in) spaces at the top of the dish. 6. Make the béchamel sauce just before baking the moussaka. Melt the bu er in a saucepan. Whisk in the fl our and cook for a few minutes, s rring constantly. Then, working quickly, add the milk in ladlefuls with one hand while whisking with the other. When the sauce seems smooth and not too s ff , add salt, pepper and con nue cooking for fi ve minutes or so, mixing un l thick and smooth. Add the egg, while mixing. Taste for seasoning and spoon over the mince. You can sprinkle with grated halloumi at this me if desired.7. Bake for 45 minutes to an hour with a baking-sheet underneath to catch any spills, un l the moussaka begins to bubble up and the top is golden in parts. Leave it in the oven to cool slightly before serving.

Issue 03 | Dec 2014

page 30

Look at a boun ful feast they have prepared and shared together!

We certainly hope that you would fi nd these recipes delectable as our team in Cyprus did. So, enjoy and may your New Year be more prosperous for you and your families, bringing good health and more joy!

“Kali Oreksi”!

If you would like to share your own recipes with us, please write to us, send your recipes and photos to: gccsbites@gccservices.com. We’d love to feature them on our next issue, un l then, happy cooking!

Recipe: Cyprus CuisineGalatompoureko

Ingredients400g Sugar140g Semolina2 Eggs2 tsp Vanilla Essence1 pkt Phillo Pastry1 litre Milk2 tsp Bu er

For the Syrup 250 ml Water500g SugarLemon or Orange Peel (rose water can also be used)

Method1. Add sugar to a saucepan with the milk, bu er, vanilla and semolina. Bring to a boil s rring con nually. Once it boils and becomes creamy, remove from heat and cool slightly (about 10 minutes). Add eggs bea ng vigorously to avoid the eggs separa ng from the mixture. Allow to cool while preparing dough.2. Take a deep baking dish and liberally grease with bu er on the bo om and sides. Place half of the phillo leaves in the bo om of the baking dish, brushing each leaf individually with the melted bu er. Make sure the phillo leaves cover the sides of the dish as well as the bo om.

3. Pour the custard mixture on top of the phillo. Finish with the remaining phillo, again brushing each leaf with bu er. Make sure to tuck in the phillo into the sides of the pan. 4. Cut the phillo diagonally into squares with a sharp knife only through the dough. Bake in a preheated oven 180 degrees for about an hour or un l the phillo becomes golden. 5. While the pie is baking, prepare the syrup. Add all the ingredients into a saucepan and bring to a boil for up to 5 minutes then remove from the heat. 6. Pour the syrup directly over the baked Galatompoureko. Let it cool down completely before serving.

Issue 03 | Dec 2014

page 31

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