2001 in Retrospect
tion of uniform personnel management systems can yield
significant advantages for Heineken in terms of cost-
saving and knowledge and information transfer. In collabo
ration with the operating companies, more compatible
systems are accordingly being developed which can be
accessed via the Heineken intranet.
Alongside our routine research in this area at local level,
we embarked on a Europe-wide study in 2001 of recruit
ment and retention of highly qualified staff. Supporting
the growing internationalisation of the business requires
a more international pool of management expertise and
more international assignments to build knowledge and
experience. Heineken aims to increase the number of trai
nees of non-Dutch nationality to two-thirds of the total and
ensure that managers with high potential are able to fol
low career paths which include international experience.
Training
The number of employees making use of the facilities of
the Heineken University, which provides short, intensive
courses, increased to over 1,300. Modules concerned with
project management were in particularly heavy demand in
2001. The courses provided by the Heineken University are
a valuable supplement our regular local and international
training courses. The object is to activate the knowledge
which already exists within the business and share it with
others. Personnel managers and trainers from the operat
ing companies and central services coordinate knowledge
input within an open learning environment. Employees all
over the world will shortly be able to participate in training
courses and contribute their knowledge and experience
via the digital infrastructure which is currently under con
struction.
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
21