CENTURION CORPORATION LIMITED
Centurion Corporation Limited started business in the 1980’s as an audio cassette tape manufacturer and was listed on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) in January 1995.
In the mid 2000’s, as the storage device industry declined in the face of the Internet and cloud technology, the company (together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”) saw the need to refocus and reinvent its business.
In 2011, the Group successfully diversified into the niche specialised accommodation business. Today, the Group’s core business is owning, developing and managing quality, purpose-built workers accommodation assets in Singapore and Malaysia, and student accommodation assets in Singapore, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
As at 30 September 2018, the Group owns and manages a portfolio of 28 accommodation assets in 5 countries, totalling 55,482 beds. Workers accommodation assets are managed under its “Westlite” brand, and student accommodation assets are branded “Dwell Student Living”.
In December 2017, Centurion also completed a dual primary listing on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange Limited (SEHK: 6090).
With global reach and a clear growth strategy to actively enhance and manage its assets, identify strategic acquisitions and joint ventures, Centurion is well-positioned to be a leading provider of quality, purpose-built accommodation.
About our HR policies and practices
One core asset which Centurion values and manages with care, is our people. With the transition from audio storage devices to specialised accommodation assets, staff were given the opportunity to be re-assigned, and re-skilled or trained for new roles fitting the company’s new business needs. Many of our pioneer staff have successfully transitioned with the company to our new business focus and new job roles. More than 25% of our staff today have grown with the company for over 10 years. Today, we continue to take great care in our recruitment, training, retention and staff welfare practices to attract and nurture our talents.
Our current team strength of about 170 staff in Singapore and 350 staff globally is a diverse workforce, and includes Singaporeans, Malaysians and local employees within our operating countries. Their ages range from 20s to 60s.
We also offer internship programmes to identify potential new employees. We have transferred staff from Singapore to Malaysia and the United Kingdom. We believe in grooming and promoting successors to key positions from within our organisation.
For staff development, we grant each staff 10 days training leave a year, and encourage them to use their skills future credit to enhance knowledge and skills.
We also recognise and reward exemplary staff through our Best Employee Award and Best Site Award, which were launched in 2017. The Best Employee Award showcases employee contribution in the areas of innovation, teamwork, job achievement and values. The Best Site Award recognises exemplary performance by our staff in managing our accommodation properties across the world.
Externally, our Company has also achieved accolades in people practices over the past 3 years, including Best Managed Board Gold Award, Best Investor Relations Gold Award, Best CEO Award and Best CFO Award.
Besides professional and personal development, we also care for our staff’s working conditions and welfare. We have renovated our office to create new meeting rooms as well as a well-equipped pantry so our staff can enjoy a nicer rest area with better amenities. We have enhanced our Wi-Fi system so staff can work anywhere in the company, including the pantry. We have also introduced new staff benefits like dental, health screening, TCM treatment and birthday leave.
For HR technology, we have implemented an improved time management system, wherein HR is able to synchronise attendance records to our payroll system. This automates overtime payment processes and enhances productivity for both operations and HR staff. We have also implemented online performance evaluation forms for annual appraisals replacing manual hard copies.
For staff engagement, we regularly conduct employee opinion surveys. These surveys give us better understanding of staff morale, satisfaction and engagement effectiveness. We use the survey results to recognise skilled leaders who engage our staff in a positive way, improve our policies and address issues that demotivate staff, compromise satisfaction or diminish staff performance.
Employer Value Proposition – What attracts people to join us?
As a growing listed company, with presence in 5 countries worldwide, we offer local, regional and global job roles and career advancement opportunities. This provides many learning and development opportunities to our staff. New hires are able to learn from our outstanding senior management mentors, who are recognised and awarded in our industry.
Upholding our corporate values, we treat every staff with consideration, dignity and respect at all times. We hold to the highest standards of integrity and honesty, the courage to do what is right, and earn the trust of all our customers and stakeholders. We encourage innovation, alongside best practices and processes to achieve higher efficiency and productivity to stay ahead. We strive for excellence and persevere in everything we do to obtain the best outcome.
We are also a fun place to work in. Our HR Happy Committee creates many social activities like Dinner and Dance, Movie Night, Pilates, Kickboxing, Zumba dance, Bowling, Go-karting, just to name a few.
We organise and encourage CSR programs. We sponsor Community Chest, Down Syndrome Association, Migrant Workers’ Centre and Association of Employment Agencies Singapore, among others.
Last and definitely not least, staff are happy working here.
