In spite of being in the service industry for the last 30 years, MP Group has restricted its operations to Maharashtra. “Maharashtra has got factors like sustainability and revenue generation, which are more attractive. Many of our own clients are moving to cities like Ahmedabad, Surat, Baroda and Kutch in Gujarat because of industrialisation. We have plans to set up our offices there too in the near future,” says Abhishek. Most of MP Group’s clientele is concentrated in the IT industry located in Pune, Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
The FM services delivered include transport and contractual/skilled labour supply. Servicing an area of over 30 lakh sqft, MP is managing 900 sites. With a total workforce of over 30,000 employees and a resource base of 500 equipment, MP Group envisages to cross1000 clients this year.
Speaking on the dearth of skilled manpower in the industry as one of the main reasons for investing in training, he says “We have qualified trainers and we conduct certification courses also at our training centres – four in Pune and two in Mumbai – Airoli and Bhiwandi – for cleaning staff.”
When it comes to contract labour hired by factories, the attrition rate is much higher and hence the need to have more skilled workers. “We have started ‘earn-and-learn’ scheme whereby contract labourers who are usually engaged for six months can look at being employed for four years and at the same time, get educated. Students can study and work in the factory for a living.”
MP Group has received sanctions for this scheme from the Government of Maharashtra and signed an MoU with Yashvantrao Chavan Open University of Maharashtra for the certification. The educational course is more of an apprenticeship skill programme, whereby the student-worker gets a basic degree of Industrial Science at the end of the four-year term.
A student joining the institution is offered a job & assured income, while the employing company pays the fees for his education. Hence, the worker’s dedication towards work and sincerity towards the company are established and the company gets a loyal employee for four years. “This way we will be turning a र4000 worth labourer into a र14,000 skilled worker.”
Apart from the MEP and soft skill services of FM, MP Group is also providing industrial catering services to more than 30 sites, serving 35,000 meals on a daily basis. “Besides Pune, we are planning to extend catering to Mumbai and Ahmedabad as the latter is fast growing as an auto industrial hub.”
With IT companies having restriction of inbuilt kitchen services, MP Group supplies food from its centralised kitchen in Vishrantwadi, Pune. However, in some places it has permission to cook food on site like in the case of Toco Group.
IT companies are making big base in Navi Mumbai and Pune and there is good demand for catering services in Pune.
Strictly adhering to the guidelines of kitchen hygiene, Abhishek says, “We are catering to the SOPs as per the ISO14,000 specifications wherever we are providing services and when it comes to our own kitchen, I ensure even the additional SOPs that I have laid down are followed.”
Accordingly, the kitchen staff has a designated area to change into hygienic apparels before entering the kitchen. The food prepared under the guidance of a Master Chef is tested and certified daily before being served.
With the growing demand in catering services, MP Group is planning to set up an automised kitchen, well equipped with latest technology, at Sherwad by 2018. It has already identified an acre of land and will be commencing work.
Keeping in mind the safety requirement of workers in various industries, MP Group has formally obtained certification for its safety shoe manufacturing unit. The ISI mark is given only after thorough inspection by the concerned government officials based on the stipulated safety and other parameters. The officials visited the facility and thoroughly checked each and every pair before giving the certification.
“We provide oil-resistant, electro-static and shock-absorbing shoes. We also have PVC and steel
plated ones which can be inserted inside the sole. We customize shoes as per the requirement of the industry and usage.”
The facility has a production capacity of 1500 pairs per day in shifts – 4500 pairs per day. MP Group is supplying safety shoes to various government departments, Naval Dockyard and industries like automobile in the private sector. The company has four to five products in the market and has started branding them in certain areas.
