Minister: Summer Employment Programme

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Kim Wilson delivered a Ministerial Statement in the Senate yesterday morning [June 29], about the Summer Employment Programme.

Minister Wilson’s full statement follows below:

Madam President, on 6th June, the Department of Labour and Training’s Summer Employment Programme commenced. The programme has been restructured to provide Bermudian college students with the opportunity to acquire new skills, apply academic knowledge and gain relevant work experience.

This year’s Summer Employment Programme consists of 12 weeks of work experience, with a $5000 stipend paid upon completion of the programme. The Department of Labour and Training is committed to promoting training and development opportunities for Bermudians.

The goals of the Summer Employment Programme are:

(1) to provide meaningful work experience opportunities to enhance learning, personal and career development;

(2) to provide exposure to employment opportunities within Government; (3) to provide opportunity to learn leadership and decision-making skills, and encourage a sense of community and service;

(4) to introduce participants to career and employment competency standards; and

(5) to aid the development of career goals by connecting work experience to academic learning.
One-hundred college students have been provided the opportunity to participate in the SUMMER EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMME.

Madam President, as a complement to registration and application process, students provided a brief essay outlining why they should be considered for the Programme, identifying their career aspirations and how they believe the experience will benefit their career goals. This information was used to determine student placement within Government and its Quangos.

Students have been placed with the following Ministries and Quangos:

• The Ministry of Justice (14 students),
• Ministry of Finance (10 students),
• Ministry of Education (3 students),
• Ministry of Health (9 students),
• Ministry of Environment, Planning, and Infrastructure Strategy (8 students),
• Ministry of Transport (2 students),
• Ministry of Youth, Families, and Community Development (11 students),
• Ministry of National Security (6 students),
• Ministry of Government Estates and Information Services (3 students),
• Ministry Economy, Trade, and Industry (5 students), and the
• Ministry of Business Development and Tourism (11 students).

Students have also been provided employment opportunities with Cabinet Office Departments (3 students);

• Legislature (1 student);
• Internal Audit (2 students);
• Bermuda Small Business Development Corporation (2 students);
• Bermuda College (5 students);
• CedarBridge Academy (4 students);
• Port Royal Golf Course (1 student); and
• Bermuda Health Council (1 student).

Madam President, those providing supervision to student participants have been educated with respect to the goals of the programme and have committed to facilitating meaningful work experiences.

We are pleased to have matched each student with their career interests and we wish them much success.

Madam President, I take this opportunity to appeal to the private sector to consider adding value to the summer experience of young Bermudians seeking to supplement their summer vacation with real world work experience, by hiring those young college students who continue to seek summer employment.

Not only will you be providing an opportunity for them to gain valuable work experience but also your generosity will provide the finances that many will need to return to school in September.

Thank you Madam President.

#BermudaTeens #EmploymentInBermuda

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