Economy Minister Details Career Centre Plans
Bermuda job seekers will soon be able to avail themselves of a one-stop career centre connecting them with education, training and employment opportunities, Economy, Trade & Industry Minister Patrice Minors told Parliament on Friday [Nov. 18].
Ms Minors was introducing legislation that will amalgamate the National Training Board with the new Labour Ministry employment initiative to find work for Bermudians during the current economic downturn.
“Now is the right time to create a system which equips Bermudians with all the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in the workplace and we plan to do this under the leadership of the National Training Board,” she said
“Mr. Speaker, the role of the National Training Board will broaden to ensure strategic direction and oversight of the One-Stop Career Centre …
“I envisage that new partnerships with existing training bodies across all sectors already engaged in training activities relative to their specific industries will be established and representatives from these bodies will be appointed to the board. These appointments will allow us to quickly close the gaps and draw on industry specific expertise as well as leverage existing programmes that are already in channel as we endeavour to take a coordinated approach to developing and implementing a National Training Plan to serve the needs of the Bermuda economy today and in the future.”
The Minister’s remarks appear in full below:
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to the evolution of the National Training Board.
You will be aware that the National Training Board (NTB) was established with the assent of the National Training Board Act 1997.
Its remit is to set technical skill competence and qualifications standards and to grant certificates of efficiency, as well as to promote, encourage and assist employers in providing on-the-job training and retraining for employees.
One of its primary functions is to manage the National Apprenticeship System and the National Occupational Certification System.
Mr. Speaker, since its inception the National Training Board has worked at building relations with the Bermuda College and accredited overseas technical colleges and universities to ensure Bermudians have better opportunities at attaining gainful employment. The NTB consistently sponsors over 200 students both locally and overseas on an annual basis.
Most recently, the Board has ‘nationally certified’ 244 electricians and 47 welders.
Automotive Service Technicians are expected to participate in examinations prior to the end of this fiscal year.
Mr. Speaker, the introduction of the National Training Board (Apprenticeship and Training) Regulations 2009 has to date provided for 30 young people to enter into a contractually binding relationship with employers to carry out specific job tasks and training within a specified time period.
Mr. Speaker, in 2009 the NTB launched a Summer Cadet Program in partnership with Holland College in Prince Edward Island (PEI). This program is fully sponsored by the NTB and allows up to 6 recently graduated high school students to travel to PEI to participate in a maritime program for three months.
The coursework includes basic survival training, search and rescue, advanced marine first aid and radio operator training.
In order to qualify for an international accreditation certificate, participants are required to complete two months at sea on a merchant vessel.
The NTB with the support of Marine and Ports has been successful in placing all trainees on Bermuda Registered ships to ensure that the requirement is met. These three young men have represented themselves and Bermuda well. Congratulations go out to Vernon Harrison, Daniel Galloway and Brandon Fleming.
Mr. Speaker, trade certification and the delivery of the related services represents an important component of a diverse and sophisticated economy. It is paramount that this work continues.
This notwithstanding, the work of the National Training Board must now evolve to address the needs of the economy on a more macro level.
Over the years Bermuda has evolved from a service based economy to a knowledge based economy.
Some argue, Mr. Speaker, “that for the first time in many generations there are Bermudians facing structural unemployment because there are too few jobs for the skills that they currently have”. This must change.
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members may recall that The Arnold Group, LLC, a national workforce development consulting firm from Rhode Island, USA was commissioned by the Bermuda National Training Board several years ago to conduct a study on workforce issues in Bermuda and to draft a workforce development strategy for the Government of Bermuda.
One of the key recommendations contained in the Arnold Report was to create a One-Stop Career Center System for Bermuda.
This model for workforce activity has been highly successful in other jurisdictions and has been regarded as “an exciting innovation that connects employment, education and training services into a coherent network of resources. The Government accepts that this model, properly modified to address the specific needs of Bermuda, will be an organizing vehicle to provide integrated service delivery for job seekers and employers”.
And so today Mr. Speaker, the tabling of the National Training Board Amendment Act 2011 paves the way for the amalgamation of the National Training Board and the Department of Labour and Training to create a One-Stop Career Centre.
Simply stated, and in accordance with the Arnold Report Mr. Speaker, “a one-stop career center attempts to place as many work preparation activities and as much labor market information as possible in one convenient location to connect job seekers to education, training and employment opportunities. The intent is to bring together in a coordinated fashion those stakeholders who provide these services and to supplement these services when gaps are identified.”
“Now is the right time to create a system which equips Bermudians with all the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in the workplace and we plan to do this under the leadership of the National Training Board.”
Mr. Speaker, the role of the National Training Board will broaden to ensure strategic direction and oversight of the One-Stop Career. Also, Mr. Speaker, it is anticipated that the make-up of the Board will be expanded to include participation from all sectors.
I envisage that new partnerships with existing training bodies across all sectors already engaged in training activities relative to their specific industries will be established and representatives from these bodies will be appointed to the Board. These appointments will allow us to quickly close the gaps and draw on industry specific expertise as well as leverage existing programmes that are already in channel as we endeavour to take a coordinated approach to developing and implementing a National Training Plan to serve the needs of the Bermuda economy today and in the future.
Thank you Mr. Speaker.
