Five apprentices have landed jobs with Island Site Development (ISD) after participating in a paid apprenticeship programme offered by the company in partnership with the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI).
The five awarded candidates were among 10 highly motivated students – nine males and one female – who were selected from a pool of 100 candidates. During the programme, students had the opportunity to sharpen their skills in carpentry and electrical installation.
The eight-week ‘Earn While You Learn’ programme was launched in Freeport, Grand Bahama, with four weeks in the classroom and four weeks on the jobsite. ISD’s goal was to give students authentic jobsite experience that would prepare them for future employment in the field. Six of the students were trained in electrical installation and four in carpentry.
At BTVI’s Grand Bahama Branch Campus, they focused primarily on theoretical training with some practical applications. Instructor, Eduardo Riquenes led the electrical programme, while Joseph Ward oversaw carpentry training.
In November, the apprentices began applying their knowledge on-site at the new Celebration Cay cruise port in Grand Bahama. To support them, ISD provided a weekly stipend for the programme’s duration.
Head of Department, Construction and Mechanical Trades at the Grand Bahama Branch Campus, Kenton Roker, spoke to the value of the apprenticeship.
“This is a plus for BTVI. It shows that ISD has confidence in our training and producing employees of this calibre. We look forward to other companies partnering with BTVI to begin similar apprenticeship programmes,” said Mr. Roker.
According to ISD Human Resources Manager, Jacklyn Frazer-Butler, the free tuition programme was specifically designed to give students a jumpstart in the competitive work field of construction and the opportunity to work under skilled personnel with years of experience at no cost to them.
“A programme of this nature is extremely important in a competitive global job market to ensure that young persons going into the workforce are job ready. This is just one way that ISD is showing our commitment to community building as well as the company’s commitment to making more Bahamians employable. ISD is extremely excited about this venture with BTVI and hopes to partner again on other initiatives,” said Ms. Frazer-Butler.
BTVI’s Assistant Manager of the Grand Bahama Branch Campus, Gayla Wallace, said BTVI was delighted to partner with ISD for such an important initiative.
“BTVI plays a crucial role in developing a suitably skilled workforce and we are pleased that a reputable company like ISD has been willing to partner with us particularly in the areas of carpentry and electrical installation. These disciplines are fundamental to the building trades. Hence, this partnership is establishing solid bridges between the world of learning and the world of work,” said Ms. Wallace.