The first group of ten trainees hired by a telecoms firm have started work.

The Digicel and BTC trainees will undergo a three-year programme designed to qualify them as technical engineers.

Robin Seale, chief executive officer of Digicel and BTC, said the scheme was so important for the future of the firms he was personally involved in selecting ten new staff from more than 200 applicants.

He added: “I was extremely impressed with the calibre of the applicants overall. It was very much a case of selecting the best from the best.

“I look forward to seeing the careers of those who joined us this week develop and perhaps they will be part of the selection process next year.”

The firm said it was expected that new apprentices would be taken on every year to “further opportunity for young Bermudians to benefit from training and jobs, to keep a continuous stream of expertise into the business and support the ever-growing needs of businesses and residents in Bermuda for connectivity they can count on”.