Young Bermudians are benefiting from a new drive set up to help them get a head start in the construction industry.Shaquille Lathan and McKario Burch both signed up to become the first participants in the Bermuda Small Contractors Association’s pilot programme to get hands on experience of the different parts of the industry.During his two weeks on the programme, Mr Lathan, 19, has worked for Jet Electrics and First Class Electrics, including on site at the reverse osmosis plant in St David’s, while Mr Burch, also 19, has been posted at AJW Construction and D&J Construction, whom he is currently working with at the former Waterloo House development in Hamilton. Mr Burch will then move on to a placement with Joseph Amaeda of Fine Wood Workers next week.The programme runs for six weeks giving the youngsters exposure to a number of different companies and projects and helps them to make their first step on the career ladder.Mr Lathan, a graduate of CedarBridge Academy, has enrolled in a HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) with Electrical Wiring course at Bermuda College, while Mr Burch, who attended the Berkeley Institute, is off to Canada to study Carpentry at Holland College. Both have successfully completed NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research) courses.Andre Famous, head of AJW Construction and president of the Bermuda Small Contractors Association, has been responsible for overseeing the programme since its formation out of the Small Business Construction Incubator a 16-week course teaching the business side of construction from health and safety, banking and marketing to costing and quantity surveying.Thirty companies have already signed up to the group which aims to expand people’s skills through workshops with the National Training Board and the Human Rights Commission, said Mr Famous.“Some young people will get training,” he said. “It will also enable small contractors to find young people that are trained to go into the industry.“And we want to take it a step further by working on a programme with inmates released from prison.”Based on demand and the success of this year’s programme, Mr Famous is planning to run future programmes and set up a website for applicants to sign up.“This kind of programme is particularly important given that construction is changing in Bermuda,” he said. “From the way things are done using faster systems to put foundations up to new planning regulations, we need to focus on more technical aspects.”Lucrecia Ming, assistant general manager at the Bermuda Small Business Development Corporation (BSBDC), said that when the Small Business Construction Incubator was launched three years ago the focus was on the opportunities provided by the new projects due to come on line such as the new building at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.She said that of the six classes held, 90 people graduated during that time.“This programme really helps the young people to get practical experience in the field and to build up their portfolio to complement what they have learned in the classroom,” she said.The Bermuda Small Contractors Association will be holding a networking barbecue fund raiser at Par-la-Ville Park at 5.30pm on Friday August 19. It will be an opportunity for small contractors to meet with big construction firms and vendors.Attendees will include SAL Ltd, Pembroke Tile & Stone, D&J Construction, Kaissa, Pvc Doors & Windows, Brunell Engineering, Vinyl Tech, Stafford & Co, the BSBDC, Aardvark Communications and Greymane Construction.Tickets are available at the BSBDC at Sofia House, 48 Church St, Hamilton or online at www.bsbdc.bm and entry costs $45, including a barbecue dinner plus two free drinks and entertainment provided by ‘Piece of the Rock’.Proceeds will go to help fund the high school graduate summer employment programmeFor more information about the programme contact Lucrecia Ming at the BSBDC on 292-5570.