Training Board is launching a programme to encourage local businesses to achieve higher standards of training for employees.

The programme will be announced at a press conference on Monday. The programme, called Investors in People, is based on training standards promoted by government-funded agencies in the UK.

"The Investors in People standard provides a framework for improving business performance and competitiveness, through a planned approach to setting and communicating business objectives and developing people to meet these objectives,'' a brochure put out by the UK organisations states.

Businesses will be encouraged to undertake a review of their training programmes in comparison with the standard promoted by the UK agencies. The companies will then get assistance in implementing the training programmes.

Premier Pamela Gordon, National Training Board Chairman Paget Wharton, and Sarah Pierce of Investors In People UK will hold a press conference at noon at the Royal Hamilton Dinghy Club to announce details of the Bermuda programme.

PLANS APPROVED BY EU SHI Plans approved by EU Plans by Bermuda-registered Sea Containers and General Electric Co. to combine their container-ship operations were approved by European Union regulators, Bloomberg News reported yesterday.

The companies want the 50-50 joint venture, to be called GE SeaCo Services Ltd., as a means of cutting costs and increasing profits. Both companies spend a combined $100 million on fixed costs on the container-ship operations.

GLOBAL CROSSING APPOINTMENT APP Global Crossing appointment Global Crossing has appointed Dan J. Cohrs as senior vice president and chief financial officer, effective May 18.

The company is in the process of developing a global wide-band fibre-optic undersea network including a mid-Atlantic link between New York, Bermuda, the Caribbean and Florida which is due to be completed next year.

Global Crossing has an office in Hamilton, Bermuda.

HO TO HEAD GROUP COMPLIANCE APP Ho to head group compliance The Bank of N.T. Butterfield and Son Ltd. has appointed Michele Ho as head of group compliance. Her responsibilities will include managing the bank's global compliance by coordinating and overseeing compliance policies and compliance officers within the group.

Ms Ho, a barrister, has worked in Bermuda for Milligan-Whyte & Smith and for the Bank of Bermuda as assistant legal counsel. She is experienced in financial services transactions, and in credit and trust law.