More than $650,000 extra will be invested during the coming year in efforts to train more Bermudians to national and international certification standard.

In its annual report the National Training Board has laid out aims for the coming year and uppermost is introducing regulations that must be fulfilled in order to achieve apprenticeship and national certification.

The NTB?s budget is being boosted by $665,870 ? to a total of $2,768,085 ? in order to reach its new goals, which it states ?most notably is commencing the National Certification of incumbent workers, acquiring additional staff and conducting social policy-based training initiatives?.

Introducing national certification for technical workers will increase safety for workers and the public, promote consumer satisfaction and ?result in increased worker mobility in the global workplace,? according to the NTB report.

It adds: ?Based on international standards of skill, our national workforce will be regarded as progressive and receive recognition as one of the best in the industrialised world.?

Ten new training programmes are also to be rolled out in the coming year, covering occupations from marine seaman, marine pilot and marine engine driver to crane operator, power tool operator and electrician.

In a personal message the NTB chairman Herman Tucker highlighted the Board?s technical/vocational education and training tuition programme and said it had already assisted 359 Bermudians to study in 94 colleges in 90 occupations.

?The funding means the difference between young Bermudians receiving or not receiving career and job-entry training,? he added.