Staff members from the Department of Workforce Development were recently recognised for “walking the walk“ at a special ceremony.

The career development and training teams, who advise their clients to keep developing new skills, had completed a series of professional development programmes earlier this year.

Jason Hayward, the Minister of Economy and Labour, congratulated the staff and highlighted the importance of investing in people while supporting Bermuda’s workforce.

He said: “Our Department of Workforce Development spends every day preparing others for opportunity. A department that asks Bermudians to keep learning must also lead by example and I commend this team for doing exactly that.

“The skills our officers have gained, from career development facilitation and competency assessment to the responsible use of generative artificial intelligence, will translate into stronger services for the people of Bermuda.

“When we invest in those who serve the public, the public benefits.”

The programmes included the Global Career Development Facilitator Programme, the Level 3 IVQ Certificate in Teaching, Training and Assessing Learning — Assessing Competence, and Advanced Generative AI.

This professional development aligns with the Investing in People priority of Bermuda’s Economic Development Strategy 2023 to 2027.

The programmes aim to strengthen staff skills and capabilities, enhance career guidance, assess competence, and use emerging technologies effectively.

Sonya Clarke, the acting director of workforce development, said the professional development reflected the same commitment to growth that the department encourages among its clients. She said: “We ask every client who comes through our doors to commit to their own growth.

“I am proud that our career development and training teams have embraced that same commitment themselves.

“These programmes equip our officers to offer guidance that meets international standards, to assess competence with rigour and fairness, and to work more effectively with modern tools.

“Our clients, our employer partners and our trainees will all benefit from the knowledge and skills our officers have gained.”