Alumni of a now-shuttered Devonshire school hope to encourage more young people to join the trades next month — and to dispel some myths around working in the industry.

Llewelyn Trott, president of the Bermuda Technical Institute Association, said the process began by changing how tradespeople were perceived on the island.

He said: “A lot of people think that when people work with their hands, their brains are not engaged, but if the brain’s not engaged, nothing is. So technical education is academic.”

Tech, which stood on the grounds of the modern-day National Sports Centre, ran from 1956 until its closure in 1972, when it was absorbed by the Bermuda College.

Rick Richardson, former BTIA president, recalled how the school offered technical and academic instruction to students of all races, and equipped them to enter several professions immediately after graduating.

He explained: “Our job now is to tell that story and say ‘this will help Bermuda if we have the kinds of things that we [at BTI] had’.”

The BTIA is organising a celebration at Hamilton Princess & Beach Club on September 26 to mark 70 years since the school’s founding.

Shervin Dill, BTIA vice-president, highlighted how there will always be a need for tradespeople in Bermuda.

He explained: “Back in the day, we built Southampton Princess Hotel, CedarBridge and buildings throughout the city — there is always a need for trades and work available. You can make a financially successful career and there’s still a need for them.”

Students at CedarBridge Academy receive instruction in the trades, but Mr Trott does not believe the training offered is suitable for the 21st century.

He explained: “The physical plant is very important. If you look at the physical plant at CedarBridge right now, it’s not up to snuff.”

Mr Trott added: “We’ve been collaborating with different governments for years on technical education but nobody has taken us seriously enough to reinstitute a technical school.”

The BTIA will award scholarships to young people entering the trades at the celebration next month, which will also feature food, a keynote speech from John Link, regional director of data centre operations at Google, and a welcome by Progressive Labour Party MP Neville Tyrrell, himself a BTI alumnus.

This event is set to take place in the Hamilton Princess ballroom from 6.30pm to 11pm.

Tickets are $125 for general admission and $175 for patrons, and can be purchased by contacting 505-1452 or soon via bdatix.bm.