MATCHING people to jobs is something that Colum Lovett has been doing for ten years.

He provides the link between those who want to get a foot in the door, or to climb the career ladder, in the insurance or financial sector in particular and the big business bosses looking for new blood to reinvigorate their companies.

Briton Mr. Lovett arrived in Bermuda six months ago to take a post as executive recruitment consultant with bermudaREcruit, which describes itself as the island's only specialist recruiter for the reinsurance and insurance industry, and which also trades as The James Partnership.

His in-depth knowledge of the workings of the international insurance industry, gleaned through having worked in the business for ten years before he switched roles to concentrate on recruitment, make him well suited to the island's business environment.

Despite the island's small population and the highly specialised nature of the insurance business, Mr. Lovett has been pleasantly surprised how many locals are capable of filling high-ranking posts.

"I've been extremely impressed with the number of good Bermudian talent available and in a number of years, I can see Bermudians succeeding at all levels," Mr. Lovett said.

"It makes sense for the local insurance and finance sectors to be able to recruit locals, to educate and groom them for all positions.

"It's not only locals based on the island, but through our database we can also identify Bermudians working abroad who want to return.

"In fact, we recently found a Bermudian, Shawnita Green, who was working at a New York recruitment consultancy, who came home to work for our company."

During his first six months with the firm, Mr. Lovett has already successfully placed a chief executive officer, a legal counsel, corporate secretaries, financial controllers, underwriters and actuaries.

The James Partnership was founded in 1991 and offers a full "executive search and selection" service, as well as help with work permit processing. The work sometimes entails making discreet approaches to people already employed to alert them of an opportunity elsewhere that would be suited to them ? commonly referred to as "head hunting".

"People in senior, specialist or unusual positions are often happy where they are and are unlikely to respond to an advertisement but may be more inclined to respond to a direct approach from one of our recruiters," the company's web site explains.

"Executive search and selection is the identification of qualified candidates located through research and discreet contact. This method is facilitated through our strong market knowledge in specialist fields.

"We will make contact with identified candidates on a highly confidential basis on your behalf to establish a level of interest. Our clients' identity will not be revealed initially unless otherwise advised."

Mr. Lovett said successful recruitment was a matter of building up solid relationships with candidates and recruiting companies, in order to know who would fit well where.

"Of course, academic qualifications are important, but we also like to meet and get to know the candidates," he said.

"We look for drive, commitment and a strong work ethic in candidates, because the insurance industry can be fairly intense. Great opportunities are there and it's for the individual to prove their worth.

"Also we look for people who will survive a company's corporate culture ? each company has its own variation. Overall, we try to match the client's needs with the candidate's interests and strengths, so we end up with a win-win situation."

Mr. Lovett started his career in London, in the Lloyd's insurance market, gaining underwriting knowledge in the insurance and reinsurance sectors of the non-marine market, as well as the reinsurance side of the marine and aviation markets.

He was also involved in the set-up of one of the first internal audit functions in the market, providing peer review to all ongoing syndicates and overseas agencies for the Sturge Group (now part of the ACE Group).

The James Partnership targets promising potential candidates from graduate age, speaking to them at BFIS (Bermuda Foundation for Insurance Studies) scholarship awards, and endeavours to track their progress.

With respect to targeting youngsters, Mr. Lovett said: "A lot of clients are obviously looking for people with experience, so it's a Catch 22, because you also want to keep the future stars coming through.

"We look for graduates coming through and also for people who haven't been to university, if they have the right kind of skills and qualities to succeed."

Helping with the processing of work permits, when they are necessary, is part of the James Partnership service. The international business sector has cited concern with long delays in permit processing and the maximum nine-year time limit for guest workers, which becomes effective from April next year, as detriments to the island's attractiveness as a domicile.

But Mr. Lovett was able to sympathise with the Immigration Department.

"They have an incredibly tough job to do," he said. "With all the new start-ups, they've had a massive influx of applications and they've done an excellent job.

"As for the time limits, companies have known all about that for a while now. It's a bit early to say what impact it will have on business. As I understand it, it will be applied on a case-by-case basis."

The international business sector is these days the main pillar of the island's economy. And Bermuda's status as an offshore business leader makes recruiting easier.

"Bermuda is such a force in the global marketplace," Mr. Lovett said. "There are around 200 insurance companies with around $300 billion in assets. Coming to Bermuda is not a hindrance to your career, it's a good career move.

"These are exciting times ? Bermuda has real momentum. In order for the island to stay competitive, it needs to continue recruiting the right skills, experience and expertise into key positions."

More information on bermudaREcruit and The James Partnership and how they can help job seekers and recruiting companies is available on the corporate web sites at www.bermudaREcruit.com and www.thejamespartnership.bm.