Twelve talented Bermudian university students can look forward to rewarding careers in the insurance, financial and accounting sectors as they begin a ten-week internship programme.

Offering a unique blend of work experience the 2006 Summer Internship Programme (SIP) is hosted jointly by the Ace Group, Bank of Bermuda and Deloitte.

2006 is the fourth year the partnership has offered this challenging and successful summer programme.

?This learning experience is designed to give students practical business skills as well as an introduction to the career development opportunities available in the insurance and financial service industries,? ACE Group executive vice president Patrick Tannock said.

?At ACE we have designed an interactive rotation project we believe will give these students a first hand glimpse of the realities of the insurance and reinsurance operations and potentially entice them to seriously contemplating a career in the industry.?

The programme also includes a community based project which promotes individual leadership development. This year the Bermuda Careers Centre has been selected as the project of choice. Bank of Bermuda?s head of human resources Stuart McLeod said: ?Many students face difficulties when trying to choose between multiple career paths.?

?This programme helps prepare the Island?s youth to enter today?s fast changing business environment and encourages them to focus on planning for a successful career.?

Deloitte Partner Bill Jack said: ?We hope that at a result of the programme the students ultimately take their place in the business community.?

The 2006 SIP participants are Akilah Beckles, Melissa Buckley, Kimberly Caines, Alexandra Edwards, Reimar Fiedler, Jasmine Furbert, Terry-Lynn Griffiths, Abigail Hyslop, Michelle Mitchell, Josue Paulos and Sasha Ternent.