Bermuda's lifelong ties to the sea are be reinforced by the creation of a seamanship/maritime training platform.

It could be up and running as soon as next year and will offer Bermudians the opportunity to train and study for careers that they can take anywhere in the world.

Not since the demise of the Royal Navy apprenticeship programmes in the 1950s has the Island had an identifiable route for those wishing to train up in seaman and maritime skills.

The National Training Board (NTB) is in the process of getting the maritime training platform finalised. It will offer courses in seamanship, maritime engineering and navigation and alike.

Such training is currently offered through the NTB using a link-up with Barbados. Because of Bermuda's size and limited resources the training board makes use of a number of overseas institutions to train Bermudians where the cost of providing the same facilities in Bermuda would be prohibitive.

The NTB is working with the likes of the Bermuda Sloop Foundation to "re-start and re-invent" maritime training in Bermuda.

The shifting dynamics of Bermuda's employment sectors was highlighted last week in forecasts by former Government statistician Cordell Riley, who predicted that the booming construction sector was on target to challenge international business as the Island's largest employment area by 2010.

Job creation is occurring at a faster rate in construction and international business than in any other employment sector.

The growing number of construction jobs is something that has been monitored by the NTB over the past few years, said its executive officer Michael Stowe.

"Over the past three years we have been increasing capacity for construction industry training," commented Mr. Stowe.

Bermudians who train up to become electricians, plumbers, masons, air-conditioning technicians or welders, to name a few, can enter the construction sector and expect to enjoy a life-long demand for their skills.

Mr. Stowe points out there is evidence that tradespeople do better in homeownership than non-tradespeople, partially because they have "the skills and industry knowledge and awareness" to build and maintain their homes.

He added: "Construction is one of the best sectors. A construction tradesperson is well paid and can go anywhere in the world with their skills."

He said the NTB needed to be able to respond to the changing demands within the employment market, and it was able to do so by linking up with overseas college and training institutions, particularly in Canada and Barbados, where Bermudians can be sent if the training is not available on the Island.

This gives greater flexibility to respond rapidly to changing trends and get Bermudians onto the relevant training tracks by placing them on overseas training courses if it is not available on the Island.

Bermuda has only a limited number of need for certain professions.

The NTB oversaw the training of five Bermudians to become machinists to fill the Island's requirement. They were trained overseas, because the cost of providing the training facility and equipment in Bermuda for such a tiny demand would have been extortionately exuberant.

Part of the success of the NTB has come with the nurturing of close ties with industry to the extent that on-the-job training, much like the traditional apprenticeships of years gone-by, are the way forward in a number of occupations.

Mr. Stowe cited the sheet metal and glass and window industries as two on the Island that have shown interest in providing working apprenticeship/training in association with the NTB.

The benefits are clear. The NTB leader said: "We are looking at industry-based training (rather than institute-training) because for some occupations we do not have (or could afford) the training set up, yet the necessary equipment exists within the industry. In some places the entire training will be led by industry but funded by the NTB.

"This means it can be done at a fraction of the cost than if we were to set up an institute-training facility."

In this regard one of the closest partners of the NTB is the Construction Association of Bermuda.

The ability to learn on the job is a guiding principal. Mr. Stowe said the NTB strived to offer 80 percent of training "on the job" and the remainder in classroom settings.

One current "hot" area for training and employment in Bermuda is computer information systems. Mr. Stowe said: "It is the most competitive occupation in Bermuda right now."

A scheme to have Bermudains and work-permit holders pair up, announced by Premier Ewart Brown during a Washington DC speech last week, caught the attention of Mr. Stowe.

"The pairing up of people with expats is something that we have been doing for a while," he said,

"We had an expat engineer in Works & Engineering who provided mathematics and science instruction in his depot out of an interest to impart education to his work colleagues. He gave classes out of work hours.

"I've had expats come and ask how they can assist and help with trades training. The idea the Premier is suggesting is something that happens every day for us. There are expats taking a lead in providing this kind of assistance."

That spirit of co-operation and giving back within the expat workforce is helping the NTB with its mission to provide the quality training needed for Bermudians to have life-long, successful careers.

The NTB is headquartered in Reid Street and can provide guidance and support for those seeking to gain the necessary qualifications for a career, regardless of their age or background.