The future of Bermuda's construction industry proved that it is built on solid foundations with no fewer than 12 students graduating from a programme run by the Bermuda Small Business Development Corporation (BSBDC).

The BSBDC's Small Business Construction Incubator for small construction contractors aims to strengthen the leadership and business acumen of the Island's small construction-related businesses. With improved business operational skills, the initiative enables graduates to successfully compete in the Bermudian construction sector.

The 16-week course is designed for masons, small contractors, carpenters, truckers, plumbers, welders, excavators and any small business working in the construction industry. Past participants have ranged from students who considered starting their own business to those who have been in the industry for the past 20 years or more.

The ceremony for the fourth graduating class of the Small Business Construction Incubator, which was held at the Bermuda Industrial Union last Thursday evening, saw the students presented with their certificates by Finance Minister Paula Cox.

Among the recipients were Angela Binns and Vaugn Joseph from Compass Holdings Ltd., Vernon Trott from Island Trucking Freight Services, Shelton Harris from Upright Construction, Bruce Simons from High End Construction and Elizabeth Da Costa from Home Design & Development Construction.

Other graduates included Kent Johnston from Turn of The Century Plumbing, Alton Wilson, owner of Cooler Solutions, Kurt Griffith from KG Builders, Winfield Symons from Symons Carpentry, Detroy Smith from DS Services and Quinton White, a labour foreman with 10 years' experience in the construction industry.

The event started with a welcome from Calvin Smith, chairman of the BSBDC's board of directors, followed by an overview of the Small Business Construction Incubator from Lucrecia Ming, assistant general manager of the BSBDC, an introduction to the course by the Small Business Construction Incubator's facilitator Richard James, a talk on global project management by PSMJ project management consultant Chris Martersteck and a participant speech from Mr. Trott.

The awards ceremony was concluded with closing remarks from Michelle Khaldun, general manager of the BSBDC, and the evening was wrapped up with a networking session for students and mentors alike.

The benefits of the programme include a better understanding of how to effectively and efficiently run a business, the ability to secure bigger contracts and ensure higher revenues and eligibility for the BSBDC's loan guarantee programme.

Students also gained access to a number of Government departments, such as tax commission, social insurance, consumer affairs, immigration, the National Training Board, transportation, labour and alth and safety and planning.