The first employees who took part in a course designed to create world class retail staff graduated yesterday.

Twenty people who took the Certificate in Customer Care received their diplomas from National Training Board (NTB) chairman Ottiwell Simmons.

Organisers of the study programme, which the students completed in two-thirds of the normal time, said the aim was to use the course as a foundation for a class at Bermuda College.

NTB consultant Terry Bond said the Chamber of Commerce's Visitor Retail Division (VRD) was looking to establish a diploma in retail service in Bermuda. He said the aim was to encourage as many employees and employers as possible to become involved in the course.

"This course is for anyone who deals with customers on a day to day basis,'' Mr. Bond said. "We had a 100 percent success rate. We have set high standards for the future.'' Nineteen out of the 20 who took the home study course attained marks of 70 percent or higher.

Staff used materials from the UK's Swindon College and completed the course from February to March. one student, Rudolph Smith, even carried on his studies while on exercises with the Bermuda Regiment in Jamaica.

Mr. Simmons said the successful candidates should encourage their colleagues to take the course, so all workers who came into contact with customers received some training.

"We are going to see a lot of happy customers,'' he said. "When customers feel happy, you feel happy too. We are going to do our best to be our best.'' The VRD established the course to enable staff to enhance the shopping experience given to tourists, and in turn locals.

The Chamber of Commerce wants to see world class service in stores to let Bermuda compete with other destinations. Shopping is one of the most important activities listed by vacationers in exit surveys.

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS Top quality service : Retail employees who have just passed the Chamber of Commerce's Visitor Retail Division certificate in customer care are pictured with training consultant Terry Bond and National Training Board chairman Ottiwell Simmons. They are Angela Hans, Nikeisha Gibbons, Julia Cabral, Cherie Anderson, Serene Cartwright, Sherri Paynter, Miguel Cabral, Chandra Murphy White, Mercedes Caines, Stephanie Powell-Tucker and Debrina Simons. Not present: Valente Tucker, Rudolph Smith, Ana Benevides, Danjou Anderson, Shelley Bradshaw, Gerri Swan, Melanie Robinson and Monica Correiro.