productive.

It was this very practical knowledge that led the ACE Group of Companies to take the unprecedented step, for Bermuda, of providing day care facilities for its employees' children.

A waiting list soon developed after the day care centre opened just over a year ago. In November, the Development Applications Board gave permission for ACE to re-develop another two-storey residence, next door to the existing facility on Woodbourne Avenue. This will allow the centre to double its services, catering to a total of 40 children.

"Yes, I would agree that ACE has been a pioneer in taking this route,'' says Brian Duperreault, the Bermudian chairman and CEO of ACE Limited. "We're the only company providing day-long care, five days a week for babies and children up to the age of five.

"But 75 percent of our staff are Bermudian, so we have an investment in Bermuda's continued well-being. I didn't launch this scheme with any idea of setting an example -- I did it because it is good for the company and good for our employees.

"Although staff contribute to the cost of the scheme, it's an expensive proposal, so it would be inappropriate to comment on its suitability for other companies. But, from our point of view, it's one of the best things we have ever done for our employees.'' As might be expected from this high-profile insurance leader, ACE ensured that qualified staff offered a safe, healthy and happy environment for employees' children. The centre, it was decided, should be geographically close to ACE offices so that parents had easy access in emergencies -- or just to visit in the lunch hour.

"The whole concept began with the fact that we are a young company and it seems that, these days, there is a preponderance of two-income families or a lot of single parent families. This produces a heavy burden on child-raising and we know how difficult it can be to come up with good child-care arrangements. Actually, it was my wife who really pushed the idea of providing a day-care facility for people in our company.'' After investigating the practicality of the idea, it was decided, said Mr.

Duperreault, to go ahead with the scheme, thus providing a meaningful benefit for many of the 150-odd people employed by this leading insurance group. With the green light now given for the projected expansion, the centre will, in effect, be divided into two sections, with infants and young toddlers in the existing building and pre-schoolers next door.

Day care comes up aces Mr. Duperreault, a family man who is as comfortable sitting on the floor for a chat with three-year olds as he is as chairman of the board, has maintained a personal interest in the scheme from day one.

Head teacher Catherine Godet, who leads the staff of eight at the centre, said: "We are all Bermudians and the company is helping the staff to improve qualifications -- ACE likes people to complete their education.'' A quick tour of the facility indicated that the well-ordered programme produces happy little customers: as one group tucked into an early, hot lunch, a diaper was being changed in another room, while toddlers were scooping `play' beans back and forth in wooden bowls. "Yes, they're very happy,'' said Ms Godet. "In fact, some of them ask if they can come in at the weekends! We are fortunate in that we have plenty of staff so that the children don't have to compete for attention.'' The full, pre-school programme meets Government and private school requirements, using a mix of traditional and Montessori-type approach.

"We teach such things as language development, maths, social and emotional skills, visual and motor skills development,'' says Ms Godet. "We have small groups of children which enables us to work one of one.

"Best of all, we have a diverse group, racially and socio-economically. There is a strong sense of family in ACE where people genuinely care about each other and become friends -- often through their children -- regardless of what position they may hold within the company. All of this goes a long way in providing a positive environment which helps them to grow into happy and responsible adults.''