Representatives of Allianz will be lobbying Premier Alex Scott today to try and secure Government contributions for their higher education investment scheme.

The financial services organisation are celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Heritage International Plan this year, a scheme which has helped send hundreds of Bermudian youngsters to universities in the US, Canada and the UK.

Scott McIndless, senior vice president of sales for the scheme, is among representatives of the company on the Island this week who will be meeting the Premier at his office today.

"In Canada, where a similar plan is also celebrating its 15th anniversary, the Government add 20 per cent to contributions made by those involved in the scheme," he told The Royal Gazette.

"Obviously if any percentage were to be added by the Government here it could only help and encourage more Bermudians to take part and therefore help them make further education more affordable.

"The scheme is a way to encourage parents to save for a gift of a lifetime and any Government participation adds a further incentive.

"Our scheme helps make the exponentially rising costs of education more affordable. We have received many emotional testimonials over the years from people grateful that our fund helped them achieve something they could not have afforded otherwise."

Around 350 Bermudians have already graduated from universities across North America and Europe through the scheme with more than 2,000 already investing for their children or grandchildrens' futures.

As well as the meeting with the Premier, and celebrations with the company's representatives on the Island, Allianz are also offering a $10,000 scholarship for postgraduate study.

All those participants in the scheme who have already graduated, or do so next year, are eligible to apply for the additional funding which will be offered an annual basis from 2004.