over the next five years.

Senior Personnel Officer David Anson pointed out that this was the first time a scheme had been introduced to develop future heads of departments.

The "innovative'' leadership development programme -- called Bermuda Nine -- was developed internally by the Personnel Services Department's Training and Development Section. It was overseen by a committee of representatives from the Public Service Commission and department heads.

It consists of a series of nine managerial competencies that include Financial Resource Management, Team Leadership and Professional and Business Awareness.

Those selected for the development programme undergo a range of individual and group exercises in which their abilities and potential are assessed against each of the nine competencies.

Forty officers have been selected for the programme which runs for about a year and includes individually tailored development plans, group training modules and a team project that will address a major Government objective.

The first group of 20 trainees began the programme earlier this year and are expected to complete it in February.

The group is working on a project aimed at improving internal communication and image perception in Government. This will include inviting every Government employee to participate in a survey and introducing a campaign to promote Government's mission statement.

The second group, who have just started on the programme, will begin to tackle their project in the New Year.