Next Thursday, several students will take their first steps into the business world thanks to the Student Leadership and Development Programme.

The programme, a joint effort between Bermuda College and the Berkeley Foundation, takes Bermudian high school students and places them in the offices of local businesses two days a week as part of a seven-week course.

Berkeley Foundation director of development and communications William Spriggs hopes the programme will give students a leg up in the corporate world.

"The idea is that they will be learning hands-on skills," he said. "Team building skills, communications skills — all those things that we wish we had when we started work."

The students involved were selected from a number of applicants, and they represent both public and private schools, including Berkeley, Saltus, CedarBridge and Warwick Academy.

Three days a week the students will work at Bermuda College, going through numerous training exercises and speaking to a number of guests, while the other two days will be spent working for companies such as American International Group, KeyTech, Conyers Dill and Pearman, Bermuda Small Business Development Board, both major banks and the Bermuda Hospitals Board.

Debra Byrd of the Bermuda Hospitals Board welcomed the prospective employees at a meeting held by the programme yesterday.

"We're really excited to have you all," said Ms Byrd. "You may not want to be doctors or nurses, but there are opportunities in I.T. (information technology) or H.R. (human resources). There are over 200 different opportunities at BHB."

Lisa Logie, a teacher at Berkeley Institute, was excited to be a part of the programme.

"I jumped at the opportunity because my life goal is to be a life coach," she said. "We don't have opportunities like this in Trinidad."

The students praised the programme, with all of them saying that they entered it in order to get a taste of the working world and to see what their career options are.

Jason Ebbin, who studies at Warwick Academy said: "I want to explore my career opportunities in Bermuda.

"I'm glad that I have the opportunity to see what I like and dislike before I go to college."

With the programme's first day on July 3, Mr. Spriggs told the students to work their hardest wherever they are assigned.

"Don't be concerned where you go," he said. "Do be concerned that no matter where you find yourself, you make the best of the opportunity.

"Winners don't always make the right decisions, but they make the decision turn out right."