News
ELEVEN National Apprentices Attend their First Soft Skills Training Session
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos, 11 September 2023: The Turks and Caicos Islands National Internship and Apprenticeship Program 23/24 (TCI NIAP) hosted its first soft skills training session, “Sincerely Yours”. Dedicated to Building Human Capital, TCI NIAP, under the remit of the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Social Services, ensures that the apprentices have the necessary soft skills training to enhance their strengths and skills. The National Apprenticeship Program offers individuals who have recently graduated from a qualifying tertiary educational program with work experience in their academic field for 12 months.
The Tuesday, August 29 2023, training, entitled “Sincerely Yours,” focused on professionalism within the workplace. Facilitator Melanie Smith, Talent Recruitment Group, equipped the apprentices with valuable insights into professional etiquette and raised awareness about sexual harassment. Ms. Smith highlighted topics such as time management, workplace behaviour, identifying harassment, reporting procedures, etc. 
After which, Hon Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Social Services, had an introductory meeting with all current apprentices. During the meeting, Hon. Taylor congratulated the apprentices on completing their academic degrees and offered encouragement as they embarked on their apprenticeship journey.
Additionally, 58 interns graduated from The National Internship Program. The National Internship Program offers current students who have been accepted for enrollment or enrolled in a qualifying tertiary educational program with work experience in their academic field for six weeks.
During the internship, the NIAP hosted a series of professional development soft skill training as identified by the National Skills Audit 2017. The Training sessions were a two-part session that ran simultaneously throughout the day. The First session’s theme, “The Analytical Mind”, focused on complex problem-solving, service orientation and critical thinking, of which Melanie Smith was the facilitator. The second session’s theme, “Cohesive Connection,” focused on coordinating with others, active listening and communication, of which Denise Westcarr, HR Manager for TCA Handling Flight Services, was the facilitator.
Hon. Rachel Taylor had the opportunity to meet and discuss with a few interns at the Graduation Brunch in Providenciales. Hon Taylor and her team, Arielle Neely, Program Coordinator and Amin McCartney, Acting Permanent Secretary, got a chance to gain feedback on the interns’ work experiences and the program.
Hon. Rachel Taylor commented, “The National Internship and Apprenticeship Program is essential to Building Human Capital. I am pleased that so many of our students are taking this opportunity to develop their skills further and gain valuable exposure to their academic field. I want to thank you, our partnering enterprises, for our collaboration has made this year’s program another success.”
In the past two years, the TCI National Internship and Apprenticeship Program has provided 130 students with the opportunity to intern in their passion and excel in their chosen career path. Additionally, The TCI NIAP allows enterprises to utilize the program as an extended job interview, allowing students to display what they have learnt, ask questions, and demonstrate a willingness to learn, which could only land our youth a step closer to their dream career.
The TCI NIAP would express their gratitude to our partnering enterprises for Program 2023/24:
1.Attorney General’s Chambers
- Cadet Corp
- Digitization & E-Government Technology and Innovation (Computer Unit)
- Department of Education
- Department of Environment and Coastal Resources
- Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources
- Department of Social Development and Welfare
- Department of Statistics
- Department of Youth Affairs
- F Chambers
- Financial Service Commission
- Government Morgue
- House of Assembly
- InterHealth Canada
- Ministry of Finance (Budget Office)
- Ministry of Health (Environmental Health Department; Primary Health Care; Department of Mental Health & Substance Dependence)
- Ministry of Tourism
- National Insurance Board
- Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
- Paradise Smiles
- Office of the Premier & Public Policy & Communication Directorate
- Public Works Department
- Royal TCI Police Force
- TCI Sports Commission
- Williams and Belliard Attorneys at Law
