Students ready to learn about financial services
(L-R) André Ebanks, Jude Scott and Christen Suckoo at the orientation
(CNS Local Life): The third annual Cayman Finance Student Education & Work Experience Programme recently welcomed this year’s group of 65 Caymanian students at an orientation event. The programme is open to high school students in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac, and consists of class workshops, one-on-one coaching with mentors from Cayman Finance member firms and a four-week work experience.
At the orientation, mentors and students met one another for the first time and heard a short overview of the programme presented by Jude Scott, CEO of Cayman Finance; Christen Suckoo, Chief Officer in the Ministry of Education, Employment and Gender Affairs; and André Ebanks, Senior Legislative Policy Advisor in the Ministry of Financial Services, Commerce and Environment.
“We are extremely pleased with the tremendous success of this programme and cannot thank our partners, mentors and facilitators enough for donating their valuable time,” said Scott. “This is truly a one-of-a-kind opportunity to create pathways for these young, talented Caymanians to learn from the best in the industry.”
Ebanks spoke of the importance of the initiative. “Programmes like this are invaluable to the financial services industry as well as the well-being of our wider community,” he said. “It is extremely important that we educate our young people on the role of the industry in our country as well as globally so they may go out and be ambassadors for Cayman.”
Offering the ministry’s perspective, Suckoo said, “When we create programmes such as this for our youth it gives them an opportunity to experience the work force and get a real life experience of what their future career path may be.
“Our ministry is very passionate about this programme and we look forward to seeing its continued growth in the future.”
This year, 28 Cayman Finance member firms, the Ministry of Financial Services and the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority are involved in the programme as mentors and facilitators or by offering work placements.
Still need trade and technical college here…academically they may not become professionals but technically they sure can!