Fifteen high school graduates will soon begin their seven-month apprenticeship with Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited.
A launch ceremony at the Cara Lodge Hotel, Quamina Street, Georgetown on Friday, welcomed the twelfth batch of Apprentices to the Bank’s Youth Link Apprenticeship Programme 2022/2023, a release from the bank said.
The fifteen persons were selected from schools across the country and will be placed across the Bank’s network of Branches. They will experience classroom and on-the-job training in banking operations and have the opportunity to learn and understand the needs of the less fortunate via the community initiative styled ‘Care-A-Van.’ A day of fun and relaxation will also be part of the Youth Link experience, the release said.
Upon completion of the Programme, successful Apprentices will receive the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) from the Caribbean Association of National Training Agencies (CANTA) through the Council for Technical & Vocational Training (CTVET). With this qualification the Apprentices will be eligible for jobs in the CARICOM region, the release noted.
In his remarks, Managing Director of the bank, Stephen Grell said “Apprentices, we will ensure that you receive the necessary tools, training and guidance on the theoretical and practical aspects of banking through our experienced staff and certified trainers. The programme does not only promote quality learning and professional development, but also focuses on social health and wellness, community care, business etiquette, entrepreneurship, sport and creativity. As such, this rounded exposure will prepare you to make informed choices for your future pursuits”.
This year’s launch saw the restart of the programme after a three-year break due in part to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
The release said that the Youth Link Apprenticeship Programme was introduced in Guyana in 2008 after being part of the Republic Bank Limited, Trinidad and Tobago Power to Make a Difference initiative for over twenty years. The programme was developed to bridge the gap between the end of the participants’ school life and the beginning of their career.
