A “matchmaking” service for jobseekers will lead to a higher standard of training and better employees, the Government said yesterday.

The scheme will mean company executives are provided with details of individuals suitable for career advancement opportunities and in some cases allow for public funding for education.

A government spokeswoman said: “With the traditional model, a company would send the department a sponsor trainee letter asking for sponsorship for the training of an employee whom they had already hired.

“Staff from the department would then meet the workers once a month to see how they are progressing.

“With this model, the department would pay for 100 per cent of their education, up to $9,000, while the company paid their salary.

“If the training costs more than $9,000, then the company would have to pay for the remaining amount.”

The spokeswoman said the ties were expected to develop following discussions with the construction industry.

She added: “We will also provide employers with people from our department’s database who could benefit from training and then work with the employer in terms of the department potentially funding the education for that individual and also provide the employer with tax incentives, that is, they wouldn’t have to pay employment tax if they hire an apprentice.”

The spokeswoman outlined the Department of Workforce Development incentive plan for employers to hire apprentices and said the Government wanted to strengthen its links with trades representatives in the future.

The details were provided after Charles Dunstan, who has stepped down as president of the Construction Association of Bermuda, told The Royal Gazette that building firm leaders needed to do more to help recruit new talent.

He said association members had been unaware of the opportunity to use apprenticeship contracts, which allow employers to train staff in programmes that included education funded in whole or in part by the workforce development department.

Mr Dunstan said it was important to create the next generation of skilled Bermudian tradesmen and women, and asked industry colleagues to help to create a more structured system of development.

He highlighted power supplier Belco’s four-year apprenticeship scheme, which combines on-the-job and overseas training with work experience, and said the construction industry could offer similar programmes.

Mr Dunstan added that the CAoB had unveiled a series of apprenticeship models over the past six months that included actions, goals, set learning hours and costs.

These have been submitted to the workforce development department in the hope that companies can make greater use of the contracts.

The government spokeswoman said: “We are currently working with them on this and discussions are ongoing.

“We are grateful for the good relationship the department has with the construction association and look forward to further advancing that relationship to the benefit of Bermudians.”