Barita Investments Limited is deepening its investment in Jamaica’s future financial leaders with the launch of the 2026 Barita Skills Optimisation Challenge (SOC) Version 2.

This marks the second consecutive year of Barita’s partnership with The University of the West Indies (UWI) for this initiative. For the 2026 launch, the programme has been expanded to include the University of Technology, Jamaica. The Skills Optimisation Challenge is a structured, high-impact programme designed to strengthen analytical thinking, build leadership capacity, and enhance real-world problem-solving skills among tertiary-level students.

The initiative will bring together 16 high-performing students from The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, and the University of Technology. Students will be organised into four multidisciplinary teams. The structure, according to the company, is intended to preserve institutional pride while ensuring balanced representation and healthy competition.

Once selected, each team will receive mentorship from both a senior executive and an analyst mentor, ensuring a blend of strategic oversight and practical guidance. Participants will engage with structured problem statements, defined evaluation frameworks, and performance milestones that mirror the rigour of corporate advisory and investment environments.

Chief Executive Officer of Barita Investments Limited, Ramon Small-Ferguson, highlighted the strategic intent behind the initiative.  He noted that “at Barita, we recognise that sustainable growth in our industry depends on deliberate investment in human capital. The Skills Optimisation Challenge is not simply a competition; it is a platform for shaping disciplined thinkers, ethical leaders, and commercially aware professionals who will help strengthen Jamaica’s financial ecosystem. We are building capability, not just showcasing talent.”

The programme also reflects Barita’s wider people strategy across the Barita Financial Group.

Stephanie Murdock, Chief Human Resources Officer for the Barita Financial Group, noted that the initiative aligns with the organisation’s long-term workforce development agenda. According to her, “this challenge allows us to identify potential early while giving students structured exposure to executive-level expectations. We are intentional about mentorship, accountability, and measurable outcomes. Our aim is to bridge the gap between academic achievement and corporate readiness, ensuring these students develop both technical competence and professional confidence.”

As Jamaica’s oldest brokerage, Barita continues to position itself not only as a leader in capital markets but as a catalyst for talent development. The 2026 staging builds on previous iterations by formalising mentoring frameworks, enhancing benchmarking standards, and increasing the strategic complexity of assigned business cases.

More than an academic exercise, the Barita Skills Optimisation Challenge serves as a pipeline for identifying and nurturing the next generation of professionals who will drive innovation, resilience and growth across Jamaica’s financial services sector.