A memorandum of understanding to provide training for hundreds of young professionals and ultimately increase the number of skilled workers in Jamaica, was signed recently by the Institute for Workforce Education & Development (IWED), a member of the Manpower & Maintenance Services Ltd Group (MMS) and Young Entrepreneur Association of Jamaica (YEA).

Signed at MMS’ headquarters in Kingston by deputy CEO of MMS, Garth Hinchcliffe, and president of YEA  Cordell Williams-Graham, and witnessed by director of education and training at IWED Verica Bennett-Davidson and director of finance at MMS, Lorenzo Wint, the MOU cements a partnership to offer a suite of professional courses to small and medium enterprises as well as customer service-oriented organisations.

According to Hinchcliffe, “the aim of the partnership is to expand the pool of skilled workers in Jamaica and strengthen the workforce for business growth and development”.

The initial arrangement is for three years.

Williams-Graham explained that the YEA, “a volunteer-driven non-governmental organisation, creates opportunities for young people 45 years and under to develop professionally and personally as well as to grow their businesses”.

YEA support, she added, “is provided through mentorship, coaching, training, and equipping our entrepreneurs with the skills and tools to access financing and streamline and scale their operations. The collaboration with IWED will facilitate expanded workforce development through training and technical services”.

CRITICAL PART OF FUTURE GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

The MOU paves the way for the offering of “short professional courses that are demand driven and which provide avenues for upskilling and capacity building of young professionals, entrepreneurs, and others to enhance competence on the job and positioning for growth and advancement”.

Bennett-Davidson said the partnership “forms a critical part of IWED’s future growth and development strategy as the Institute will be responsible for training a number of individuals in various areas”.

These include information systems/digital transformation; strategic planning; business process improvement; crisis management and resilience; project management; leadership and team building; financial management and communication, among others.

Interested persons are invited to apply to IWED to be enrolled in the courses of their choice.