Twenty young people celebrated after graduating in a pioneering apprenticeship scheme with Lloyds Bank.
The youngsters, said to be setting a shining example, were praised at a special ceremony last week.
Chief minister Allan Bell was there to witness the ceremony and he told Business News: ‘It’s a very positive development for Lloyds Bank.
‘The apprentices who have now graduated today are to be congratulated on the excellent job they have done.
‘It’s an investment not just in their future but in the future of Lloyds Bank and in a broader sense in the island and this is what we really need all employers to do.
‘We have to improve the skills base of the island to ensure that the island generally can compete internationally in the future.
‘This is a great step forward today. The team have all done extremely well and I congratulate Lloyds on the hard work.’
Peter Reid, island director and head of operations at Lloyds Bank said: ‘Twenty people have graduated which is fantastic news.’
He told the audience that the apprenticeship scheme could not have happened without the support of the island’s government, in partocular the Department of Economic Development.
Mr Reid said there was an ‘open door’ provided by the government when details of the scheme were first being drawn up.
Mr Reid said the course was fundamentally designed to set up a future potential for careers ahead. The course has lasted just over 12 months and in that time a lot of work has been completed. The apprentices came up in turn to receive certificates and a goody bag.
Dan Gallagher, 20, told Business News: ‘You know what, this is really fantastic.
‘I’ve finished the apprenticeship but I feel there is a lot more that Lloyds want to help me with’. He said that he had learned things that gave him a much wider perspective of the world.
Former Castle Rushen student Dan said the team of apprentices all worked well together and he is looking forward to advancing his career with Lloyds.
Former St Ninian’s High School student Katie Gregory, 18, said it was a ‘big achievement’ to graduate because of the amount of work that was put in. She said that she has been working in telephone banking with the company dealing with customers from all over the world over the phone. She was looking also to advance her career with the bank.
Meanwhile a delighted Mr Reid promised this year’s course was only the beginning and further projects were now planned for the future.