Twelve Bermudian university students were yesterday named as participants in a ten-week internship programme with three of the Island?s leading firms.

The programme, which is designed to introduce the students to working in the insurance, financial and accounting sectors, is hosted jointly by ACE, the Bank of Bermuda and Deloitte. In a Press statement yesterday, the companies announced that the students had that day started the programme that will see them gain work experience at each of the three companies from 7 June through 6 August.

The Summer Internship Programme (SIP) is now in its second year after what was described as the ?overwhelming success? of last year?s inaugural programme.

The Press statement said that although students had said the programme was a challenge, it had ultimately ?provided them with a valuable learning experience that gave them a taste of just how demanding the working world is, as well as open their eyes to the many career paths available?.

The programme also comprises a community service project, with the students this year developing a strategic plan for the Bermuda chapter of the Boys and Girls Club of America. In total, there were 32 applicants for SIP 2004, but only 12 students were selected ? all coming from business-related fields of study. This year?s participants are Laura Ashton, Hannah Butler, Shana Hayward, Melissa Lawley, Monique Lister, Andrew Lopes, Calais Lynch, Ryan Marshall, Steven McGuinness, Arnario Shillingford, Adrienne Smith and Kyle Smith.