2001 seminar offerings, which includes 22 new courses.

BEC membership services coordinator Nicole Reis has made the 94-page Professional Training and Development Guide more "user-friendly'' by categorising the courses according to type and offering an organised calendar showing which courses are available each month.

Ms Reis, who is new to her position, said she found the old catalogue disorganised and confusing and has also added colour and symbols to guide readers through the options.

This year's training programme, called `Step into Training', will devote increasing resources to "personal development'' with courses such as `Assertiveness - The Key to Effectiveness' and `Motivating for Peak Performance'. These courses will be provided alongside more traditional, hands-on offerings focusing on communication, finance, service, human resources and management skills.

Diploma courses designed for administrators and managers and taught by Canadian Laura Boyd-Brown continue to be the most popular, especially for those without college degrees who gain confidence with diplomas.

Each of the 67 courses is limited to 22 people and are taught by a team of 11 instructors, six of whom are local. The classes last from half a day to three full days and are held at the Bermuda Employer's Council office on Parliament Street, the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club or the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, depending on enrolment.

Traditionally, employers pay for their employees to take the courses, which cost between $95 to $1,155 for BEC members. The fees for non-members are usually slightly higher.

All of the courses are available as in-house seminars for companies with enough demand. Eleven of the courses are available exclusively in-house.

The catalogue was distributed to all BEC members and can be obtained at the Phoenix Stores. For more information about the courses, call the BEC on 295-5070.

BUSINESS BUC