Leaders of Bermuda programme.

Berkeley Institute and CedarBridge Academy participants in the scheme are learning how to apply what they learn in school to the real world.

"We are trying to groom the students in different business operations,'' said Henry James, head of Business and Technology at the Berkeley Institute.

"We are trying to get them to develop positive business skills, practices and civic duty.'' Mr. James was studying in Huntsville, Alabama when he became involved with the Future Business Leaders of America. When he retuned to the Island he applied for a Bermuda charter.

"We want students to be more aggressive about being business leaders,'' he said.

Students involved with the programme have the opportunity to attend lectures and hear from guest speakers.

They spend time in the field by "job shadowing'' in several local and international businesses.

Students are also selected to attend conferences, like one held last April in Chicago. When they return, they teach others about what they learned.

Mr. James said: "The more prepared students are, the better chance of them taking on rewarding positions in the community.

"We expect students to leave school to work without really knowing what they're supposed to do.

"Telephone etiquette is seen as something we expect all students to know, but really they don't.'' The programme is seen as a way for students to apply what they learn in text books to the real world.

"In one case (the students) are offering accounting services, that I teach them (at Berkeley) to a smaller business and the business is paying them a small fee,'' said Mr. James.

Some students have benefited from the programme by finding part-time jobs with companies.

Mr. James said he hoped that by the time the students graduate they will find permanent jobs with some of the companies.

Preparing for the future: Future Business Leaders of Bermuda students, from left, Chauntae Whitter, 15, Cyril Whitter, 14, and Ricketa Warner, 16, attended the Bermuda International Business Association's Annual General Meeting on December 9.