Eight local businesses taking part in a Government-sponsored pilot project have signed a commitment to continue with training programmes for their employees.

At a ceremony at Stonington Hotel last night the businesses received certificates issued by UK-based Investors in People as a sign of approval of those training schemes.

Deputy Premier and Minister of Development and Opportunity Jerome Dill said yesterday the training schemes instituted by the local owners were based on a programme of promoting best practices among some of the UK's most successful organisations.

"It has become a hallmark of good industrial relations and recognition of an organisation's commitment to training and development as a way of achieving business goals,'' he said yesterday. "Additionally, it provides an effective business framework which helps organisations manage the training and development of staff.'' Aberfeldy Nurseries, Air Care Ltd., Continental Motors, Cranleigh Ltd., Governments Department of Personnel Services, Esso City Automart, Rosedon Hotel, and Stonington Beach Hotel are taking part in the programme, which was launched in May.

The programme is being administered over 18 months for a cost of about $320,000 under the supervision of Investors In People. UK-based consultants Hillen & Jenkinson are also involved.

The companies are responsible for implementing and funding changes to their training programmes according to the standards recognised by the Investors in People. Once the companies achieve the standard the Investors in People will give them accreditation as having met the benchmarks.

Once authorised by the UK organisation, the National Training Board will set up an Investors In People Bermuda that will oversee the expansion of the standard to other companies.

The standard was created by studying the practices of some of the UK's best performing companies. Currently 30,000 UK businesses and organisations are involved in the programme and represent about seven million employees.

Businesses will be encouraged to undertake a review of their training programmes in comparison with the standard promoted by the UK agencies. The companies will then get assistance in implementing the training programmes.