Retraining and going back to school in these tough economic times will be the theme for a series of career lunches held by Bermuda College over the next month.

BC Downtown Recruit is five information sessions designed to help non-traditional or mature students with career changes based on the current economic crisis.

The College will also be holding a number of annual information sessions to help individuals develop their skills and experience.

The main event kicks off on Monday March 30 with a session aimed at audiences looking for a fast career move and will enable them to learn about Bermuda College's short-term or nine to 18-month fasttrack programmes, such as Certificates for Accounting Assistants, HR Management, Leadership, Navigation, Finance & Accounting, Business Communications, Bartending, Child Care, Continuing Care (Elders), Legal Studies, CFC Refrigerant Handling, and Office Assistants, to name but a few. Speaking at the event will be Laura Jackson of Bermuda Executive Services, talking about what her clients look for when hiring employees.

The second session on April 6, which is entitled Making Sense of Numbers "Programmes that Crunch Numbers into Dollars", will feature the Bermuda College Actuarial Science programme, with the audience hearing from industry professionals about the job of an actuary and how to get into the profession.

There will also be information on the CMA (Chartered Management Accountant) and CPA (Chartered Public Accountant) certification courses offered through the Division of PACE (Professional and Career Education), a career not widely represented by Bermudians, with only 14 out of 119 qualified actuaries being locals, according to the 2007 ManPower Study.

On April 13, the third BC Downtown Recruit session is on Community Careers, with Bermudians interested in careers within education, nursing, law, human services or child and youth studies getting an insight into the various Associate degree programmes and courses available in the public service.

A human resources professional will advise the audience on the skills and education required for careers in these industries, while Bermuda College's students and alumni will share words of wisdom about how the College can equip individuals and prepare them for continuing their education overseas. Guests will also hear about the bachelor programmes available on the island through Mount Saint Vincent University in Canada and Kent Law School at the University of Kent in the UK.

A week later, the next session, entitled "The Gift of Service", will focus on Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts and Bartending programmes and courses.

The public will learn statistics on the service industry and how an education in these fields can lead to fulfilling and exciting career.

Industry HR professionals will inform audience members on the aptitudes and abilities they look for at interview and representatives from Bermuda College will advise on how the College can help them achieve their goals.

The final session of BC Downtown Recruit, entitled 'Hands-on Smarts', will be held on April 27 and based on the Applied Science and Technology Division at Bermuda College.

Bermuda College representatives will share an insight into the recent upgrades to the Applied Science building and a list of the Associate, Certificate and Diploma programmes available.

An HR professional will be present to advise the public on how the skills acquired through a Bermuda College education in mechanics, plumbing, electronics, welding and the other programmes can benefit them.

Bermuda College President, Dr. Duranda Greene, said: "There are a lot of areas that are highly concentrated and available to Bermudians if they become trained...Every one of those areas listed in the survey can be started at Bermuda College."

Guest presenters at the events include Cherie Simons, a Bermudian actuary, on April 6, Kathy-Ann Smith on April 20 and Pandora Glasford, CEO of National Training Board, on April 27.

The free sessions will be held at the Chamber of Commerce offices in Hamilton from 12.30pm to 1.30pm each Monday for the five weeks. A light lunch will be available.

To book your place at any of the events or for more information contact Cha'Von Clarke, Bermuda College recruitment officer, on 239-4099 or email cclarke@college.bm