Seven Bermudians have been offered paid internships with the partners on the proposed airport redevelopment.

They will work at Aecon with members of its technical team in Canada, after being chosen by a panel of interviewers from Aecon and the Department of Workforce Development.

The interns will be paid by Aecon, with travel, room and board paid by Workforce Development.

According to a press release from Aecon Group Inc, the Bermuda Government and the Department of Workforce Development, they are:

• Barak Bremar, a 23-year-old graduate of the New England Institute of Technology. Barak has worked at LF Wade International in six different departments over a six-year period — most recently as a skycap. Barak will be working with Mulvey & Banani International as an electrical design intern;

• Owen Chisnall, a 22-year-old graduate of Niagara College. He is a committed Bermudian volunteer, who is working to help maintain and rebuild Trunk Island. He will be spending half of his internship with HH Angus and half with Aecon in order to gain experience in the fields of mechanical engineering and project safety;

• Bianca Clay, a 26-year-old graduate of the University of Westminster, who previously worked as an intern at Cooper Gardner Architects. She will be spending six months with Scott Associates architectural firm;

• James Gould, a 24-year-old graduate of the University of Plymouth, who has been working for Kaissa as a junior roof installer and assistant superintendent. He will be working for Aecon and gaining experience in construction management and safety;

• Ricardo Graham-Ward, a 24-year-old graduate of the University of Southampton, who has been working for the Bermuda Government as a trainee civil engineer. His internship with WSP Global and Quinn Dressel Associates will allow him to further his career in civil and structural engineering;

• Allanette Hayward, a 42-year-old graduate of Coventry University, who went back to school later in life having received a scholarship from the Construction Association of Bermuda: the first woman to do so. She is a trainee civil engineer with the Bermuda Government. She will be working at WSP Global and Quinn Dressel Associates to learn more about the civil and structural engineering fields.

• Jordan Lawrence, a 20-year-old graduate of the New England Institute of Technology, who has proven himself to be hardworking and dedicated and has recently returned home to Bermuda. He will be spending three months each with HH Angus and Aecon gaining invaluable experience in mechanical engineering and construction management.

The interns will spend four to five days each week with their host company working on tasks specifically related to the airport redevelopment project. They will each be assigned a mentor who will help them to create and complete an individual development plan throughout the programme and to ensure that they get everything they can out of the programme. On completion of the internships, the interns will receive feedback on their development and goals and a certificate of achievement from Aecon. The programme will run for six months from early 2017 and will be based in Toronto.

Home affairs minister Patricia Gordon-Pamplin said: “This internship programme with Aecon and its partners is an incredible opportunity and is just one of the many benefits that the Airport Redevelopment Project will bring to our island. I would like to congratulate the seven interns chosen by the selection committee, all of whom have proven that they are committed to building Bermuda’s future.”

Steve Nackan, president of Aecon Concessions, said: “These interns will receive a once-in-a-lifetime experience with Aecon and its technical partners in the fields of construction and infrastructure. This programme is just one of the ways in which we are committed to Bermuda, not only its airport, but also its people. We look forward to sharing our knowledge with these graduates.”

Frank Ross, executive adviser of Aecon Group Inc, said: “We were fortunate to have so many excellent candidates for the internship programme, which, of course, made it a very difficult decision. However, the seven graduates chosen are exceptional and we look forward to working and sharing this experience with them. We thank all applicants for their interest and encourage them to apply for other opportunities in the project.”

Bianca Clay, one of the interns, said: “I’m very excited to have been chosen to work in Canada — it’s an incredible opportunity. To be a part of the airport redevelopment project is to be a part of a legacy. The airport leaves a lasting first and last impression to those visiting and it’s important that Bermudians are able to contribute to it.”