Barbadian institute visits to evaluate training courses

Stephen Savory, training administrator at the Barbados Institute of Management and Productivity (BIMAP), says there is a need to find ways to increase productivity and work force engagement perspective here.{{more}}

Savory’s findings were made known Wednesday following a one-day visit, where he met with local stakeholders to review the offering of BIMAP’s certificate courses through the Centre for Enterprise Development Inc. (CED) and to assess how best BIMAP, through CED, can assist in making these courses more relevant to the training needs of businesses.

In 2008, CED entered into a partnership with BIMAP to offer its management studies programmes for Vincentians, starting with its one-year Certificate in Management Studies (BCMS) programme.

The programme is geared towards equipping persons within the workforce with additional skills to become more efficient in their profession.

The programme began in 2008 and 17 Vincentians graduated in 2010.

“It was a very interesting set of meetings…” Savory said, adding that they helped to understand the needs of CEOs and senior management.

“Coming out of those series of meetings we are going to be working very closely to see how best we can be able to fulfil their needs.

“We believe that CED has been an excellent partner and we want to continue the collaboration and we believe that the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines will like what we have to offer,” the training administrator further stated.

Felix Lewis, general manager of CED, said they are looking forward to deepening their relationship with BIMAP and to continue expanding the range of services that is being offered to the private sector.

“… We are sure that the private sector in St Vincent and the Grenadines will end up benefiting in terms of their development and their capacity to participate in our trade arrangements and also contributing to the bottom line in terms of increased sales and business,” Lewis said.

BIMAP’s Business Development and Entrepreneurship Division, established in 1974, responds to the special needs of small and medium enterprises, through counselling, training, accounting and general advisory services in all the major sectors.

These advisory services include manufacturing, wholesale, retail, service, agribusiness, informatics and tourism.

The central objective of this division is to provide assistance to facilitate the establishment, survival and growth of the participating enterprises, so as to maintain and increase employment in this area of economic activity. (AA)