The Registration Apprenticeship Training Employment and Development (RATED) Programme which exposes employment opportunities with a number of ministries and departments in the Public Service will mark its first anniversary on November 4^th.

In a statement during the Fifth Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth House of Assembly on Tuesday, Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley said a total of 721 applications were received representing various areas of interest.

Premier Wheatley also added that persons have been engaged, while gaining work experience and exposure to the work force. He said each apprentice engaged had the opportunity to participate on a full time basis, should there be the prospect to do so within the ministry or department.

Premier Wheatley said, “The short-term assignment allows for the necessary exposure to employment opportunities with a number of ministries and departments in the Public Service.”

Persons were placed with the Premier’s Office,  Ministry of Health and Social Development, Virgin Islands Trade Commission, Department of Information and Public Relations, Civil Registry and Passport Office, Virgin Islands Shipping Registry, Immigration Department, just to name a few.  To date there were a total of 53 apprentices in the areas of administration, customer service, data entry and sanitation.

Premier further added, “As our tag line states, ‘The RATED programme is changing lives, enhancing skills and developing future entrepreneurs one person at a time.’  This is why, I encourage interested persons to apply to RATED, as this programme could be your opportunity to get your feet in the door, as it were, and prove yourself to that prospective employer.”

Persons who apply are contacted to ascertain their job readiness as it pertains to access to the necessary tools needed to perform the various tasks. Requests for apprentices are processed using a completed temporary staff request form which allows ministries or departments to indicate the necessary details for engaging interested persons.

Persons may apply by completing the application form, which can be found at www.gov.vg along with their resume’ and email to Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change at nrl@gov.vg

The RATED Programme seeks to provide three pathways for persons between the age of 18 to 65 who are unemployed or under-employed to obtain opportunities through short-term employment, apprenticeship and/or training, education and development, thereby, empowering them through work and training opportunities.