The Ministry of Labour, Social Security and the Third Sector has underscored the importance of internships and work-based learning programmes in preparing young people to succeed in an evolving labour market.
Speaking at today’s opening ceremony for the Bryden Stokes Limited (BSL) Summer Internship Programme for 2026, Programme Manager Erika Watson, said initiatives such as these internships help to bridge the gap between education and employment by allowing participants to gain practical workplace experience and develop the professional skills employers increasingly value.
Ms. Watson noted that rapid advances in artificial intelligence, automation, digital technologies and other emerging fields are transforming industries and redefining the world of work.
“Increasingly, employability is defined not just by what individuals know – but by what they can do, how they think, and how effectively they adapt,” she said, adding that work-based learning helps young people build confidence, strengthen competence, and develop critical workplace skills.
Ms. Watson explained that the Ministry continues to place strong emphasis on youth employment and workforce development through initiatives such as the Job Start Plus Programme, which seeks to address the challenge many young people face in gaining the experience needed to secure employment.
She highlighted the significance of the partnership between the Ministry and Bryden Stokes Limited, noting that two of the interns participating in this year’s programme were sourced directly through the Job Start Plus Programme.
“Their presence here today demonstrates what is possible when government programmes and private sector initiatives work together. It demonstrates that partnerships can create real pathways from training to employment,” Ms. Watson stated.
She also stressed that government, employers and training institutions must work collaboratively to create opportunities for young people and strengthen the national workforce.
The Programme Manager revealed that the Ministry is actively exploring opportunities in emerging sectors such as renewable energy, hybrid and electric vehicle maintenance, digital technologies, and the creative industries, while modernising apprenticeship programmes to better align with the realities of today’s economy.
Commending Bryden Stokes Limited for its continued investment in youth development, Ms. Watson said the company was helping to prepare young people for careers in areas critical to national development, including data analytics, business, marketing, science and logistics.
Encouraging the interns to make the most of the opportunity, she urged them to remain curious, professional and willing to learn. “Every accomplished professional was once a beginner. Every leader was once a learner. Every expert was once given an opportunity by someone who believed in their potential,” Ms. Watson told the cohort.
