NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Government of The Bahamas today highlighted expanded career and training opportunities for Bahamians at the Opportunity Hub: National Apprenticeship Programme (NAP) Edition, held at the Nassau Village Community Centre.
As part of a nationwide engagement initiative, the event connects Bahamians directly to government programmes that create pathways into education, employment, and workforce development.
The event spotlighted the National Apprenticeship Programme – the country’s first national apprenticeship initiative – which combines accredited training with hands-on experience to prepare Bahamians for employment in high-demand industries.
Through its pilot model, participants complete a six-week pre-apprenticeship phase, followed by a 46-week paid placement with an employer partner, ensuring they gain real-world experience and job-ready skills while earning an income.
Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Philip Davis emphasized the importance of apprenticeship in building an economy that includes more Bahamians.
“It’s hard to overstate how important the National Apprenticeship Programme is going to be in expanding high-quality opportunities for Bahamians,” Prime Minister Davis said.
“For a long time, we have needed more and better pathways that lead from school to work.”
The Prime Minister described the programme as a practical way to bridge the gap between education and employment.
“Too often, you start climbing the ladder and find a few rungs missing,” he said. “This programme helps fill in those missing rungs, so you can climb as high as your talent and hard work will take you.”
Currently, the National Apprenticeship Programme supports 44 apprentices working with 36 private-sector partners, across two active sectors: Construction & Mechanical Trades and the Maritime Industry.
Apprentices receive a stipend during the pre-apprenticeship phase, transition into paid placements, spend at least 20 percent of their time in structured training, and work under skilled supervisors and experienced craftsmen.
Employer partners commit to employing apprentices at no less than minimum wage during the placement period, reinforcing the programme’s focus on fair, dignified work.
Minister of Labour and Public Service, Pia Glover-Rolle, highlighted the programme’s role in removing barriers to employment and closing the skills gap.
“The problem is not a lack of jobs,” Minister Glover-Rolle said. “The real challenge is connecting people to those jobs with the right skills and preparation, and apprenticeships solve that problem by building direct pipelines between training and employment.”
The Opportunity Hub also provided updates on new and expanding NAP cohorts.
Twenty additional construction apprentices are currently completing pre-apprenticeship training at the National Training Agency (NTA) and are expected to be ready for placement by early February.
Recruitment is underway for a Customer Service and Hospitality cohort beginning in early February, while a Clean Energy cohort focused on LNG production is set to launch next month. A Medical Services and Patient Care cohort will follow.
Prime Minister Davis noted that NAP is part of a broader national effort to expand opportunity through initiatives such as Upskill Bahamas, alongside increased investment in BAMSI and BTVI, aimed at strengthening workforce readiness across the country.
Members of the public are encouraged to visit opphub.gov.bs to learn more about available programmes, register for opportunities, and share feedback.