Winter Apprenticeship Programme Relaunched with 123 Student
The Office of the Deputy Governor, through the Department of Human Resources, has relaunched the Winter Apprenticeship Programme, placing 123 students in ministries, statutory bodies and private-sector partner organisations for the December 2025 session. The relaunch, reported by the Government and supplemented by reporting from Virgin Islands News Online (VINO), highlights expanded placements for science and medical students and increased engagement across the Sister Islands.
The Office of the Deputy Governor, through the Department of Human Resources, has officially relaunched the Winter Apprenticeship Programme, placing 123 students across the public service and private-sector partners for the December 2025 session, the Government said in a press release.
This year’s winter cohort includes 50 college and university students and 73 high-school students — one of the programme’s strongest intakes to date, according to the government release. The Department says the relaunch aims to broaden access to real-world learning, strengthen the education-to-employment pathway and support emerging local talent.
The Winter Apprenticeship Programme is the third apprenticeship session delivered in 2025. Earlier sessions included an Easter intake of 38 high-school students and a Summer intake of 22 college students and three high-school students. Across all three sessions in 2025, 186 students have benefited from apprenticeship placements, the Office noted.
Officials told BVI Live that the Department received more than 100 applications for the winter session and was able to fund every successful applicant. Acting Deputy Director of Human Resources Cara Christopher is quoted in the government release saying the response was “remarkable” and confirming the Department secured funding to support all placements.
Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Deputy Governor, Sharleen S. DaBreo-Lettsome, described the relaunch as a strategic investment in the Territory’s future public officers. In the press release she said the programme “represents an important investment in the future of our young people and, by extension, the future of our public service,” and praised the Human Resources team for their work in making the placements possible.
New reporting from Virgin Islands News Online adds detail on how placements are being matched to students’ academic interests. VINO reports the programme includes targeted opportunities for students pursuing science and medical disciplines, linking them with placements tailored to those fields.
VINO also highlighted increased collaboration with private entities, broadening the professional environments available to participants, and confirmed placements on the Sister Islands — including Virgin Gorda and Anegada — for students to gain practical experience in their own communities.
For BVI residents, organisers say the programme provides a practical bridge between classroom learning and workplace experience, building early-career exposure, workplace skills and a stronger pipeline of future public servants and professionals in key sectors such as health and science.
The Office of the Deputy Governor and the Department of Human Resources say they remain committed to expanding these pathways and growing placement opportunities across ministries, statutory bodies and partner organisations. The Government release was issued by Jaimeson Hazel of the Office of the Deputy Governor; VINO reporting supplied additional context on subject-specific placements and Sister Islands engagement.
Residents interested in learning more or following the programme’s progress are encouraged to contact the Office of the Deputy Governor or the Department of Human Resources for further information.
Primary source: BVI Government