Harris Paints continues to champion building career pathways with Youth Employment Programme

Harris Paints, the Caribbean Champions of Colour, once again launched its annual Internship and Summer Employment Programme, showing its continued investment in the future workforce across the Caribbean.

According to a release from the company, over 40 interns from Jamaica, Barbados, St Lucia, Dominica, and Guyana, in addition to others from as far as Canada, were selected to participate in the 2016 programme which began in May and runs until August 31.

With studies varying from Science/Engineering, Chemistry, Business Management and Finance, to Tourism & Hospitality, Marketing and Aviation Management, the students were challenged to use their skills and training to add value to the workplace while advancing their career goals.

Marguerite Desir, senior VP for Human Resources and head of Harris Paints Guyana, St Lucia and Dominica, said, “Our goal is to offer opportunities to these students who have clearly expressed a desire to work and showcase a level of proactivity and creative out-the-box thinking that belies their age. In doing so, Harris is helping young adults take the next step in their career path and our region as a whole take the next step in developing our future workforce.”

One intern, Abigail Welch from Guyana, who is studying in Canada and majoring in Economics and Finance said: “It was certainly a privilege to work at the Caribbean’s leader in the paint industry. My experience working in the finance department alongside the Senior VP Finance was rewarding. I learnt so many things that will better equip me as a new grad entering the corporate world. I thoroughly enjoyed the internship programme as it has been a transformative experience and allowed me to demonstrate my true potential.”

This year Harris Paints also collaborated with the Caribbean Science Foundation (CSF) which offers an annual Student Programme for Innovation in Science and Engineering (SPISE). SPISE is an intense four-week enrichment residential summer programme for the most gifted Caribbean high-school students, 16-17 years of age, who are interested in studying and exploring careers in science and engineering. Several SPISE graduates are currently attending MIT, Stanford, Harvard, Columbia and University College London as freshmen or sophomores.

The long-term goals of the programme are, to help address the low numbers of Caribbean students pursuing advanced degrees in science engineering, to groom the next generation of science, engineering technology and business leaders in the Caribbean, and to help diversify the economies of the Caribbean by stimulating more technology-based entrepreneurship, the release added. About Harris Paints: Harris Paints celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2012, having started as a small manufacturing operation in Barbados. Still owned and managed locally, it is now a regional paint manufacturer promoting quality objectives built on the five core values of the Harris Group of Companies, inclusive of: High Ethical Standards; Excellent Customer Service and Quality; Development of People and Team Work; Excellent Business Efficiency; and the highest regard for Safety, Health and the Environment. Harris Paints operates in five countries across the region -Barbados, St Lucia, Dominica, Guyana and Jamaica, trading there as B-H Paints and employs over 200 staff region-wide. Harris Paints’ premium quality painting and decorating solutions can be found at over 1400 dealers (with 70+ Harris/BH Paints Colour centres) spread across 15 countries throughout the Caribbean.