BCSI

Category: Education & Training

  • Establishing Scope in Projects – Sharing Experiences in Barbados

    Join PMI Southern Caribbean Chapter the Barbados Branch for their first technical talk on Project Management in Barbados. The talk will have the following discussion points.

    • Where does Scope Management Fit in the Project Management Body of Knowledge?
    • Process Overview of Scope Management
    • Example of challenges in Scope Management in Barbados Projects
    Date: Thursday 24 January 2013
    Venue: Mezzanine Floor, Terminal 1 Conference Room, Grantley Adams International Airport
    Time: Registration: 5:00pm – 5:30pm
    Presentation: 5:30pm- 7:30pm
    Cost: Members BBD $15.00    Guests BBD $20.00
    For further information see the link below or call Colleen 235 3062

    PMI SCC Barbados Branch Notice- 24 Jan 2013

  • BCSI Successfully Certifies Regional Construction & Building Professionals in the LEED GA Accreditation

    BCSI Successfully Certifies Regional Construction & Building Professionals in the LEED GA Accreditation

    Today the BCSI presented fifteen (15) local construction professionals with their Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certificates in a presentation at their Pine Plantation Road Headquarters. The presentation ceremony was attended by senior officials from the development agencies GIZ and the Caribbean Export Development Agency who funded the project, as well as officials from the Ministries responsible for energy, and building standards.

    The Executive Director of the BCSI Ms. Lisa Cummins stated that, “the successful completion of this first cohort of trainees is an indication that Barbados is moving closer still to its goal of both diversifying its services sector and stimulating growth in new areas as well as making new strides in equipping its professionals with the tools to effect the transformation into a Green Economy. The BCSI is committed to leading the charge to diversify our services sector resource base and place the sector on strong footing to enable increased competitive exporting of services. This training is in a new area that is trending globally and is a part of that overall thrust and we are pleased to have made this investment. We will be working now with these professionals to promote and explore the markets available for their services.

    The project was launched on August 28th, 2012 in collaboration with development partners GIZ and the Caribbean Export Development Agency. This initiative which was conceptualized and led by the BCSI allowed for a total of thirty –five (35) local and regional construction professionals from the architecture, engineering, interior design, construction and project management service sectors the opportunity to be certified in this environmentally sustainable and industry driven accreditation.

    The LEED online training and examination support program is one of the first national and regional initiatives of its kind and it provided both technical assistance and financial support to participants. A total of nineteen (19) Barbadian (16) regional construction professionals participated in this program and to date a total of twenty-five (25) professionals have successfully obtained their LEED Green Associate credential with the remaining participants scheduled to complete their accreditation by early January 2013.

    Armed with this new credential, which is being required more and more in large global and even domestic construction contracts, local and regional professionals can now enter markets such as the United States, Canada and Europe where such international environmental standards are becoming the tool by which market entry is regulated.

    Mr. Robert Glass, Project Manager of GIZ said that the initiative “could potentially facilitate the transformation of the domestic and regional market place as it relates to the construction sector by opening up new service sector niches as part of the global green building and green economy trends.” He further commented that “the LEED accreditation allows these professionals a greater opportunity to seize benefits under trade agreements such as the Economic Partnership Agreement which facilitates access into European markets.”

    The second phase of the program slated for February 2013 will focus on the accreditation of professionals in the specialized areas of the LEED accreditation which includes Building Design & Construction, Interior Design & Construction, and Operations & Maintenance as well as in the credential maintenance component. It will also ensure that our professionals have the best opportunity to penetrate new markets and capture increase business opportunities through the marketing of their accreditation on key market sites such as the World Green Build Council and the Green Step web portal. Here professionals will have the opportunity to capture more business opportunities and increase business clients as these web portals provide the opportunity for local and regional professionals to be connected with international clients from around the world.

    This initiative marks one of the first regional initiatives where there has been a measureable output to draw the services economy into the Green Economy and create tangible market and commercial opportunities for the business community in that process. Ultimately, the Green economy has to be made practical and commercially attractive to the business community. This is an important step in that process. The BCSI will continue to work with services professionals to identify new services and methodologies which can create opportunities for them while advancing our developmental interests.

  • ZERO in on Safety: 100 Days to SHAW

    It is anticipated that the Safety and Health at Work (SHaW) Act, which was passed in Parliament in 2005, will be proclaimed on or before January 1st 2013. The Act mandates that all workplaces in Barbados must secure the health, safety and welfare workers and provide protection to person against risk in the workplace.

    Consequently, it is prudent for the management of all workplaces to be mindful of its common law duty of care to employees and to ensure compliance with the provisions of the SHaw Act. Included in the employer’s execution of care he/she mist provide a safety policy. The policy must be written if there are 10 or more workers.

    The Labour Dept. is currently observing a public awareness campaign entitled  ” Zero in on Safety: 100 Days to SHaW. Towards this end, the dept. will host a training seminar on workplace policies for public and private sector employees. The seminar is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, December 5th 2012 at the Labour Department. Limited spaces are available, only the first 30 persons registered can be accommodated. EAch company may be represented by no more than two nominees. Places will be secured and guaranteed based on early registered. Kindly, contact our office at 310 -1523/24, to sign up for the seminar, no later than Friday, November 23rd, 2012.

    A draft program me schedule for the workplace seminar in enclosed. Grateful for your participation in empowering our initiatives.

    8:30am                           Registration

    9:00am                           Zero in on Safety – Introdution to Safety and Health at Work

    9:45am                            The Impact of HIV on the Workplace  (Labour Dept)

    10:15am                          Break

    10:30am                          Workplace Policies – Promoting Safety, Health and Welfare Everyday

                                                                  – Intro to Safety Polices (Labour Dept)

                                                                  – The Business Model (Private Sector)

                                                                  – Drafting Workplace Policies Group Component (Labour Dept)

    12:00 pm                       Evaluation

    12:25pm                         Close

     

     

     

  • “Technical Assistance & Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series”

    “Technical Assistance & Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series”

    The Barbados Coalition of Service Industries Inc. (BCSI) invites you to the take advantage of the “Technical Assistance & Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series,” which is scheduled to take place from September 10th- 13th, 2012 between 8:00 am to 12:00pm at the BIDC Conference Room located at Building # 2 opposite Oran Limited. The workshop features the following key donor and development support agencies;

    • Inter- American Development Bank (IADB)
    • Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA)
    • Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)
    •  Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC) and the association of
    • Caribbean Institute of Certified Management Consultants (Barbados Chapter)

    This workshop will provide participants with direct information on the grant proposal writing process. Registrants will also have the opportunity to gain in-depth insight into and knowledge on the specific grant and development support funding windows which are best suitable to their individual needs. Participants will be guided step by step through the grant proposal writing process. Emphasis will also be placed on completing specific grant applications, the evaluation of development funding windows, the development of effective proposal writing and the preparation of the budgetary components of the grant application process.

    All interested persons will be required to pay a minimum contributory fee of $50.00 (BBD) for non-members and $35.00 (BBD) for members of the BCSI. This registration fee includes access to the requisite donor funding information and resource packages and it also covers a lite liquid and refreshment break. Participants can also indicate on their registration forms which workshops they will like to attend. These sessions are specifically geared towards business professionals and entrepreneurs who require donor funding to increase the competitiveness of their businesses.

    All interested persons are asked to complete the attached Registration Form and submit it to the BCSI Secretariat via email to Ms. Meshia Clarke at email address mclarke@bcsi.org.bb copied to Ms. Sophia Clarke at email address sclarke@bcsi.org.bb or via fax to telephone number 429-5352 as there are a limited number of spaces available. For further information on the “Technical Assistance and Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series” please feel free to contact Ms. Meshia Clarke at telephone number(246) 429-5357.

  • WEBCAST Invitation – WIDER Annual Lecture16: Folk & the Formula – pathways to capable states

    WEBCAST Invitation – WIDER Annual Lecture16: Folk & the Formula – pathways to capable states

    UNU-WIDER is delighted to inform you that the 16th WIDER Annual Lecture will be delivered by Professor Lant Pritchett, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University,  on Thursday 27 September 2012 from 15.00-17.00. UNU-WIDER would like to take this opportunity to warmly invite you to attend the lecture online via webcast. Please feel free to circulate this invitation to all your colleagues who might be interested to attend in this manner.

     

    The WIDER Annual Lecture is delivered by a leading scholar or policymaker who has made a significant contribution in the field of economics. This year’s lecture by Professor Pritchett will focus on the challenges of building capable states as part of the development process  — please see the enclosed document giving further details.

     

    If you are able to accept this invitation, kindly register your webcast attendance by visiting www.wider.unu.edu/webcastAL16 .

    Webcast Invitation – WIDER Annual Lecture 16

  • A BCSI Professional Development Initiative Opportunity (LEED Online Training & Examination Program)

    A BCSI Professional Development Initiative Opportunity (LEED Online Training & Examination Program)

    As one of the follow up initiatives from last year’s Green Build Conference held in Toronto, Canada. The Barbados Coalition of Service Industries Inc. (BCSI) has developed a project proposal for regional building and construction professionals to gain their Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Associate and Accredited Professional Designation.

    This credential provides an opportunity for construction professionals to bid on contracts, access markets and capitalize on business opportunities in the specialized area of green building. Without such a certifiable credential building professionals across the region will be excluded from entering such markets where this designation has been mandated.

    Coalitions from the CNSC are invited to extend this opportunity in their own countries and among their own members and coordinate submission of regional delegates to the BCSI.

    The participants who register to take part in the first phase of this regional project will have the opportunity to benefit from financial support provided in the areas of online training and examination for the LEED GA certification. Interested professionals who enroll in similar programs which provide on line training and move on to take the LEED examination pay a total out of pocket cost of over US$625.00 not including travel and accommodation.

    The support provided by the BCSI will allow for participants to engage in a one (1) day a week online training program for one (1) month in preparation for the examination. Participants enrolled in this regional project will benefit from resource materials and study kits which include;

    1. LEED Pre- Course Materials
    2. LEED Green Associate Comprehensive Study Guide
    3. LEED Study Score Card
    4. Green Step Practice Exam
    5. Definitions Worksheet

    Registered participants will also have the full cost of their examination fee covered, participants taking part in this program will only have to pay a minor contributory fee of US $175.00 which will go towards the online training and participant application fee. All building and construction professionals interested in taking part in this regional initiative are asked to read the attached documents carefully and sign and complete the Participant Agreement Form. All forms must be submitted to the BCSI Secretariat no later than Friday August 31, 2012 at 5:00 pm as this is a regional initiative and space is limited. Registration for this program will be on a first come first serve basis.

    All completed registration forms are to be returned to the BCSI Secretariat to Ms. Meshia Clarke at email address mclarke@bcsi.org.bbcopied to Ms. Sophie Clarke at email address sclarke@bcsi.org.bb or via fax (246) 429-5352. The BCSI looks forward to the active participation of the regional coalitions in this capacity building initiative.

    PARTICIPANT AGREEMENT- LEED GA Online and Exmination Program

    Administrative Note- LEED GA Online and Examination Program-(final revised)