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This week, 10 to 16 February, marks Apprenticeship Week, a time to celebrate the invaluable contributions of apprenticeships to both individuals and the community. Career Access St Helena (CAS) is proud to highlight the numerous benefits of apprenticeship programmes and encourage individuals to explore this exciting pathway to career success.

The value of Apprenticeships

Apprenticeship training programmes are designed to equip individuals with the specific skills employers demand. This translates to better long-term salary prospects and career progression opportunities, whether an apprentice chooses to pursue further education or advance within their workplace.

Eligibility for an Apprenticeship

To embark on an apprenticeship journey, individuals must be:

Benefits of Apprenticeship programmes?

Apprenticeship programmes provide numerous benefits, including the opportunity to cultivate a skilled local workforce through a combination of practical work experience, structured training, and academic study.  These programmes also offer improved career development and progression opportunities for individuals, while simultaneously raising the profile of participating organisations and employers.  Additionally, apprenticeships empower the island workforce to adapt and respond effectively to the community’s evolving needs.  Participants gain nationally recognised qualifications, develop valuable new skills and knowledge, and acquire essential work-based experience to support their future career aspirations.

Apprenticeships for Prince Andrew School (PAS) students

For PAS students interested in apprenticeships, CAS provides guidance through a series of consultations.  These consultations lead to final confirmations in August, with the apprenticeship programme beginning with an Induction Day in September.

Apprenticeships for Individuals outside of PAS

Individuals outside of PAS who are interested in apprenticeships should first register their area of interest with CAS.  CAS will then explore potential apprenticeship opportunities with relevant stakeholders.  Available positions are advertised, and interested individuals are invited to participate in interviews and consultations.  Conditional admission offers are made, followed by confirmation of the apprenticeship and work placement.  Finally, an Induction Day will mark the beginning of the apprenticeship programme.

Support and guidance from CAS

CAS, in collaboration with stakeholders, provides comprehensive careers information, advice, and guidance to help individuals determine their progression pathway through the Apprenticeship Programme.

Interested individuals are encouraged to contact CAS by telephone on 25832, via email through Sherrilee.Phillips@sainthelena.gov.sh or glen.yon@sainthelena.gov.sh, or by visiting their offices in person at New Porteous House, Jamestown.

#StHelena #ApprenticeshipWeek #CareerAccessStHelena

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In light of the Equiano internet cable project enabling faster and less restricted internet access, St. Helena Government (SHG) launched a Cyber Security Awareness and Training Campaign in February 2023.

Led by Cyber Security Awareness and Training Officer, Gareth Drabble, this campaign included the distribution of educational posters, radio jingles and videos. In-person presentations and workshops were also completed with a number of SHG staff as well as the general public, in community centres and schools around the Island.

The goal of this campaign is to raise St. Helena’s overall awareness of common cyber security threats and provide the knowledge and training necessary to safeguard against these threats.

SHG would now like to determine, after two years of running this campaign, if the goal of increasing cyber security awareness is being achieved or not.

To enable this to happen members of the public are kindly asked to complete a Cyber Security Awareness Campaign Follow-Up Survey questionnaire. As many people as possible are encouraged to participate in this survey to drive a more accurate understanding of public levels of cyber awareness.

The survey can be completed digitally by clicking the link or scanning the QR code below.

Link to survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/shgcyber             

QR Code:

The QR code is also available to scan at:

Alternatively hard copies can be obtained from the Post and Customer Service Centre in Jamestown, or by contacting Gareth directly on telephone number 22816 or via email: gareth.drabble@sainthelena.gov.sh.

Completed questionnaires can be returned to the Post and Customer Service Centre or the reception desk at the Castle. The public are encouraged to complete and return the questionnaire as soon as possible but by no later than Monday, 31 March 2025.

The public are thanked in advance for their participation and engagement in this important project.

SHG

14 February 2025

The public and all wharf stakeholders are advised that the Port of Jamestown will be closed from 06:00 on Wednesday, 19 February 2025, for the movement of containers and boats and will reopen as soon as practical. This is in preparation for the next call of the MV Karoline and the cruise ship.

Port users are asked not to cause any vehicular obstruction during this time as it will make the operation of the equipment difficult or impossible.

Any inconvenience is regretted and the public and port users are thanked in advance for their patience and understanding.

SHG

14 February 2025

http://www.sainthelena.gov.sh

The Education, Skills and Employment Portfolio will hold a public meeting on 25 February at 19:00 in the Main Hall at Prince Andrew School. The purpose of the meeting is to provide the community with an update on the Education Review’s interim findings and potential next steps.

The Education Review will evaluate St Helena’s education and skills provision, from early years to post-16, exploring:

To date, we have had visits and input from our colleagues at the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) in October 2024 who undertook an independent appraisal of possible future primary provision. Additionally, Hampshire Local Authority (HLA) visited in November 2024 to review our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs (SEMH) offer and our broader school provision. This led to Hampshire Local Authority providing staff with much needed Continuous Professional Development (CPD) in January 2025. Currently on island is Education Consultant, David Jeffrey, who will be instrumental in producing the final Education Review Report.

We would like to offer our community the opportunity to meet and provide feedback on the Education Review.  We look forward to engaging with you on this important topic of change.

We would also like to take this opportunity to remind all parents and guardians that a meeting will also be held on 24 February at 19:00 in the Main Hall at Prince Andrew School to engage with you all on the same topic.

The public are kindly asked not to wear pin heels/stilettos to these meetings due to the recent re-flooring of the Main Hall.

Constituents are invited to attend the district meetings to be hosted by Councillors next month. These will have a largely open agenda to enable constituents to make their priorities known, put forward suggestions and ask questions. Feedback will be provided on matters raised in previous meetings, if this has not already been given.

The constituency meetings will start at 19:30 and be held at the following dates and locations:

DateVenueChairperson
Wednesday 5thGuinea Grass Community Centre Councillor Midwinter
Wednesday 5thBlue Hill Community Centre Councillor Turner
Monday 10thJamestown Community Centre Councillor Brooks
Tuesday 11thSandy Bay Community Centre Councillor Turner
Tuesday 11thSt Mary’s Church, Briars Councillor Essex
Wednesday 12thSt Michael’s Church, Rupert’s   Councillor Brooks
Wednesday 12thHalf Tree Hollow Community Centre Councillor Coleman
Thursday 13thHarford Community Centre Councillor Knipe
Wednesday 19thLevelwood Community Centre Councillor Thrower

St Helena Government is keen to hear from organisations who have an interest in organising this year’s St Helena’s Day celebrations – a chance to celebrate and showcase our island’s community spirit and unique culture.

As the organising body, you will have the creative freedom to design an authentic St Helenian experience for the community. While no funding is available for setup or promotion, all proceeds raised on the day will be yours to keep, making it an excellent opportunity to support your organisation’s goals and continuing the St Helena’s Day tradition.

If your organisation would like to take this on, please contact Arts and Culture Champion, Councillor Andrew Turner, via email to councillor.aturner@gmail.com by 28 February 2025 to register your interest.

The Highways Authority has given approval for Shy Road to be closed from Monday 17 February to Monday 03 March 2025 from 09:00 to 15:00. This is to enable staff from the Roads Section to carry out repairs to a section of the retaining wall that is deteriorating.

During this closure only emergency services will be granted access. Signage will be in place.

The Roads Section would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused, and thank the public in advance for their continued understanding and cooperation.

Following discussions with Chief Minister Julie Thomas, HE Governor Nigel Phillips CBE has agreed, at the Chief Minister’s request, that the St Helena Legislative Council be dissolved on Monday 30 June, with a General Election scheduled to take place on Wednesday 03 September 2025.

Section 76 (b) of The St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Constitution Order, 2009, as  amended in 2021, requires the Governor to dissolve Council “at the expiration of four years from the date when Council first meets after any dissolution, unless it has been sooner dissolved.” 25 October this year will denote four years since the Inaugural Meeting of the current St Helena Legislative Council took place following the October 2021 General Election; this means that 25 October 2025 is the last day that Council may be dissolved to enable a General Election to go ahead.

Publicity regarding the General Election and information about how the ministerial system of Government operates will follow in the weeks leading up to the dissolution of Council.

In the meantime, it is important to remember that if you wish to participate in this year’s General Election, either by sponsoring a candidate, nominating a candidate, casting a vote or standing for election, your name must be included in the Register of Electors (Register).

Amendments can be made to the Register, effective from 1 July 2024, at any time. However, the cut-off date by which to make any amendments prior to the publication of the 2025 Register will be mid-May. There will be no further opportunities beyond this date to have names included in the Register before the General Election takes place.

If you wish to add your name to the Register, you can do so between now and mid-May by completing the necessary Form A.   

Eligible persons who are ordinarily resident on St Helena but absent in connection with employment, education or training (for themselves/their spouse/their life partner) or for the purposes of medical treatment (for themselves/their spouse/ their life partner/a dependant) and have not been absent from St Helena for a continuous period of 30 months or for periods exceeding in aggregate 625 days in the preceding months may also apply to have their name included in the Register by completing Form B.

Both Forms A and B are accessible on the SHG website at https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/st-helena/government/public-information/elections/ and can also be obtained from the Public Library, the Castle Reception or the Customer Services Centre.

Further information on how to complete these forms can be obtained from the Registration Officer, Carol Henry, and Assistant Registration Officers, Anita Legg, Connie Johnson and Gillian Francis at the Castle, Jamestown.

#StHelena #GeneralElections #MinisterialGovernment

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The St Helena Government (SHG) and the Bank of Saint Helena (BOSH) would like to remind residents, businesses, and other users of banking services that they are still seeking feedback on the use of banking services on St Helena. This is part of an important initiative to modernise the island’s financial services, as outlined in the St Helena Sustainable Economic Development Strategy 2023-33.

As part of this ongoing work, SHG is developing a banking policy and action plan that will guide improvements in banking services, benefiting both the community and businesses on the island. Your feedback will play a crucial role in identifying the areas that require investment to better meet the needs of everyone on St Helena.

The survey remains open until tomorrow, 18:00, Friday 07 February 2025, and it is encouraged that all those who use banking services participate. Responses will help SHG and BOSH understand the full scope of banking activity on the island, ensuring that future improvements are targeted effectively.

How to Participate:

Online: The survey is available online at https://www.sainthelenabank.com/survey

In Person: If you do not have internet access, you can complete the survey at the Bank of Saint Helena (BOSH) branch on Market Street, Jamestown or at the Ascension branch, Administration Building, Georgetown.

SHG and BOSH are also working with independent professional advisors who will be visiting St Helena from 18 February to 25 February 2025.

If you are interested in speaking to the team in person, register your interest by contacting Alexandria Thomas, Economic Development Portfolio Assistant, via email: alexandria.thomas@sainthelena.gov.sh.

All feedback will be kept strictly confidential.

#StHelena #BankofStHelena #BankSurvey

SHG

06 February 2025

The Education, Skills and Employment Portfolio (ESE) today announced it will be changing the name of the island’s only secondary school. This decision follows approval from the Portfolio Advisory Board, the Chief Minister, and Buckingham Palace. The school, currently named Prince Andrew School (PAS), believes this change is a crucial step in ensuring its name embodies the values, aspirations, and identity of its students and the wider community.

The decision to rename the school stems from several factors, including recent public controversy and negative media coverage. The school believes a neutral name will foster a positive and forward-thinking learning environment, free from contentious associations. This renaming also provides an opportunity to select a name that aligns with the school’s shared principles and aspirations for students and St Helena.

Head Teacher, Phil Toal, commented:

“While we respect history, we must also be mindful of how past associations impact the present and future. Choosing a new name allows us to honour the contributions of our students and community without the burden of controversial ties.”

The new name will be selected through a student-led process. All students will have the opportunity to submit name suggestions to the Student Council. The Student Council, with support from the School Leadership Team, will shortlist the options. Shortlisted names will be reviewed by the Portfolio Advisory Board before a school-wide student vote. The winning name will be submitted to the Portfolio Advisory Board for final approval.

The name selection process is expected to be completed within Term 2A (16 January to 28 February 2025), with the official launch of the new name planned for the start of the next academic year in September 2025.

In addition to the name change, the Student Council is also reviewing the school uniform. The new uniform will be phased in gradually, beginning with Year 7, over approximately five years. This phased approach will minimise the financial burden on parents and allow for the use of existing uniform stocks. Further details about the uniform will be shared as the Student Council’s review progresses.

The school encourages parents and community members to contact them with any questions or concerns. For further enquiries or to provide feedback, please contact Head Teacher, Phil Toal by telephone on 24290 or via email through phil.toal@sainthelena.edu.sh.

#StHelena #Education #SchoolNameChange

SHG
06 February 2025