HEART/NSTA Trust Offers Workforce Upskilling Programmes

The Human Employment and Resource Training/National Service Training Agency (HEART/NSTA) Trust says it has programmes designed for persons who are already working in their area of skill, but lack the requisite certification.

Director/Principal, HEART College of Beauty Services, Kaydia King Newman, told JIS News that the entity is pleased to offer programmes tailored for these individuals.

“If you already have the skill and the experience, but you have no certification, we have a prior learning assessment that is geared for [you]. What this means is you will come in, and you will give us proof that you have the experience. It could be through a testimonial, maybe you have a portfolio of work that you have done; and then an assessment will be done, based on this evidence,” she informed.

Mrs. King Newman said HEART also offers short courses for individuals keen on upskilling themselves, “persons who know the skill but, maybe, don’t know the intricacies of the skill.”

So, we have… our job certificate programmes that will allow you to gain the relevant concepts needed to carry out the skill,” she informed.

The Director said persons who are already thriving in their skill but lack the certification, should not shun the idea of attending HEART, as there is still a lot to be learned.

“Why not learn something new that would benefit the Jamaican economy, that would benefit you and your children… why not enhance your skill? Learn something else that can take you to the next level,” Mrs. King Newman said.

She argued that “maybe you would have learned this skill 10 years ago, but the industry has moved so far.”

“So, come to HEART. We will help you get to that point where all the customers will be running to your establishments,” the Director encouraged.

Mrs. King Newman advised that the programmes’ hours are flexible and allow persons to continue working while enrolled.

“[At] the Heart College of Beauty Services, we offer four shifts. We have an eight to one [morning] shift, a one to six [afternoon] shift, a five to eight… evening shift, and a weekend shift. So, we’re catering to everybody… we are not leaving anyone out,” she told JIS News.

HEART was created to build and sustain a globally competitive Jamaican labour force that is responsive to the demands and complexities of the modern workplace.

They are passionate about creating a local workforce, trained and certified at international standards, which can improve Jamaica’s national productivity and competitiveness.