The Tribune

The Bahamas Financial Services Board (BFSB) is preparing to launch its latest human capital development initiative - The Bahamas Millennials Society, a networking and mentoring club of financial services industry ‘millennial’ workers.

Surveys have shown that ‘millennials’ represent a generation of workers who actively influence they way they work. Employers around the world are sitting up and taking notice, as the millennial generation will form the majority of the workforce by 2020.

BFSB chief executive Aliya Allen said: “Addressing the need for home-grown future industry leaders and capitalising on the pool of talent already present within the financial services sector, BFSB has determined to look at how we can develop and retain the millennial workers within the sector.”

To achieve this, the BFSB has formed a Millennials Planning Committee, with the objective of formally launching the Society at a forum within the first half of 2014.

Ms Allen added: “In a recent survey, over half of millennium respondents said training and development is the most valuable benefit they see in the next five years of their professional development.

“And, 98 per cent of all respondents said working with coaches and mentors is an important development opportunity. This ties in perfectly with our plans.”

A key component of the membership benefits will be regular meetings to promote networking amongst the millennials and mentor presentations on topics of interest to this generation of workers.

Ms Allen added: “It is an indisputable fact that one has to capture both the hearts and minds of the millennial worker. It cannot be business as usual. We look to our member firms to support this initiative, fully recognising that this is the generation that will drive this sector forward in the coming years.”