PARAQUITA BAY, Tortola, Virgin Islands — Virgin Islanders interested in pursuing careers in the hospitality, marine, and construction industries now have additional time to apply for fully funded training opportunities under the Government’s Let’s Build VI National Scholarship Programme.
The H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC), in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, has announced that the application deadline for the programme has been extended to June 30, 2026, giving prospective applicants across the Territory more time to take advantage of the initiative.
The extension is aimed at increasing participation and ensuring greater access to scholarships in all nine electoral districts.
Launched as a major workforce development initiative, Let’s Build VI is designed to equip Virgin Islanders with industry-relevant skills and internationally recognised qualifications needed to fill positions in sectors considered critical to the Territory’s economic growth.
The programme’s first phase offers 81 fully funded scholarships, with nine scholarships allocated to each district. The awards are evenly distributed among three career pathways: hospitality, marine services, and construction trades.
HLSCC President Dr. Richard Georges described the programme as a transformative investment in the future of the Virgin Islands workforce.
“Let’s Build VI is a very special initiative,” Dr Georges said. “It is meant to equip Virgin Islanders to take up their rightful place in the sectors that drive our local economy—specifically hospitality, construction, and the marine industry. Extending the application deadline allows us to reach more people across the Territory and ensure that no one misses the opportunity to participate.”
The scholarships are funded by the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports and delivered through HLSCC. The programme targets skilled, unskilled, unemployed, and underemployed Virgin Islanders seeking to improve their qualifications and employment prospects.
In addition to financial support, successful applicants will receive practical training and internationally recognised certifications designed to lead directly to employment opportunities and career advancement.
HLSCC Registrar Janice Dawson said the extension will be accompanied by increased outreach efforts to ensure residents fully understand the programme and application process.
“We recognise that access is not only about funding, but also about information and support,” Dawson explained. “As part of this extension, we will be engaging communities at the district level to ensure prospective applicants understand the programme and how to apply.”
The initiative follows the successful rollout of the Let’s Teach VI programme, which was introduced two years ago to strengthen the Territory’s teaching workforce. According to Dr Georges, Let’s Build VI represents the next phase of a broader strategy to increase Virgin Islander participation across multiple sectors of the economy.
“If we truly want to transform this Territory, we must not only teach—we must build,” he said. “Let’s Build VI is not just a scholarship programme. It is a national strategy designed to close workforce gaps, strengthen local capacity, and place Virgin Islanders at the centre of our development.”
Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, Honourable Sharie de Castro, said the initiative addresses long-standing concerns about the limited number of Virgin Islanders employed in some of the Territory’s most important industries.
“For too long, opportunities in hospitality, marine, and construction have too often been filled from outside the Territory,” de Castro said. “That must change. Let’s Build VI is about dignity, ownership, and leadership. It ensures that when development happens in the Virgin Islands, our people are not watching it—we are leading it.”
Under the hospitality pathway, participants will receive internationally recognised training through the Les Roches Maître D Certificate Programme, which focuses on service excellence within hotels, restaurants, resorts, and the wider tourism industry.
The marine pathway will provide training through HLSCC’s Marine Professional Training (MPT) Level One Programme, covering navigation, seamanship, safety, and customer service skills required for entry-level employment in the marine and yachting sectors.
Meanwhile, the construction trades pathway begins with the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Core Curriculum before participants move into specialised trades such as carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work.
The programme is open to Virgin Islanders and Belongers aged 17 and older who possess a high school diploma, GED certificate, or can demonstrate adequate literacy and numeracy skills. Applicants under the age of 18 must provide parental or guardian consent.
All shortlisted candidates will be required to attend an interview before final selections are made by a special committee.
Applications remain open until June 30, with interviews expected to begin shortly after the deadline.
Interested persons can apply online through the Let’s Build VI portal, submit applications by email, or deliver completed forms directly to the Department of Admissions and Enrolment Management at HLSCC’s Paraquita Bay campus.