Participants of Cayman Finance’s first Graduate Training Programme have completed their 12-week schedule.
The programme, launched in 2025, was designed to prepare Cayman Islands graduates for careers in the financial services industry.
It brought together 15 participants and paired them with small and medium-sized financial services firms operating across the jurisdiction, Cayman Finance said in a press release.
Among the organisations taking part were Conyers, Dentons, Global Captive Management, Grant Thornton Specialist Services, Strategic Risk Solutions, Rawlinson and Hunter, RF Bank and Trust, and Trident Trust.
Over the course of three months, the graduates took part in weekly workshops covering both technical knowledge and professional skills.
The curriculum included an overview of Cayman’s financial services industry and regulatory framework, soft skills development and personal effectiveness training.
It also covered sector-specific sessions focused on banking, trusts, investment funds, insurance and reinsurance, fintech and virtual assets, and financial crime prevention.
The programme featured weekly ‘Fireside Chat’ sessions, offering participants the opportunity to hear directly from industry professionals about their career paths and experiences.
Guest speakers represented a broad cross-section of the public and private sectors, including firms such as Grant Thornton, KPMG, and Appleby, and the Ministry of Financial Services and Commerce and the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority.
Danielle Hennings, associate director of community engagement at Cayman Finance, said the programme was “about opening doors for Caymanians and helping them to build successful careers in the industry”.
She added: “The participants have gained a network of industry peers and senior mentors that have set them up for long-term success.
“The diverse topics covered were chosen to help them become well-rounded professionals who are prepared for the challenges and opportunities of working in financial services.”
The training incorporated a wellness and mental health session facilitated by The Wellness Centre.
Each graduate was also paired with an independent industry mentor to provide ongoing guidance during their first year of employment.
Cayman Finance said the programme addresses recruitment challenges faced by smaller firms, which make up the majority of its membership, by reducing the costs and complexity of hiring and training new graduates.
The organisation plans to offer the course again in 2026, with applications expected to open soon.
Cayman Finance also runs the LEAD Programme, which provides high school students with work experience in the financial services industry.
Of the about 250 students who participated before the pandemic, at least 85 have gone on to build careers in the finance industry.
Applications for the 2026 LEAD Programme will open in February.
