Half-a-century after leaving Jamaica to work with Caymanian entrepreneur Heber Arch to help build the fledgling construction industry in Cayman, Michael Godfrey now has his name on a scholarship to help young men and women pursue vocational careers.
Last month, Massive Equipment Rental and Sales, the family-run company Godfrey, now 92, founded, launched the $6,000 Michael Godfrey Vocational Scholarship in his honour in partnership with the University College of the Cayman Islands.
Daughter Christina Kirkaldy, people and culture director at Massive, says being able to preserve her father’s legacy holds special significance for her.
“I just thought this was the most special way to honour him. It’s quite emotional. I look forward to seeing some of the young men and women that might come out of this programme and what they can achieve as well,” she told the Cayman Compass.
Missed opportunities
Kirkaldy said the new initiative was part of the 25th anniversary celebrations at Massive and it was one that was very dear to her heart.
She said her father who is now a “very sprightly 92 years old” was touched by the gesture.
“From last year, we started thinking what could we do to really make a difference and honour my dad, and education has always been very important to him,” she said.
They wanted to help someone afford opportunities her father missed out on when he was growing up in Jamaica.
“[As] the youngest of three boys, his family just couldn’t afford to send him away. So all of his success came from grit and determination and hard work, but he always regretted not being able to attend higher education,” she said.
The scholarship will be focused on the construction technology level one and level two programmes at UCCI, she said, which will offer technical and vocational training with the focus on construction.
David Kirkaldy, president of Massive and Christina’s husband, said the scholarship is aimed at helping Caymanian UCCI students who wish to pursue vocations in construction technology and management.
“I think education is everything,” he said. “I think sometimes there’s a barrier to gaining that education, due to the cost, and so by offering this scholarship through UCCI, we’re able to eliminate that barrier for an interested Caymanian student.”
Once an employee gains that education, along with practical skills that can be marketed, more opportunities become available, he added.
Skilled jobs
The Massive president said there are many opportunities for employment in construction for Caymanians and he wants students to look towards getting the skills needed for careers in the industry.
“A properly qualified person comes in higher [on the salary scale] than the entry-level labourer, and with appropriate skills, the opportunities exist to go as far as you wish to take it. There are a great number of opportunities with much more skilled trades that command higher wages,” he said.
David Kirkaldy added there is also the opportunity down the line as an employee gains experience to look at the entrepreneurial side of construction and open their own business.
A recent jobs report from Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman called for a targeted focus on education for specific industries and recommended government prepare public sector employees for the expected universal advancements in technology.
The report noted that the construction sector offered the most employment opportunities in 2023, accounting for 22.3% of local postings on government’s JobsCayman portal.
Kirkaldy said it is challenging for employers within the industry to find skilled workers and having young Caymanians seize those opportunities would be ideal.
“It’s the same for us when we’re seeking mechanics… It’s very challenging to find a well-qualified welder that has certifications and a variety of welding techniques. The same would exist in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning and some of these other technical fields of the construction trade,” he said.
Specialised jobs available
These fields are quite specialised and command higher pay, he said, adding they offer “very good opportunities for our young people to consider”.
Jennifer Leach-Tippetts, Massive human resources manager, said being able to offer deserving students a chance to secure their certification helps to fill that skills gap.
“[For] the more hands-on and the more technological areas of construction, the jobs are there,” she said.
The scholarship is open to Caymanians only. The applicant must be a current or new student in the Construction Technology PTET/TVET programme levels 1 and 2, demonstrate financial need, and maintain a grade point average of at least 2.0.
Applications are now being accepted, and interested applicants can contact Donnette Goddard, UCCI director of student life, at [email protected] or 623-0530.
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