Cayman Finance is launching its Graduate Training Programme aimed at supporting Caymanian university graduates seeking to enter the financial services industry.
The organisation says the initiative is designed to bridge the gap between academic achievement and professional career opportunities by pairing graduates with small- and medium-sized Cayman Finance member firms.
It noted that the launch of the programme is the culmination of many months of research which aimed to understand the challenges around creating entry-level jobs for Caymanian graduates.
“The research showed that larger firms were already creating a significant number of opportunities for Caymanian graduates,” the release stated.
Only 15 large financial services firms left in Cayman
It added that the research also showed that, “as a result of two decades of weak growth combined with industry consolidation, there are now only around 15 large financial services firms left in Cayman, while 90% of Cayman Finance member firms have fewer than 10 employees on average”.
Cayman Finance CEO Steve McIntosh said in the release, “While some graduates struggle to find their ideal jobs after university, smaller firms face many challenges creating the entry level jobs graduates need to enter the industry.”
Small firms reported challenges, including a low number of applications, unrealistic salary expectations, difficulty retaining graduate trainees, and the high cost of on-boarding and training for firms without dedicated human resources staff. At the same time, smaller firms reported struggling to provide a high-quality experience to graduate trainees without the economies of scale and supportive peer group traditionally enjoyed by trainees at larger firms.
The Graduate Training Programme was devised to help small firms overcome these challenges and make the hiring and training of recent graduates more attractive, more effective and, at the same time, less costly, Cayman Finance said.
“We’re aiming to provide the kind of cohort-based experience that trainees at larger firms have always benefited from” said Danielle Hennings, associate director for community engagement at Cayman Finance.
14 firms sign up
Fourteen Cayman Finance member firms have already committed to participating in the programme: BDO, Catalyst, Dentons, DM Financial, Global Captive Management, Greenlight Re, Grant Thornton Specialist Services, IQ EQ, JTC, Moore Professional Services, Rawlinson & Hunter, RF Bank & Trust, Strategic Risk Solutions and Willis Towers Watson.
Each participating employer will offer successful applicants a one-year fixed-term employment contract, including a probationary period of up to six months and a starting salary of $40,000, which research showed was a level attractive to most small and medium firms and graduates, whilst in line with the average graduate salary in the UK (£35,000).
The Graduate Training Programme will begin in October with a two-day orientation retreat, followed by an 11-week series of weekly workshops focused on developing both personal and professional skills.
The curriculum includes:
• Soft skills such as communication, time management, teamwork and problem-solving
• Goal setting, presentation skills and taking on feedback
• Basic project management tools and workplace effectiveness
• An introduction to Cayman’s financial services industry, regulatory landscape and anti-money laundering frameworks.
Each graduate will also be matched with an independent industry mentor to guide them through their transition into the workforce, and Cayman Finance will provide additional support to both trainees and employers throughout the programme.
“This is about opening doors for Caymanians and helping them not only get jobs, but successful careers in which they can thrive,” McIntosh said. “Participants will gain a structured support system of peers, mentors and continuous development that sets them up for long-term success.”
The programme is open to Caymanian students who graduate from university in 2025, with priority given to those with relevant degrees, though applicants from all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply.
Applications open on 25 July 2025, with assessments and interviews scheduled for the last two weeks of August. Interested graduates are encouraged to apply early.
For more information and to register your interest, email Danielle Hennings at [email protected].
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Honestly finance in Cayman is dying due to immigration laws. There is also an expectation for super high salaries, I think some of these Caymanians think you start at 250k with zero experience. That is simply not the case.
Again Cayman Finance taking every step to help locals even though they don’t receive much in return, in terms of easy immigration or anything. Cayman biting the hand that feeds them, the finance industry.
Still unclear where the small amount of unemployed Caymanians want to work. Do they want to be construction workers, work at J Michael’s, work at Deloitte or work at Walkers. It’s unclear by my fellow country folk.
Hats off to Cayman finance for always trying despite major challenges right now.