Five Hot Jobs Montserrat's New Town will Need that you can Start Now

By Nerissa Golden

Last week I got to be a part of a panel speaking to third form students at the Montserrat Secondary School about entrepreneurship.

There was a presentation about the plans for the new town from members of the Montserrat Development Corporation (MDC) and that set my mind to thinking about the types of jobs which would be created as the buildings go up and after they are completed and the town is thriving.

Here are a few jobs which will be created but no need to wait five years for the first restaurant or villa to be built before you set up shop. You can start them now and position yourself to take advantage of the growth potential. (Thanks to Linda Dias of Aeon Designs for helping with the suggestions.)

1. Chef: Montserrat has lots and lots of cook shops but very limited in the places that you

Concepts of the planned Waterfront Street in the new town in Little Bay, Montserrat. (Courtesy the Montserrat Development Corporation)
Concepts of the planned Waterfront Street in the new town in Little Bay, Montserrat. (Courtesy the Montserrat Development Corporation)

can have a real dining experience. Food is much more than sustenance, people want to experience flavours, colours, atmosphere while enjoying great company. The island needs top class chefs ready to create new flavourful experiences that will match the ambiance we want to create in our new high-end capital.

2. Fashion Designer: Again we have dress makers but no one on island is creating a look that makes you want to say WOW! The women are left to shop online or take a trek to Antigua, US or UK to find WOW-worthy clothing and there is room for some island flair to this. It is possible to go from dress-maker to designer with a bit more schooling, taking more creative liberties and being bold in your own presentation. Make me want to get what you are wearing.

3. Jewellery Maker: A new town with five million-dollar villas needs more than a few jewellery stores. Not all of them need to be carrying European designer watches and jewellery. Create a unique offering of local and Caribbean concept pieces that you want around your neck and on your hands. Take inspiration from Trinidadian Liz Mannette who has created a high-end steel pan jewellery collection that makes you want to own every piece. Visit http://www.lizmannette.com/

4. Landscape Architect: Landscape architecture is more than placing some plants in the ground. Wikipedia defines it this way: Landscape architecture is a multi-disciplinary field, incorporating aspects of: botany, horticulture, the fine arts, architecture, industrial design, geology and the earth sciences, environmental psychology, geography, and ecology.

I simply say it is about creating synergy between the spaces…be it your home or business and using plants and other structures, such as ponds, gazebos and fountains to bring them to life and make them places to enjoy your life.  Montserrat needs these architects now as we build out government complexes, new housing developments and a new town.

5. Bartending: Just like cook shops we have loads of rum shops but no one that stands out as a professional mixologists that can create magic in a glass. Whether you drink alcohol or not, a great bartender makes an evening out more fun and adds other unique flavours to your palate just like a top class chef does.

People come to Montserrat for various reasons and we have an opportunity to help them leave with unique memories but these memories are limited by our offerings. If we can diversify the types of experiences people can have with shopping, eating and living then we automatically broaden the scope of areas that we can attract visitors.

There are other jobs which are needed now and I am sure we will do a similar list as we go along.

Learn more about investing in Montserrat and starting a business here by visiting www.mdc.ms or www.investmontserrat.com.

Do you have others you can add to this list? Let’s hear about them in the comments.

Nerissa Golden is a business innovations strategist and communications specialist. She is the author of The Making of a Caribbeanpreneur: Strategies for Overcoming Fear and Building Wealth.

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