BELCO is committed to education and training Bermudians for careers at all levels within the Company through scholarships, internships, apprenticeships and ongoing learning opportunities for existing employees.
BELCO apprentice, T’Shun Basden, is currently enrolled in the academic 35-week programme Heavy Truck and Transport Certification Programme at Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Canada, that began in September 2022.
T’Shun has been at BELCO since 2020 and is an apprentice mechanic in the Garage on the Transport team which falls within the Procurement & Logistics Department and was one of eight candidates interviewed for the programme. While his formal training was severely delayed due to COVID restrictions impacting the travel for international students, once his studies are completed, T’Shun will attain a Heavy Equipment and Truck and Transport Technician Certification, the second person at BELCO to achieve this certification.
The apprenticeship is a 4-year programme. T’Shun came to BELCO with previous experience as he was employed in the construction industry, he will be eligible to move to full Auto Tech on completion of his certification. T’Shun will complete his apprenticeship by completing in house “Job Cards” which are automotive modules created by Fleet where the apprentice completes both a theory and practical portion which is signed off by an internal verifier.
Bermuda accepts recognised qualifications in automotive certifications from the US, UK, and Canada and all qualified techs can be registered with the Bermuda Government National Training Board.
The Heavy Equipment and Truck and Transport Technician programme at Saskatchewan Polytechnic gives students basic training in two high-demand mechanical trades at once. Heavy duty equipment technicians work on large mobile equipment—bulldozers, cranes, graders, loaders and earthmovers used in construction, mining, forestry and more. Truck and transport mechanics work on trucks, buses and highway transport vehicles for dealers, garages and transportation companies. The Heavy Equipment and Truck and Transport Technician programme provides students with the knowledge and skills to service, maintain, diagnose and repair heavy equipment, trucks, buses and transport vehicles.
Training includes air conditioning and heating systems, brake, steering and suspension systems, electrical and hydraulic systems, engines, fuel systems and power trains equipment operation and maintenance, trade math, blueprint reading, use of shop equipment and tools and welding with 60% Shop Time and 40% Class Time.
T’Shun shared: “School is going really well and I am enjoying the HETT programme. All the instructors I’ve had, have been really great and very knowledgeable and I like the fact that they have all been out in the work world and have come back to teach new people the trade. I would like to thank the BELCO team for giving me this opportunity and for everything they have done to support my learning. Otherwise then the freezing cold and snow which I’m managing to get through, everything has been smooth sailing here.”
BELCO Manager, Logistics, Jason Simons, said: “T’Shun has been an excellent addition to the team, and I know he will gain valuable knowledge and experience at the Heavy Equipment and Truck and Transport Technician programme. Apart from T’Shun’s technical ability, he possesses a great level of maturity, sublime work ethic, and excellent interpersonal skills. We are looking forward to his continued development and putting his skills to use when he returns to BELCO on completion of his training.”
June 2023 Update
To read Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s article on T’Shun, please visit: Applied learning attracts international industry audience (saskpolytech.ca)