As part of an ongoing initiative to maintain a skilled workforce, Caribbean Utilities Company, Ltd (CUC) has partnered with Fortis Alberta to launch a new apprentice programme.

Four CUC employees will be given the opportunity to receive specialized training as Power Line Technicians at the Fortis Employee Development Center in Alberta, Canada. This training is based on a similar apprentice programme led by Fortis Alberta, a Canadian utility provider and a CUC sister company.

Fortis is a leader in the North American regulated electric and gas utility industry. The Corporation’s 8,500 employees serve utility customers in five Canadian provinces, nine US states and three Caribbean countries.

Starting in September, the cohort of Jelani McLean, Dennis Ebanks, Nicholas Hydes and Mario Smith will spend four and a half weeks with an assigned mentor who will guide and support them during their studies. They will explore theory-based subjects in areas such as Electric Fundamentals, Hydraulics, Transformers and Electrical Measuring devices to name a few. The employees will also receive practical field work to test their knowledge and help them to gain new skills as part of the curriculum.
CUC’s Manager Transmission and Distribution (T&D), Mr. Robert Whorms says, “This as another stepping stone at CUC to further build knowledgeable and skillful workers within the Company. CUC is committed to training young Caymanians to be the best that they can be and these four employees are getting the necessary exposure and training to become great assets to CUC.”

The apprentices have been working through eight Qualifying Task Sheets which will ready them for their pre-course exam, which will be proctored the first week of September.

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Power Line Technician Apprentices (from left) Dennis Ebanks, Jelani McLean, Mario Smith and Nicholas Hydes.