T’Shun Basden, an up-and-coming Belco mechanic, has completed another leg of his studies after gaining his heavy equipment truck and transport certification.

He completed the 35-week programme at Saskatchewan Polytechnic in Canada.

Mr Basden said: “Studying at Saskatchewan Polytechnic went really well and I thoroughly enjoyed the HETT programme.

“All the instructors were really helpful 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.”

He added: “I would like to thank the Belco team for giving me this opportunity and for everything they have done to support my learning.

“I’m glad to be back at home in sunny Bermuda having gone through a bitterly cold winter. I’m looking forward to putting my skills to use.”

Mr Basden joined his four-year Belco internship programme in 2020 as one of eight candidates.

His studies were dramatically affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, with travel restrictions preventing him from starting his schooling until September last year.

Mr Basden, who graduated from Saskatchewan Polytechnic in June, is now the second Belco employee to receive a HETT technician certification.

He will now complete his apprenticeship by completing an in-house assessment where he is quizzed on theory and practical automotive modules.

If Mr Basden passes this, he will be eligible to become a full auto technician.

The HETT programme gives students basic training on how to service, maintain, diagnose and repair heavy equipment such as buses, trucks and construction vehicles.

Training looks at areas such as air conditioning and heating systems, steering and suspension systems, electrical and hydraulic systems, trade maths and blueprint reading.

A Belco spokesman said that the skills learnt in the course were very in demand in the mechanical engineering trade.

Jason Simons, the manager of Logistics at Belco, congratulated Mr Basden on his success.

He said: “T’Shun has been a welcomed addition to our team and we are fortunate to benefit from his technical ability.

“He also possesses a great level of maturity, work ethic, and strong interpersonal skills.

“We are looking forward to his continued development and putting his skills to use now that his training is complete.

“On behalf of our department and the entire team at Belco, congratulations T’Shun.”