Belco employee Jamaal White is the first graduate of Belco?s new apprenticeship programme.

A grade one machinist (Journeyman) in Belco?s Energy Supply Department, Mr. White underwent rigorous training on the Industrial Trades Development Programme.

?I thought the standard of training was very good.

?The instructors were very knowledgeable and helpful and if you are looking to get a solid foundation for your trade the programme will help you to become a very skilled journeyman,? Mr. White said.

He also obtained practical experience working on site at Belco.

?The Industrial Trades Programme in Alberta covers a very broad overview of the whole machine industry. They deal with a lot of oil rigs and a lot of specialist equipment, so I became familiar with that equipment and as a result I have the confidence to deal with whatever jobs are presented to me.?

A graduate of the Berkeley Institute, Mr. White said when Belco hired him the company was looking for people who were determined to complete an apprenticeship and building a career with Belco.

After starting employment at Belco in July 2000, Mr. White spent the majority of his first year at York College in Britain, a recognised City & Guilds programme. After a successful year at York College, he returned home to continue the programme via correspondence, while he became more familiar with our Energy Supply Group. In August 2002, Belco changed its entire Apprenticeship Programme, renaming it the ?Industrial Trades Development Programme?, and aligning it with the Canadian scheme of training to certify apprentices. This new programme brings with it an Inter-provincial Certification, which is recognised throughout Canada and internationally.

The programme combines the technical and practical components of an apprenticeship in a manner that is well suited to Belco.

?Jamaal was one of our first apprentices to be enrolled into the Alberta Institute of Technology and on January 2003 began his first eight week period in Edmonton,? Belco training coordinator Troy Thomas said.

?He continued through all four periods and completed all requirements for his Inter-provincial Certification in December 2004. Jamaal not only passed every exam, but did so by far exceeding the required pass marks.?

Mr. White said during the programme some time was spent learning about theory but most of the time he gained at the work shop practising what he learned in class.