In a significant workforce development initiative, five electrical program graduates have been selected for a two-month professional placement at Angostura Holdings beginning January. The selection follows the completion of an intensive nine-week training program called ‘Wired for Success,’ funded by the renowned beverage company and administered in partnership with the NESC Technical Institute (NESC-TI).
The specialized curriculum focused on residential electrical installation with commercial applications, attracting approximately 600 applicants within days of its September 30 announcement. From this pool, thirty participants from diverse national communities were chosen to undergo the rigorous training regimen.
During a December 17 graduation ceremony at Angostura House in Laventille, successful participants received NESC-TI certifications aligned with Caribbean Vocational Qualification standards. The event was attended by key figures including Hansen Narinesingh, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tertiary Education and Skills Training, Angostura Holdings Chairman Gary Hunt, NESC-TI President Kern Dass, and Acting Angostura CEO Ian Forbes.
Gary Hunt emphasized the program’s practical objectives: ‘Our aim is to provide real-world, job-ready skills that open doors. Through programmes like Wired for Success, participants have not only built technical capability but have also developed responsibility, confidence, and the professional readiness needed to succeed in a growing field.’
The comprehensive training covered critical areas including lock-out/tag-out safety procedures, electrical laws and circuit analysis, code compliance, conduit bending and installation, and the operation of electrical testing instruments. Participants additionally gained exposure to commercial electrical applications, including foundational knowledge of splitter units used in multi-unit buildings—providing them with competitive advantages in the job market.
Kern Dass highlighted the successful industry-education partnership: ‘Wired for Success demonstrates the impactful results achievable through collaboration between industry and NESC-TI. We take pride in partnering with Angostura to deliver relevant training that equips participants with practical, employment-ready skills.’
The two-month on-the-job training component will enable the five selected graduates to apply their newly acquired expertise within Angostura’s operational environment, representing both a workforce transition opportunity and an investment in developing the next generation of electrical professionals.