In a partnership with the National Training Board (NTB), two Bermuda Gas employees recently graduated from the Nova Scotia Community College?s (NSCC) Appliance Service Programme.

The 22 year-old Brendon Outerbridge and 19 year-old Eugenio Smith are the most recent employees to graduate from the NSCC programme. Meanwhile, 21 year-old Shaun Adderley will attend the Dartmouth, Nova Scotia College this autumn to work towards the same credential.

Mr. Smith and Mr. Outerbridge completed the programme which in essence teaches them how to maintain, repair, and install electrical domestic appliances such as dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers, ranges and microwave ovens, domestic refrigerators and freezers, and air conditioning units.

Preventive maintenance is also a strong component of the programme, as well as the development of skills and expertise to analyse failures in electrical appliances.

The National Training Board?s executive officer, Michael Stowe said: ?The NSCC?s one-year Appliance Service Programme provides the skills and knowledge required in the appliance services trade.?

He said the NTB values the partnership with Bermuda Gas, and the Nova Scotia Community College and this partnership not only affords young Bermudians the opportunity to acquire excellent technician skills, recognised qualifications, it offers them long-term career employment. ?The NTB establishes technical skill competency, qualification and certification standards. It also endeavours to ensure that there is an adequate supply of trained manpower. Training is delivered uniformly, efficiently, effectively, and in compliance with recognised standards,? he said.