Hamilton,
Bermuda
Bermuda Electric Light Company Limited (“BELCO”) today highlighted 15 students who have been working in various parts of the Company during the summer.
Liam Walker spent the summer working in Bulk Generation Engineering. Liam is currently studying Mechatronics Engineering at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. Liam said he wanted to intern at BELCO to gain valuable experience working in an engineering office to prepare for his future career as a Robotics Engineer. He said: “I believe this position will help me by giving me experience working in an engineering office and solving actual problems.” He also said that everyone in the BG engineering team had been very welcoming and that he had “felt like a part of the team from day one!”
Jorga Thomas, spent the summer working in the Transport department after having just graduated from Saltus Grammar School. She is now attending Cambrian College to study as a Motive Power Technician – Truck and Coach. Jorga said she wanted to intern at BELCO because it is a great opportunity to gain experience on the BELCO fleet which has a variety of different automotive vehicles. Jorga said of her summer work experience: “My favourite part of working here is that everyone is accepting and feels like a big family. I aspire to be certified in the transportation field and be a role model for girls who would like to get into a male dominated trade. This position will help me achieve my future goals by giving me the experience.”
Jasmin Williams spent the summer working in the IT Department, Corporate Apps, and is currently studying Computer Science and Business Management at the University of Sussex in the UK. Jasmin had previously interned at BELCO, and said she thoroughly enjoyed the work atmosphere and culture which she believes is primarily due to BELCO being a local company. Jasmin said: “My favourite part of working at BELCO is both my workload/content and the team that I work with. I quite enjoy learning about IT as I could see how some areas related back to my studies. The IT team is close-knit, which makes it quite enjoyable to work here.” Jasmin aspires to come back to Bermuda and work in the information security sector.
Chloe Smith spent the summer working in BG Engineering and recently graduated from Queen Mary’s University in London, UK with a MSc in Sustainable Energy Systems. Chloe had previously interned at BELCO in 2020 and said she enjoyed the experience in the Engineering department. She intends to pursue accreditations such as a CEng or Peng and an accreditation in project management. Chloe said of her time at BELCO: “My coworkers have been amazing mentors as well as very friendly people. If I need any assistance, I know that I have experienced colleagues that are willing to help. This internship helped me understand the basics of project management whilst challenging me to make practical engineering solutions in a timely manner, which is something I will always be grateful for.”
Undrea Fraser spent the summer working in the Human Resources Department and recently graduated from Western University in Ontario, Canada with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Undrea said she wanted to intern at BELCO to be a part of a dynamic fast-paced business environment and to gain more HR experience. Undrea said: “I aspire to specialise in one main area of HR and eventually lead a team of HR professionals. Working as an intern at BELCO exposes me to all areas of HR, allowing me to gain a greater understanding of what area I would specialise in. My favourite part about working here is being part of a strong collaborative team that is always willing to step in and help.”
Jamin Fubler spent the summer working in Transmission, Distribution & Retail (TD&R) and is currently studying for a Bachelor of Engineering at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Canada. Jamin said: “I decided to intern at BELCO because it gives me the most exposure to my future career as an Electrical Engineer as well as providing me with many knowledgeable mentors I can reach out to. My favourite part about working at BELCO is the practical knowledge I obtain, as this helps me make more sense of the theory I am learning in university.” On completion of his studies Jamin hopes to work at BELCO as an engineer.
Samantha Rance spent the summer working in Bulk Generation, she is currently studying at BHS and has just begun studying for A Levels in computer science, math, and physics. Samantha said she applied to work at BELCO to get a better understanding of the different sectors of the engineering field and to gain work experience to assist her in deciding on a future career. Samantha said: “In the future I want to pursue mechanical engineering although I’ve become more aware of other options like mechatronics and environmental. This has helped me better approach group projects and future problems that I may encounter in similar fields. One of my favourite parts of working at BELCO was being able to test material in reliability.”
Joshua Joseph spent the summer working in the Stores Department and is currently attending Thomas College in the US studying Business Management. Joshua said he chose to intern at BELCO because he is interested in the variety of jobs at the Company and the opportunities to learn from different people and their professions. While Joshua aspires to be a professional football player he said: “I do have a plan B, which is having a job in the corporate world or the business side of football. I think this position will help me with my future goals because I would have experience in a different field of work. My favourite part about working here is my colleagues who are welcoming and fun to work with.”
LaKeirah Cunningham spent the summer working with the Occupational Health, Safety & Environment team and is currently attending Broadway Dance Center in New York City and plans to dance professionally in either New York City or Los Angeles. LaKeirah said: “I deem it important to become a well-rounded individual, hence my internship with a company like BELCO. Even though my focus is on dance there’s a lot that I can and have learned from being in another professional industry and developing relationships with the BELCO staff. My favourite part about working at BELCO is the people. I get to meet and work with so many different people that specialise in different parts of the organisation and learn exactly what it is that they do and how they contribute to the bigger picture.”
Morissa-Lee Brown spent the summer working in Bulk Generation and is focused on attaining her NCCER certification and study the basics of automotive engineering and design on a two-year scholarship to Bermuda College. Morissa said: “I have always aspired to be a Mechanic. At first, it didn’t matter what kind of mechanics it was, but now I definitely want to study mechanical engineering and learn automotive mechanics as a skill. BELCO was an opportunity I was given through the Family Center. I was open and did my best for the first two weeks of my internship and will return for further work experience later in the year. I can honestly say I just love my job here at BELCO. The people, the challenges, and the experiences I’ve had are the best part. I’m not quite sure what I want to do yet but, I know I want it to be here at BELCO.”
Neriah Bean spent the summer working in the Facilitates department and is currently a student at Bermuda Institute. Neriah said he wanted to intern at BELCO to explore the engineering field, to see what engineering would be all about, and grasp a deeper understanding on what branches he might be interested in. Neriah said: “I picked this work as a profession because it will help me identify what I might be able to do. I want to work as a multi-purpose engineer in the future. Electrical, mechanical, and computer engineering are three fields that interest me. These are the basics for all current and future manufacturing. My favourite aspect of working with BELCO was meeting new people who all have mutual respect towards each other. Another aspect of the job that I enjoyed was the hands-on work, such as plumbing, locksmith, exploring different buildings and places around Bermuda, along with learning simple house skills that help with saving money and time.”
Reese McKoy spent the summer working with the OHSE team and is currently studying Business Management at the University of Hartford in the US. Reese said he came to work at BELCO as he wanted to get the opportunity to gain more work experience and learn about the internal process at BELCO. As far as his future plans, Reese said: “I want to work in the insurance industry and this position has helped me with my presentation and organisational skills. The best part of my work experiences this summer has been my co-workers. I have been treated very well and have learned so much from the individuals I have worked with.”
Hasheem Webb spent the summer working in Bulk Generation and is currently studying Engineering (Advanced Manufacturing) at the University of Central Lancashire in the UK. Hasheem applied to work at BELCO during the summer to extend his work experience with the company and expand his skills and knowledge in engineering. Hasheem said “I aspire to become a full-time engineer at BELCO and am currently working in the Mechanical Maintenance Department gaining insight into the equipment used to generate power. This in turn will aid my understanding of the inner workings of the company, and the responsibilities I will have as an engineer. My favourite part about working at BELCO is the working relationships I have established with work colleagues and staff; they always welcome me with open arms.”
Other summer students include Hayley Davis, OHSE, and Amon Simons, Bulk Generation.
BELCO President Wayne Caines said: “We have had an excellent group of summer students this year at BELCO who have embraced the challenges presented to them and gained valuable experience to assist them with their studies. It is gratifying to hear the students say how much they enjoy working at BELCO and their praise for their instructors and mentors. I look forward to some of these students returning to Bermuda and working at BELCO once they complete their studies.”