As part of ongoing efforts to increase the number of qualified workers in the industry, The Air Conditioning Depot (commonly known as AC Depot), along with its sister company Total Comfort Air Conditioning, have teamed up with The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) to give hands-on training and guidance to the students of their HVAC (Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning) program.
Earlier this month, the AC Depot donated a ductless unit to the BTVI program. Along with the experienced technicians at Total Comfort Air Conditioning they spent a day at the campus giving an interactive demo showcasing techniques and tips of installing the split unit system.
AC Depot’s owner, Chris Knowles, spoke to the students about the value of learning a trade and the importance of having strong work ethics when entering the workforce.
Mr. Knowles also stressed the abundance of opportunities in the country for those who are truly dedicated to learning a skill set.
“The HVAC industry is in high demand for qualified tradesmen who take pride in their work, and exhibit professionalism and strong customer service skills,” he said.
During the demo, Total Comfort technician, Antonio Lewis, spoke to the class about real-life scenarios he faces in the field, and the best ways to manage customers’ expectations and requests.
Mr. Lewis also explained the importance of doing the right thing for the customer, their home, and one’s company during an installation.
The Dean of Construction Trades, Alexander Darville, is thrilled about AC Depot’s involvement with the HVAC program and the resulting benefits to the students.
“This is an example to local companies to get involved with education. If every discipline would take a more active role, we would see a significant increase in the overall standard of workmanship in the country,” Mr. Darville said.
The donation and demo was the first of many initiatives the AC Depot would like to participate in with BTVI in an effort to increase the desirability and skill sets of their HVAC graduates.
“The problem we are seeing in the industry is that local contractors are struggling to find good employees, and there is a lack of confidence in hiring local companies because of a poor standard of workmanship,” Mr. Knowles added.
“We are excited to get involved in preparing students to have the skills, experience, and qualities necessary to not only be prepared to enter the field after graduation, but to be relevant in their respective industries.”
The Air Conditioning Depot has future plans to hold regular workshops and field trip exercises to allow the students to learn hands-on technical skills, strong work ethics, and a high level of customer service, directly from experienced technicians.
