From Scotland to Jamaica

Mr Kevin MacLennan, Chartered Mechanical Engineer and Assistant Manager, Mechanical & Electrical Engineering Group at Mabbett has delivered a training course in energy auditing to teaching staff and post graduate students of the University of the West Indies and University of Technology in Jamaica, the Caribbean under the Inter-American Development Bank’s BRIDGE programme.

The Caribbean region has noted that demand for energy supply will increase annually by 3.2% over the next two decades and electricity costs in some parts of the region, such as Jamaica, are among the highest in the world. There is therefore a growing demand for sustainable energy coupled with a need for experienced and skilled professionals. In response to this market demand, The University of the West Indies and University of Technology are seeking to upskill in Renewable Technology and as part of this development, identified a need for a training course to cover the basics of energy consumption, energy management and energy auditing.

During his trip, Kevin had the privilege to be selected as a panel member at The New Caribbean Energy Professional for the New Energy Paradigm Public Forum with the Minister of Energy and also met with the Inter-American Development Bank and local businesses to identify possible project opportunities for Mabbett in relation to energy efficiency and management where there is a need for independent advice and consultancy support.

Mabbett are delighted to be a participant partner in the BRIDGE programme providing Mabbett with the opportunity to develop links with professionals in the Caribbean, aiding our internationalisation, but importantly, permitting one of our experienced professional engineers to share his expertise and experience.

Mabbett would like to thank Scottish Development International (SDI) for brokering the relationship with the Inter-America Development Bank and part funding Mabbett’s participation in the BRIDGE programme.

For more information contact Kevin MacLennan, Assistant Manager, Mechanical & Electrical Engineering via email at: maclennan@mabbett.eu or T: 0141 227 2300.

Footnotes:

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­BRIDGE Programme – Building capacity and Regional Integration for the Development of a Generation of Entrepreneurs in Sustainable Energy and Information and Communication Technologies (BRIDGE). The objective of the programme is to encourage gender equality in meeting the expected future demand for technicians, professionals and entrepreneurs in the Sustainable Energy (SE) and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sectors. 

Scottish Development International (SDI) – SDI works to attract inward investment and knowledge to Scotland to help the economy grow. It also helps Scottish based companies to trade overseas and promotes Scotland as a good place to live, work and do business. It is a partnership between the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise and its work is guided by the Scottish Government’s strategy for economic development in Scotland.