NESC Technical Institute (NESC-TI) hosted its inaugural PLIAP Apprentice Appreciation & Industry Networking Reception on Friday, 24 July, at its Point Lisas Campus, celebrating the achievements of apprentices enrolled in the Point Lisas Industrial Apprenticeship Programme (PLIAP).
Since its inception in 2013, PLIAP has grown from four host companies and 24 apprentices into one of Trinidad and Tobago’s leading apprenticeship programmes, combining structured technical training with workplace experience to prepare participants for careers in industry. More than 350 apprentices have successfully completed the two-year programme, with approximately 79% securing employment with their host companies.
Opening the ceremony, NESC-TI President Kern Dass said the event was an opportunity to celebrate not only the achievements of apprentices but also the commitment, mentorship, perseverance, and partnerships that make those achievements possible. He noted that while PLIAP has been transforming lives for more than a decade, this was the first time the Institute had formally recognised its apprentices, an acknowledgement he described as “long overdue.”
The event recognised outstanding apprentices across the categories of Employers’ Choice, Most Improved Apprentice, Leadership and Teamwork, and PLIAP’s Choice, highlighting excellence in technical competence, professionalism, and workplace performance.
Delivering the feature address, Senator Professor Emeritus the Honourable Prakash Persad, Ministry of Tertiary Education and Skills Training, underscored the importance of PLIAP’s alignment with Trinidad and Tobago’s National Apprenticeship Policy, noting that the initiative strengthens collaboration between education and industry while supporting nationally recognised workforce development.
The ceremony also highlighted a milestone for the programme. In 2026, PLIAP became a registered Apprenticeship Provider with The National Training Agency (NTA), aligning the programme with the International Labour Organization’s Guidelines for Quality Apprenticeships while providing additional incentives for employers investing in apprenticeship training.
NESC-TI also recognised the contribution of its industry partners, noting that 75 organisations have partnered with PLIAP over the past 13 years to help develop the next generation of skilled professionals. The Institute also expressed sincere appreciation to Point Lisas Nitrogen Limited (PLNL), the event’s Platinum Sponsor, for its continued investment in apprenticeship development and skills training.
As PLIAP enters its next chapter, the programme continues to build on more than a decade of partnership with industry, preparing the skilled professionals needed to support Trinidad and Tobago’s evolving workforce.