THE Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) has welcomed a new cohort of engineering and information technology interns, underscoring the critical role young professionals will play in shaping the future of Jamaica’s energy sector.

The interns were officially introduced during an orientation session held at Jamaica Pegasus hotel, where the JPS executives challenged them to approach the programme with curiosity, discipline, integrity and a commitment to continuous learning.

The 2026/2027 Internship Programme comprises 11 engineering interns and four information technology interns, selected from several of the island’s tertiary institutions.

Over the course of the programme, these participants will complete consecutive six-week rotations across key areas of business, gaining practical experience and exposure to industry professionals.

Charmaine Heslop-DaCosta, senior vice-president, people operations at JPS, said the programme has become an important pathway for talent development within the company.

“Our placement rate has remained above 72 per cent, creating a meaningful pathway from internship to employment,” said Heslop-DaCosta.

“When we invest in young people and give them opportunities to learn and perform, they can successfully transition from students to professionals,” Heslop-DaCosta added.

Addressing the interns, Hugh Grant, president and chief executive officer of JPS, reflected on his own experience as an engineering intern and shared lessons that have guided his career.

Grant described internships as an important pipeline for future leaders, noting that many senior executives in the utility industry began their careers through similar programmes.

“You are among the best of the best, and you are very fortunate to be a part of this programme,” said Grant.

“It also speaks to what you brought to the table to afford yourself such an opportunity.”

Drawing from an early career experience, Grant told the interns that professional success depends not only on academic achievement, but also on humility, preparation and the willingness to add value.

“How you show up makes a difference. How you engage makes a difference. Always think about how you can add value as early as possible,” added Grant.

He also challenged the interns to embrace hard work and personal sacrifice in pursuit of excellence.

“There’s no traffic on the extra mile. In everything that you do, think about what that extra mile looks like for you.”

Emphasising the unique value of the programme, Grant encouraged participants to maximise every learning opportunity available to them.

“You are being paid to learn. So take full advantage of it. Be like a sponge. Soak it all up and ask a whole heap of questions,” said Grant as he encouraged the interns to actively engage their mentors, build networks across the organisation and maintain confidence balanced with humility as they learn from experienced professionals throughout the company.

Welcoming the interns, Tania McDonald-Tomlinson, JPS director of special projects in people operations, reminded them that the programme is designed to prepare them not only for careers in engineering and technology, but also for professional leadership.

“The purpose of this programme is not simply to give you something to put on your résumé,” she said. “It is about development. It is about helping you understand what it means to be a professional.”

She encouraged the interns to anchor their professional journeys on four key principles: ethics, accountability, integrity and legacy.

“Your GPA [grade point average] got you through the door. What you do with the opportunity once you are through the door is entirely up to you,” McDonald-Tomlinson told the group.

She also urged them to recognise that leadership begins long before a management title is earned.

“Legacy begins with the way you show up today. It is built through the small decisions you make every day,” she said. “The intern you are today could become the engineer, IT professional, manager, executive or leader that someone else looks up to tomorrow,” added McDonald-Tomlinson.

The JPS engineering internship programme has historically served as a launchpad for innovation and talent development, with the company’s executives pointing to successful initiatives developed by former interns and to the many long-serving employees who began their careers through similar opportunities.