Celebration of collaboration in Aberdeen

Operators, contractors, training providers and industry partners came together at OEUK’s Aberdeen office last night (30 October) to formally toast the achievement and growth of the industry-led Connected Competence programme.

The event follows the ECITB’s win earlier in the month of the Collaboration category at the 2024 Energy Industries Council (EIC) National Awards.

Andrew Hockey, CEO of the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), said: “Connected Competence is an exemplar of key stakeholders in the oil and gas industry working together to push the boundaries and deliver true sector collaboration. It has led to reduced duplication of assessments when workers have moved between sites and contractors, and increased cost efficiencies.

“But the programme is not just about potential savings. By assuring all workers have the same base level of ongoing technical competence, it is increasing the safety on potentially hazardous sites and easing the mobilisation of workers between sites and sectors. This is essential if we are to meet the challenges of the energy transition.”

Connected Competence, enabled by the ECITB, was developed in collaboration with some of the UK’s largest contracting companies, each committed to using a standardised way of verifying technical competence based on the ECITB’s technical tests.

Through this industry-recognised, standardised testing, Connected Competence assures an ongoing base level of technical competence for workers across the engineering construction industry to create a safer, technically competent and transferable workforce.

In the last 18 months the programme has grown significantly. Ten major contractors have now signed up to the scheme including Aker Solutions, Bilfinger, Boskalis, nexos, Petrofac, Ponticelli UK, Semco, Stork UK, Wood and Worley. Together, they employ more than 75% of the craft and technician workforce in the UK’s upstream oil and gas industry.

The 20 clients that recognise and advocate the programme include Apache, bp, Centrica Energy Storage+, CNOOC, CNR International, Dana Petroleum, ENI, EnQuest, Equinor, Harbour Energy, INEOS Energy, Neo Energy, Neptune Energy, Repsol, RockRose Energy, Serica Energy, Shell, Spirit Energy, TAQA and TotalEnergies.

Connected Competence has also secured backing from Unite the Union, GMB Union and the RMT Union as well as the HSE, the Scottish Government, Step Change in Safety, Offshore Energies UK and NSTA.

Over 40 partners were at last night’s celebration including clients, operators, training providers and other supporting organisations.

OEUK has supported Connected Competence from the start. OEUK’s CEO, David Whitehouse, said: “Our skilled workforce possesses much of the expertise we need to unlock the low carbon energies of the future.

“As the workforce continues to grow and develop new skills, Connected Competence plays a key role in facilitating a seamless transfer for individuals between companies and energy sectors – and that is crucial as we focus on delivering a successful managed transition.”

Andrew added: “Work is underway to roll out Connected Competence to other sectors across the engineering construction industry. With the forecasted skills shortages the industry faces, the need to build resilience and ensure workers entering sites are technically competent has never been more important.”