Oil and gas skills body Opito has agreed to work more closely with the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) to avoid duplication of effort.
The two engineering skills bodies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to deliver to their members a “common menu of skills solutions”, to collaborate on the collation of industry data around manpower trends and skills forecasting, as well as the creation of skills programmes that meet common industry needs.
The collaboration will also build on work undertaken to date around the industry’s modern apprenticeship scheme.
Employer funded ECITB, with its oil and gas contracting and cross-sector membership, invests £32million in skills each year
Funded by the industry, Opito ensures the sector’s skills needs are fully understood by its stakeholders and enabled by key partners.
The agreement was signed by ECITB chief executive Chris Claydon and Opito UK managing director John McDonald during a ceremony at Opito’s headquarters in Aberdeen.
Mr Claydon said: “This is a critical time for the oil and gas industry and retaining and continuing to develop a skilled workforce is non-negotiable for the long-term health of the sector.
“Leveraging the skills and expertise of both organisations will enable us to support the industry more effectively as part of a common vision.”
Mr McDonald said the MoU would allow both organisations to deliver increased value to the oil and gas industry.
He said: “There is a clear need for a co-ordinated and co-operative approach to addressing the medium and long term skills issues within the oil and gas industry.
“This partnership will allow us to take the knowledge and expertise within each organisation and create a more strategic and integrated relationship which delivers tangible benefits across the UK energy sector.”
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