Exclusive: OPITO boss John McDonald to step down
The chief executive of safety and skills body OPITO, John McDonald, is to step down later this year after more than a decade with the organisation.
John McDonald
The future is looking bright if we continue to collaborate and innovate
As we approach the festive season and the end of an eventful 2022, it’s not only a time to reflect on our successes and learnings but an opportunity to look to the future.
OPITO marks strategic shift with launch of new training standards for renewable energy workforce
Global skills body OPITO has marked a “strategic shift” in the business after it made its first move into the renewable energy industry.
Covid-19: Protect, survive and recover
Looking after the wellbeing of our colleagues in the global energy workforce during the coronavirus pandemic is, in a sense, business as usual for all of us at Opito.
Astronaut to talk Peake oil at Opito conference
A British astronaut will blast off to a major oil and gas conference later this year.
Route to success is built on solid skill sets
Advances in technology, internationalisation and the transition to a lower carbon future indicates that many positions within the sector will change or evolve.
Opito’s ‘interim’ boss takes over the reins on a more permanent basis
Global oil and gas industry safety, standards and workforce development organisation Opito has named John McDonald as its new chief executive.
New trainee levy ‘effectively another tax on oil industry’
The interim chief executive of Opito told MPs yesterday the UK Government’s new apprenticeship levy will have “unacceptable” implications for Scotland’s oil and gas sector.
Opinion: Slashing apprentices can be a false economy
At a time where oil and gas companies across the globe are being affected by the commodity price downturn, many have developed and implemented contingency plans which have seen the selling off of low-profit subsidiary companies, enforced wage cuts, the loss of experienced personnel, a reduction in marketing budgets, and even the cutting of apprenticeship and graduate programmes. It’s a bit of an understatement to say that there’s a huge cloud over the whole industry right now as chief executives worry about keeping their businesses afloat but it’s that last example, the loss of the next generation of oil and gas workers that we need to put higher up the industry’s priority list if we are to ensure the sector has a sustainable future. In order to secure the future of the North Sea oil and gas industry, we need to continue empowering and encouraging a steady pipeline of talent to come through even in challenging times. Past experience has shown us that ignoring this can lead to bigger and more costly issues in the long term.