OPITO and NESA working together for a clearer, brighter future

Global safety and skills body OPITO and the National Energy Skills Accelerator (NESA) have announced a partnership which will provide clarity and support to both the workforce and employers looking to maximise the opportunities presented by the energy transition.

OPITO and NESA share a common purpose to ensure the skills system evolves and adapts at pace to thrive in the net zero era. The two organisations complimentary projects of OPITO’s Energy Skills Passport and NESA’s Just Transition and Scottish Funding Council Pathfinder pilots provide the foundations for building this natural partnership. Bringing together their collective knowledge, expertise, and experience, OPITO and NESA aim to prove the strength of collaborations in achieving a just energy transition.

Prof John Underhill, NESA Chair and University of Aberdeen’s Director of Energy Transition, said: “This partnership demonstrates both organisations commitment to collaboration. NESA strongly believes that the sum is greater than the parts, and we feel privileged to stand side by side with OPITO to address future energy skills needs. Together we will converge on a common, consistent platform that clearly communicates opportunities for the energy transition.”

John McDonald, CEO of OPITO, said: “In the North Sea Transition Deal’s Integrated People and Skills Strategy, we outlined that UK offshore energy jobs are forecast to grow to more than 211,000 by 2030. We recognise that there is much to do to streamline the skills landscape and ensure training is safe, effective and accessible to meet the demands of an integrated energy sector. Meeting this challenge will require renewed focus on collaboration and that is why our partnership with NESA is an important step to realising this ambition.”

Befriend a Child’s Big Kids Ball returns for 2023

Local children’s charity, Befriend a Child, has announced the return of their annual Big Kids Ball for 2023, and revealed that guests will enjoy a Willy Wonka-themed evening.

Those who purchase a golden ticket for the event on the May 19 will be immersed in a world of pure imagination at iconic Aberdeen venue, The Chester Hotel. Attendees will be welcomed by Befriend a Child to the wonders of Wonkaland, enjoying a three-course dinner, entertainment, and dancing.

The charity, which provides befriending and mentoring programmes, group activities and family support for disadvantaged children, confirmed that W M Donald will be headline sponsor of the Ball for the second year running.

Tickets can be purchased from Befriend a Child’s website.

Dougie Craighead, Managing Consultant and Lead Tutor, QHSE Scotland

When was your business established?

QHSE Scotland was established in January 2021.

What does your business do?

QHSE Scotland provide professional management systems and auditor training courses which are independently certified by the CQI and IRCA. Our courses are designed and developed by our own tutors, all of whom are also practising auditors and consultants.

What sort of companies do you do business with?

Our clients are companies from all sectors who have, or are seeking to implement, one or more of the ISO management systems standards. Typically, they are organisations who are seeking to invest in the development and competence of their people by providing access to certified professional courses.

What is the biggest challenge facing your business at the moment?

Building the QHSE Scotland reputation and promoting our training partner approval with the CQI and IRCA which is our unique selling point in the North of Scotland.

And the biggest opportunity?

To offer businesses in the North of Scotland a cost effective and internationally recognised certified training solution provided by a company who understands the importance of supporting the local economy. Moreover, supporting our clients in their journey towards being carbon neutral by reducing or indeed eliminating the need to travel.

What are you most passionate and proud of?

In the space of 12 months, we have achieved certification for 75% of our course offering and trained over 200 auditors from foundation to professional level. In addition, we have successfully transitioned our professional level courses to the new examination format introduced globally by the CQI and IRCA.

Andy Watson,Operations Manager, Aberdeen, MRS Training & Rescue

When was your business established?

MRS Training & Rescue’s history is firmly rooted in the mining industry and the company can trace its origins in Scotland back to 1910, where it supplied a national mines rescue service. With a gradual decline of the coal mines over many years, the company has expanded and diversified to meet the needs of today’s health and safety market.

What does your business do?

Drawing on more than a century of expertise gained working in complex and high-risk environments, we specialise in confined space training, consultancy and rescue arrangements along with a range of other health and safety related services.

What sort of companies do you do business with?

Our clients are drawn from a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, renewables, nuclear, aerospace, manufacturing and utilities throughout the UK and overseas.

What is the biggest challenge at the moment?

The principles of keeping people safe remain the same regardless of sector, yet the speed of the corporate journey and market entry often play a part in dictating what training may be selected. A key challenge is for employers to recognise that health and safety training is a fundamental part of any safe system of work and to ensure all employees are not only trained but competent. It is vital that any training is not a box ticking exercise, but also gives the opportunity to test their new skills in a safe and controlled environment.

And the biggest opportunity?

We are well known in most of the UK but new to Aberdeen, so growing awareness of what we do, our expertise and skills and providing our services to the market here is our biggest opportunity. Now more than ever, it’s crucial for employers to ensure that their people lie at the heart of their energy transition aspirations by arming them with transferrable skills which are recognised, regulated and have a delegate’s name on them.

When was your business established?

Aberdeen Cyrenians was founded in 1968. We initially set up as a soup kitchen run and organised by students from the University of Aberdeen.

What does your business do?

We are a local charity and social care services provider, supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

What sort of companies do you do business with?

We work for the Health and Social Care Partnership providing essential social care services, such as Care at Home and working with ex-offenders. However, as a charity, we offer a number of other services that are delivered by grant/trust/foundation awards and with the support of a number of different corporate partners who help us in a variety of ways. Shameless plug – we are always looking to build new corporate relationships and work with companies that share our values and who take ESG and corporate responsibility seriously, so if that’s you…. get in touch!

What is the biggest challenge at the moment?

Like every charity, we are being hit hard by the cost-of-living crisis. Our operating costs are spiralling, and we are having to work ten times as hard to secure the income that we need to provide vital services. That unfortunately leaves us in a position where we are having to regularly review the services that we provide and the numbers of people that we support, making changes to ensure we are financially sustainable. That’s by far the toughest aspect of my job – having to make decisions based on finances and resources that I know will impact on people.

And the biggest opportunity?

We have seen the demand for some of our services increase by up to 600% and whilst the finances for those services haven’t necessarily kept pace, we have adapted and evolved, finding new and innovative ways of working to try and maximise our reach. I’m humbled by the work of our organisation and very lucky to work with some of the most talented and creative people in the third sector. Throughout CV19 and beyond, the organisation upped its game to respond to local need and that’s something that we are very proud of.

When was your business established?

DST-CHEMICALS were founded in 1987 in Kolding, Denmark. As a global company, our subsidiaries and sales offices are found in most of Europe as well as in India and the USA .

What does your business do?

We specialise in the production of eco-friendly speciality chemical consumables. We have a wide product portfolio including products for degreasing, derusting and deburring.

What sort of companies do you do business with?

Our customers are across different industries from large blue chip industrial manufacturers to small businesses that carry out cleaning activities. We work with companies in the automotive, rail, oil and gas, manufacturing and remanufacturing industries.

What is the biggest challenge at the moment?

Our products support many different industries, all of which are present in the North-east of Scotland. Ensuring we make ourselves visible and available will be the biggest exercise initially as we are new to this part of the world.

And the biggest opportunity?

The wide range of industries that we can provide our eco-friendly products to in the North-east and wider Scotland and UK makes it a very exciting time for DST -CHEMICALS.

What are you most passionate and proud of?

The company’s key value proposition is to provide a highly efficient product range combined with state-of-the-art service and unmatched technical knowhow, whilst reducing CO2 emissions and wastewater production.

What has been most valuable to you as members of Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce?

Previous companies I have worked for always found the Chamber a great way of connecting and showcasing their products and services so as a new player in this area we believe it was a no brainer to get the membership in place and start to use it as much as we possibly can.