Connected Competence, enabled by the ECITB, was named the winner in the Collaboration category at the 2024 EIC National Awards.
Run by the Energy Industries Council (EIC), the World Energy Supply Chain Awards recognised achievements from across the industry at an awards and dinner event hosted by Richard E Grant at the Marriott Hotel in Grosvenor Square, London.
The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) put forward the Connected Competence scheme as a great example of collaboration, which led to it being shortlisted, as well as being featured in the EIC’s annual Survive & Thrive insight report for 2024.
The Connected Competence programme provides a means for sector-wide collaboration when it comes to safety and skills.
The industry-driven initiative was developed in collaboration with some of the UK’s largest contracting companies, each committed to using standardised training and testing based on the ECITB’s technical tests.
Through 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.
The scheme has grown significantly in the last 18 months with ten major contractors and 20 clients signing up to the scheme. This includes Aker Solutions, Bilfinger, Boskalis, nexos, Petrofac, Ponticelli UK, Semco, Stork UK, Wood, Worley. Clients 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.
ECITB Chief Executive Andrew Hockey said: “I’m really pleased and proud that Connected Competence has won the EIC Award for Collaboration. I’d like to thank the fantastic team behind the scheme for all that they have done to get us to here.
“The ECITB’s Labour Forecasting Tool predicts thousands of extra workers could be needed in the industry by 2028, and so the need to build resilience and make sure workers entering sites are technically competent has never been more important.
“The impact of Connected Competence has been tangible since it was launched in 2021. Participating employers have shown a strong dedication to safety by working together to establish a standardised level of technical competence for site-based trades.
“Combined, their efforts have contributed to the recognition of ongoing technical competence, promoting a proactive commitment to safety among both employed and transient workers.
“Instead of competing solely on competence, the founding members of the initiative have demonstrated continuous support to foster an aligned and transparent approach to technical safety.
“This collaborative effort is facilitating the development of a transferable and more resilient skills pool throughout the energy industry.”
Pictured (clockwise from top): ECITB and Connected Competence representatives at the awards; Andrew Hockey collecting the accolade on stage; ECITB’s Senior Project Manager for Connected Competence, Lynsey Benson, with Richard E Grant. Main image: Lynsey, Andrew and ECITB COO Andy Brown with Connected Competence Chair Paul Binnie.
