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 the Energy Skills Passport, supported by ECITB and others, 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.

NESA is a collaborative initiative between world-renowned institutions Robert Gordon University, the University of Aberdeen and North East Scotland College and is supported by key partners Skills Development Scotland and Energy Transition Zone Ltd. Supporting the changing needs of energy sector employers and the workforce as they respond to energy transition opportunities, NESA aims to accelerate the up-, re- and new-skilling of both the existing and future workforce.

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.”

OPITO is an industry-owned organisation that has worked with governments and industry for more than 50 years to offer a range of training standards and products to meet international skills needs and support workforce development.

The Energy Skills Passport is being delivered through a £5 million grant from the Scottish Government’s Just Transition Fund. It is a collaborative project between OPITO, ECITB and others, and aims to streamline the transfer of skills and address the lack of recognition of cross-sector skills. The Passport will display an individual worker’s current qualifications and the required credentials to transition into another energy sector, supporting oil and gas workers move to another energy sector.

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.”