Overview
bp is transitioning from an international oil company to an integrated energy company, with a purpose to reimagine energy for people and the planet. Its ambition is to be a net zero company by 2050 or sooner and to help the world get to net zero.
For more than a decade, bp’s North Sea workforce has been using OPITO Petroleum Open Learning portfolio, specifically, the Petroleum Processing Technology Series, as part of its early career training.
Challenge
In 2006, bp identified an opportunity to enhance the apprentices’ technical knowledge and improve their skills by providing the opportunity to complete the Petroleum Processing Technology Series at their worksite placement. POL greatly supplements the training being undertaken by its Oil and Gas Technical Apprentice Programme (OGTAP) apprentices to develop a higher level of understanding of the petroleum processing technology.
The key objective was to enable apprentices being sponsored by bp to gain industry-recognised qualifications and a broader understanding of petroleum processing technology, while building a good foundation of knowledge in the company’s early career talent.
Result
Over 16 years, around 300 bp apprentices have completed units including oil pumping and metering, petroleum gas compression and oil treatment. This has provided operations staff in the early stages of their careers with a broader understanding of the petroleum processing technology and has been particularly advantageous to those training in the maintenance discipline.
Benefits
By providing a baseline of knowledge for early year trainees, the Open Learning portfolio allows learners to excel in their entry-level roles, across disciplines, equipping them with the expertise required to succeed in careers across the energy industry, and help deliver the ambitions of the company.