EIC CEO Stuart Broadley (Left) Elizabeth Gammie, head of Aberdeen Business School and David Wilson, director of Oil, Gas and Energy at ONE.

Robert Gordon University (RGU) is launching a unique programme to support businesses within the energy sector to accelerate their growth.

Fit4Energy (F4E) is a suite of practical courses which have been created to help companies successfully plan and implement growth and has been developed with support from the Energy Industries Council (EIC) and private sector economic development body Opportunity North East (ONE).

Fit4Energy, due to commence in January 2019, is designed to help ambitious companies within the oil, gas and energy supply chain to grow. It will address market demand for bespoke scale-up training within the oil, gas and energy sector – a gap identified by EIC when engaging with member organisations.

The programme is primarily aimed at small to medium sized enterprises within the supply chain and it is also suitable for larger companies to help develop key personnel and specific skill sets to support growth.

The development of F4E has been funded by ONE Oil, Gas & Energy to support growth within the supply chain and anchor oil, gas and energy activity in the north-east of Scotland long term. The F4E programme will provide businesses with scale-up knowledge, tools and connections. It offers a suite of courses delivered through a mix of practical seminars, interactive workshops and real-life case studies and will cover a range of topics aligned with these projected skills needs, including diversification, exporting, innovation and technology, and marketing.

The content of the programme, which comprises 11 courses, has been created with the support of companies with a proven track record of success within the sector, leading trade organisations, and government agencies and draws on RGU’s long-standing relationships with the sector.

The programme will equip key personnel with the skills and insights to accelerate growth plans of participating companies. It will also enable businesses to deploy a range of tools to support trading overseas, improve value for the customer, grow their professional network and learn from other organisations across the UK Energy sector.

Elizabeth Gammie, Head of Aberdeen Business School at RGU, said:
“RGU has a diverse range of specialist skills and very strong ties to the energy sector. We have developed a programme that draws upon our shared expertise so we can deliver something truly impactful.

“Fit4Energy gives companies access to leading knowledge, strategic change and sectoral expertise, to support their ability to scale, innovate and internationalise. What makes this programme unique is that it provides a collaborative platform of support that will help businesses to reach their scale-up objectives.

“We are delighted to have the support of ONE and EIC and together with our strategic relationships, we will be able to maximise value to all participating companies.”

Commenting on the development of F4E, EIC CEO Stuart Broadley said:
“I was constantly inspired by the amazing stories that companies, large and small, would share about how they are surviving and thriving in spite of, or because of, the challenging and fast-changing energy market, and yet I was often equally struck by how few of those same businesses had the ready-to-go toolkit to be able to convert their strategies into fast and sustainable growth. Businesses need targeted training and support in the area of scale-up and I am absolutely delighted that, through the Fit4Energy programme, we’re making that vision a reality.”

Trevor Garlick, chair of ONE Oil, Gas & Energy, said:
“This programme will provide supply chain companies with an industry-specific resource to help them achieve their scale-up ambitions. It aims to help companies grow faster and more successfully through the focussed delivery of insights, training and practical knowledge sharing, and builds upon the region’s reputation as a global centre for oil, gas and energy skills development.

“Supporting business growth, anchoring employment and economic impact in the region, and developing the energy-related learning and training capabilities within North East Scotland’s two universities, college and commercial training community are strategic sector priorities for ONE. Our involvement in this project, alongside RGU and the EIC, will deliver against these objectives.”

Any company who wishes to know more about this programme, please contact F4E@rgu.ac.uk or visit https://www.rgu.ac.uk/business-innovation/business-services/fit4energy for more information.

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: EIC