– 45 percent of recruits come from sugar and bauxite backgrounds
A group of 25 candidates commenced their training on an eight week oilfield operator course at the TOTALTEC Academy in Georgetown. This follows the first successful programme, which graduated 22 candidates with the foundational safety and operational skills necessary to work in the oilfield service industry.
The graduates of the first school are now in various positions for companies active in the rapidly developing, emerging oil and gas sector, according to President and CEO of TOTALTEC Oilfield Services, Lars Mangal.
In a statement, Mangal said that of the 25 new recruits employed by TOTALTEC on this second programme which commenced this week, around 45% come with backgrounds from the recently impacted sugar and bauxite mining sectors.
“The opportunity for former workers coming from the sugar and bauxite sectors has proven to be highly successful in transforming career prospects for the individuals involved. On the first programme run by TOTALTEC, over 30% of the successful graduates came from the sugar sector,” said Mangal.
Noting that TOTALTEC’s focus is on building the workforce of the future today, Mangal said the feedback that they are receiving from the various companies continues to be positive. “Demand is high. The flexibility we offer through scholarships, sponsorships and internships is being well received by Guyanese and international companies who understand that a skilled, safety conscious workforce is critical to their success,” he said.
The training includes safe and proper techniques for slinging, lifting, handling, crane operations, fork lift driving, working at height and in confined and hazardous areas among others.