Shell’s Community Upskilling Programme is equipping residents of Trinidad and Tobago with practical skills to meet the evolving demands of the energy sector. The company described the initiative as “anchored in this principle: a resilient energy sector depends on a skilled, adaptable local workforce.”
The initiative focuses on training opportunities for fenceline communities in the East Coast Marine Area (ECMA), aiming to develop “practical, job-ready competencies that are directly transferable across upstream, downstream and adjacent energy and industrial operations,” Shell said.
Between October and December 2025, 100 ECMA residents enrolled. On January 29, 2026, “93 persons successfully graduated with industry-recognised certifications across disciplines throughout the modern energy sector,” the company added.
Training covered seven key areas identified as vital for current and future sector needs: T-BOSIET, Combined Rigging and Lifting, Rigging and Lifting Operations – Level 1, Heavy Equipment Operation, Rope Access, Hybrid Vehicle Maintenance, and Solar Panel Installation and Maintenance – Levels 1 and 2. Shell said these certifications are “recognised across the sector, earned close to home and by people who already know the landscape.”
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Shell will deliver this initiative through partnerships with the National Energy Skills Center (NESC), RelyOn Nutec, and Non-Destructive Testers Limited. Shell said NESC “anchors the effort as the primary coordinator and administrative partner,” while the other partners “contribute technical expertise to help ensure participants receive training aligned with internationally recognised standards.”
Shell highlighted that these partnerships are helping residents of Mayaro and Guayaguayare “access training designed to strengthen employability and practical skills development.”
The company noted that “renewable energy, hybrid technologies, and evolving safety standards are reshaping the skills needed across the industry.” Shell added that “building a workforce capable of keeping pace with those challenges requires sustained investment in training and development.”
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Describing the project as “one response to that challenge,” Shell said it aims to invest in the people living closest to its operations, contributing to “the development of a wider national talent pool that can benefit the energy sector through safer operations, broader technical capability and a workforce better prepared for future industry needs.”
