First EIC-RGU Fit4Energy course kicks off

The first-ever Fit4Energy (F4E) course run by Robert Gordon University (RGU) in partnership with the EIC and Opportunity North East has started in Aberdeen with delegates coming from oil and gas chemicals solutions specialist Aubin Group, energy industry engineering and consultancy company Optimus and pipeline protection specialist Pipeline Induction Heat.

These delegates will benefit from F4E’s programme of 11 modules designed to address the factors that contribute to successful business growth including scale-up business planning, diversification and new product development, marketing and sales, process and cost optimisation, and exporting strategy.

Each module consists of one full day ‘know how’ workshop followed by two half-day ‘how to’ implementation workshops tailored to the individual needs of participating businesses. The modules have been designed and developed by RGU business specialists in collaboration with industry and draw on energy sector insights, case studies and global best practices.

Upon completion of the course, which can be done in as little as 12 months, the delegates will be equipped with the knowledge, network and tools to successfully plan for and implement growth. The company they represent will receive an industry recognised F4E approval. F4E approval demonstrates to clients that an organisation has the processes, procedures and strategies in place to deal with large-scale projects.

Katy Gifford, CEO at Aubin Group said, ‘We signed up for F4E because, with our ambitious growth plans, we needed help to engage the whole organisation in the way forward. The combination of modules on offer will allow us to have different people in the organisation get involved in developing and delivering our plans while learning new skills in a cost and time efficient way.’

Gillan Passman, Lead Engineer at Optimus said, ‘As a company we have been discussing how we could grow over the next few years with a look towards succession planning and strategy. Having already gone through a rebrand, we thought it would be a great idea to expand our knowledge base and with the reputation that RGU has as a fantastic educational institute and with the knowledge that the course had the backing of the EIC, it seemed like an obvious choice. On top of this, we also felt that to be on the inaugural cohort would be of huge benefit to us as a company.’

Pipeline Induction Heat MD Paul McShane said, ‘We are absolutely thrilled to be one of the first businesses in the UK to embark on the journey towards F4E status.

‘Having noted the success of the Fit For Nuclear programme, we were confident that F4E would help our company thrive, with the involvement of key stakeholders such as EIC and RGU only strengthening that confidence.

‘With modules focusing on key business competencies, one of the most appealing factors of the programme was the knowledge that our leadership team could grow and develop individually through their participation in the various modules, with the final accreditation coming only through the collective team outputs.’

David Gibbons-Wood, F4E Programme Lead at RGU’s Aberdeen Business School, said, ‘The future growth prospects of energy sector companies will be driven by technology, international marketing, collaboration, and best practice in skills development.

F4E is designed to support businesses in successfully meeting these critical challenges.’

Speaking at RGU’s Aberdeen Business School on the opening day of the first F4E cohort EIC CEO Stuart Broadley said, ‘After months of planning and development, it’s very exciting to see the launch of the F4E course.

‘I look forward to watching the progress made by our first participants from Aubin Group, Optimus and Pipeline Induction Heat as they work there why through their own tailor-made modules and then go on to implement the growth, innovation and export strategies that they have designed during the course.’

To find out more or book your place on the next F4E cohort please visit: www.rgu.ac.uk/business-innovation/business-services/fit4energy