HETA hosts Omani delegation for apprenticeship research

Pictured are delegates from Oman with apprentices at HETA’s centre at CATCH at Stallingborough.

GOVERNMENT and business leaders from Oman have turned to one of the Humber’s top training providers for tips on how to set up a national apprenticeship scheme.

The delegates met management and apprentices at Humberside Engineering Training Association (HETA) during a UK fact-finding trip which also included discussions with leading industry bodies and regulators.

HETA is now looking to build on the contacts made during the visit as it works to develop an international business strategy which has already forged links with Malaysia, Indonesia and Dubai.

Iain Elliott, Chief Executive of HETA, said: “This was a high level delegation representing government and industry in Oman and we are delighted that they decided to come to HETA to see our facilities and talk to some of our apprentices.

“It was a good opportunity for our visitors and for us because we are developing an international strategy and the Middle East is one of our target areas. We are looking into joining a trade mission to the Middle East in December to explore sending trainers over there to help them build capacity and bringing some of their people for training at our centres.”

The delegation’s programme included meetings in London with the Institute of Engineering and Technology, the Institute of Directors and Ofqual, the qualifications and examinations regulator, before heading to Hull and then on to the CATCH facility at Stallingborough, where HETA operates one of its three training centres.

Iain said: “We briefed the delegates on our activities throughout the Humber region and we took them to CATCH because it is a great example of how employers have created a vocational campus based on what they need for their businesses.

“The delegates spoke to apprentices who were in their first few days of training having only just joined us. They also looked at our model to see which elements they might be able to replicate as they develop their own framework.”

Kevin Watson, who works for BP in Oman on the professional development of technicians for the Khazzan gas project and as an adviser to the Omani government, said the delegates are working on setting up an apprenticeship system which would be aligned to the UK model.

He said: “We wanted to see a holistic walk through of the apprenticeship system from end to end and this part of the trip was about seeing the people who are involved in delivery. We looked at HETA’s recruitment processes and at how they support the trainees right through the programme.

“It was very useful. We picked up a lot of background information on the challenges and we spoke to the trainees on why they are pursuing apprenticeships instead of university. It was a very positive visit and the delegates thoroughly enjoyed it.

“We are going to need various levels of support as we work on our apprenticeship programme and there will be opportunities for a number of different organisations to help us with that.”