Hydratight is celebrating after being named International Training Provider of the Year at the Engineering Construction Industry (ECI) Training and Development Awards 2024.
The organisation picked up the accolade as the industry’s brightest and best were recognised at a prestigious awards ceremony at One Marylebone in London, organised by the UK Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB).
Hydratight had already been announced as the Middle East and Caspian Regional Winner for its work in Saudi Arabia and the wider region. It saw off competition from the other two area champions, International Apprenticeship and Competence Academy (IACA) and PT Petrotekno.
Representatives from the company were presented with the award by Eng. Fahad Jamal Al-Otaibi from Ashghal, who was on stage as part of a special recognition presentation for the government regulatory authority for all public works in Qatar.
ECITB Global works with 65 licensed training providers across 23 countries worldwide to deliver internationally recognised training and qualifications in key ECI skills and health and safety programmes.
The International Training Provider of the Year award acknowledges and celebrates excellence in the delivery of ECITB-approved training, products and services by an ECITB Global licensed provider.
When deciding on the regional and overall winners, a multitude of factors were considered by the judging panel, including delivery numbers, quality of training, demonstrating equality and diversity, innovation and ambition, interaction with the ECITB, collaboration and the value they add overall to their respective markets.
ECITB Head of Commercial Tristan Kemp said: “Congratulations to Hydratight for winning this accolade and to our other shortlisted providers, IACA and PT Petrotekno.
“Hydratight first worked with the ECITB within the UK 30 years ago and has been licensed to deliver its ECITB-endorsed mechanical joint integrity (MJI) and onsite machining training and testing overseas for over a decade.
“Now delivering its services and training on five continents, Hydratight has been an exemplar training provider throughout and its willing collaboration with us to enhance our MJI training standards and courses is hugely valued.”
Developing workers for the ECI
Members of the company turned out to collect their prize at the ECI Awards, which was hosted by STEM champion Chinwe Odili, an award-winning structural engineer at Kent plc.
Hydratight, which delivers specialist mechanical services to asset owners in the oil and gas, power generation and industrial sectors, was also shortlisted at the awards for the UK Training Organisation of the Year accolade.
Jason Barnard, Hydratight’s Global Competency Technical Leader, pictured left, said: “As a 13-time finalist at the ECI Awards, to win a training provider of the year was our aim, but to win International Training Provider of the Year is even better.
“It’s great to be recognised. Personally, I’ve worked with the ECITB for 30 years. I’ve won mechanical fitter of the year and apprentice of the year myself so to get it for the company and for the training team is brilliant.
“It supports the work that our international teams have done, particularly our Middle East team working in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar.
“We’ve led the way in international delivery for a long time now in MJI and onsite machining. We’ve also worked closely with the ECITB to help develop training standards, procedures and code of practices.”
Dedication to ECITB training recognised
The two other regional winners were also recognised at the ECI Awards.
PT Petrotekno, which has been providing ECITB training across Indonesia since 2018, picked up the Asia Pacific award for the second time in three years, having won the overall award back in 2022.
IACA was named Africa and Rest of World Regional Winner 2024 for its work in Tanzania’s energy and mining sectors advocating for ECITB training and testing.
The special presentation, pictured, for Qatar’s Ashghal was in recognition of the regulatory authority endorsing ECITB training and testing for supervising excavations, working in confined spaces and onsite traffic management on its projects for the last four years.
ECITB Chief Executive Andrew Hockey said: “Ashghal’s efforts in promoting ECITB training and qualifications across a myriad of infrastructure projects and public building works in Qatar deserves recognition.
“The organisation has made important strides in the last four years to boost vocational training and safety for Qatar’s workforce which aligns with what the ECITB strives for in the UK and elsewhere in the world.
“We are pleased to recognise its efforts to enhance the safety culture in Qatar and for its ongoing collaboration with the ECITB.”
