UK: Larraine Boorman Joins OPITO as Managing Director

The industry body which provides the focal point for the oil and gas sector’s skills and workforce development needs has appointed a new managing director to steer the UK arm of the global organisation.

Larraine Boorman has taken over the reins at OPITO from David Binnie who stood down in October 2011 to pursue a new life in New Zealand with his family. She brings a wealth of experience and an impressive track record in the skills, training and workforce development sector to the Aberdeen-headquartered organisation.

Her career to date has centred on developing strong business models based on industry and government demand for world class skills, designed to provide high level learning and workforce development.

As managing director, Larraine will oversee OPITO’s growth as it looks to build on its success to date in delivering against the industry’s identified skills needs across all sectors, both onshore and offshore, and ensuring the learning and training supply is in place to meet them.

She will support the organisation’s role in providing the vital link between the industry and government, highlighting key industry requirements to ensure funding is channelled into the correct areas and used to increase the growth and success of the UK sector.

Larraine will also drive forward a cross-section of industry-led research projects and initiatives with employers, education providers and academia to ensure the industry’s skills needs are being met both now and in the future.

OPITO Group chief executive officer David Doig said: “Larraine’s proven track record of high growth business development and building successful enterprises makes her an extremely valuable addition to our UK business.

“We are delighted to have secured someone of her calibre to the organisation. Her extensive experience in the learning, industry and government sectors will ensure OPITO continues to play a leading role in representing the industry.”

During a 25-year career, Larraine successfully led the creation of ACUA Ltd, a new start-up business within a higher education institution. As managing director, she was responsible for developing the board and management structure and securing a multi-million Government funding package. She is also a former chief executive of Fern Training and Development Ltd and managing director of Sencia Group Ltd.

“OPITO is a dynamic and forward-looking organisation with a pivotal role to play in meeting the industry’s need to secure the skilled workforce needed to support its continued growth over the next few years and ensure the UK maintains its position at the forefront of the global energy industry,” said Larraine.

“I have worked across a number of industries and what I see in the oil and gas sector is a clear recognition of the skills challenges it faces and a real desire to work collaboratively to address them. OPITO’s strength lies in its connectivity to the industry, education and government and I look forward to the challenges this new and exciting role will bring.”

A unique, not-for-profit organisation, OPITO is wholly owned by the oil and gas industry. A recent labour market intelligence survey conducted by OPITO showed that more than 80% of UK companies expected to grow their business over the next five years with around 10,000 new recruits needed to ensure it has the workforce needed to meet demand.

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Subsea World News Staff , February 06, 2012;  Image: ACUA