UK manpower firm teams up with Chinese oil giant

The Orion Group, a UK-based recruitment services provider, has signed a joint venture (JV) agreement with China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), China’s state-owned crude oil and natural gas producer.

Orion chairman Alan Savage and General Manager of CNOOC Energy Technology & Service-Safety and Environmental Protection Co., Liu Huai Zeng signed the agreement forming the JV company CNOOC Orion Technical Services Co., Ltd. during Savage’s visit to Tianjin.

According to Orion, the company became the first manpower company in the world to sign such an agreement with the CNOOC.

The two companies said that the aim of the JV is to develop the talent resources service market and provide relevant personnel provision across CNOOC’s oil, gas, and energy-related projects throughout China and the rest of the world.

At the signing ceremony, Savage said: “This deal marks the beginning of a new phase for Orion Group in China. We already have significant experience in China and the services of our staff in Shanghai are in high demand.

“To become the world’s first manpower supplier to CNOOC is a major milestone. We are looking forward to working with our partners in Tianjin to provide high quality staff for the many key projects in the CNOOC order book for 2017 and beyond.”

Liu added: “We have been hoping to strike such an agreement for some time and believe we have found the perfect partner in Orion Group. CNOOC Orion Technical Services Co., Ltd will become the best of what our two companies can offer to the Chinese market.”