Developing potential and suitable locals as one of the main pillars of the company is part of SKSWood’s vision. Bruneianisation is a program that seeks to identify promising young locals and provide them with advantageous opportunities for career growth and development to strengthen and empower the local workforce as well as to keep the nation faithful in their skills. This program is positively ambitious in that it focuses importance on having Bruneians take more control of an industry that has been the country’s staple / principal revenue.

The existing Bruneianisation programs within the organization’s structure include graduate attachment programs, which provide 6 months work experience; on-the-job training, which provides various corporate-sponsored training (BOSIET, first aider, fire warden, and various safety training modules) where need be; cross-posting program, which sponsors two selected personnel to be posted at SKSWood’s sister company, Wood Group Plc, Aberdeen, for 6 months to gain further career and overall exposure; and the newest program in collaboration with BSP, where 6 BSP trainees are attached to SKSWood, ingraining in them the company’s work culture.

Looking to the nation’s vision of 2035 to create a highly skilled local workforce for every industry relevant to the local economy, the Bruneianisation program is taking responsibility to ensure that the nation’s future generations are properly equipped and capable in various sectors of the oil and gas industry. It is hugely beneficial for the growth of the local economy.

With this in mind, various supporting programs are currently under construction. In the process of brainstorming and developing the programs, SKSWood had representatives exploring various avenues and collaborating with the nation’s educational institutes: Universiti Brunei Darussalam and Insitut Teknologi Brunei.

At a sit down with Dr. Patrick Low Kim Cheng (Deputy Dean) and Dr. Hazri Hj Kifle (Faculty of Business, Economics and Policy Studies), Susan Stewart (SKSWood Consultant) along with Yap Tsuey Lin (Cost Analyst, SKSWood) Ageness Raini (Management Secretary, SKSWood) and Lim Ee Tyng (External Affairs Assistant, SKSWood) discussed strategies for development of existing local personnel.

UBD has been providing specialized skills training to various government and private bodies for developing staff competency. The university is able to take on the role of a facilitator with its courses being accredited by official international boards. The establishment is equipped with the Department of Petroleum Geoscience, Department of Engineering Science and Computer Science, which serve for the major skills in demand in the oil and gas industry. Both Dr. Patrick Low and Dr. Hazri Hj Kifle mentioned UBD’s training module capabilities being teamwork, negotiation, ethics (both leadership and Islamic), conflict handling and policies relevant to the region (religion and culture).

Keeping in mind of the locals looking for job security, Jennifer Voon Nyuk Hiong (Computer Manager) and Dr Haji Supry bin Hj Awg Ladi (Head of Research) mentioned that ITB’s educational curriculum undergoes major reconstruction every five years. The review is influenced by the major local market to the advantage of the local growth and economy. Currently, ITB is equipped with courses in Civil Engineering, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Electrical and Communications Engineering and Mechanical Engineering – disciplines from ITB’s roster that are most relevant to SKSWood’s scope of works.

Plans between the company and the educational establishments are underway to map out training modules, furthering prospects of the local personnel, and possibly providing sponsorship to selected young individuals looking to SKSWood as a long-term employer.