Top of the Class for Wings Energy Academy Graduates

The latest class of “Energy Champions” has graduated from Wings Energy Academy™, a proprietary 12-month educational programme designed to give Wings consultants an in-depth understanding of how the oil and gas sector operates and the insight to solve their clients’ travel challenges even more effectively.

Split into quarterly phases, the course focusses on four different roles in the industry – Roughneck, Derrickhand, Driller and Rig Manager – and covers topics such as types of drilling platforms, exploration, typical rotational schedules, what life is like for a rig worker, life cycle of an oil field and history of the industry.

The final stage required Wings Energy Academy students to study one of their oil and gas clients in detail, which included a presentation on the company’s history, main operations, structure, risks, challenges, current news and competitors. In addition students had to identify ways in which Wings could enhance its travel management services to support the client’s business more efficiently.

Nine consultants at Wings’ Johannesburg office are the most recent to graduate as Energy Champions after completing all four stages of the course with a pass-rate of 80 per cent or more on all assessments.  Each Energy Champion was presented with a crystal trophy containing a floating drop of oil at a special graduation dinner at the Holiday Inn Rosebank.

Asked what impressed them most about the training programme, the latest Energy Champions said: “We gained a valuable understanding of the inner workings of the energy industry, what our clients in that sector do on a day to basis, and their different job descriptions. We also now appreciate the risks faced by our clients in this industry and how the industry has a meticulous time schedule, which can cost thousands if not managed properly.”

Tony Sofianos, CEO, Wings Travel Management commented: “As specialists in arranging complex travel for companies in the energy sector, we believe it’s important for our staff to truly understand how the oil and gas industry operates and the different roles of employees in this sector, so that they can service their clients and travellers with much greater insight into their day-to-day needs and working environment.

“We believe the Wings Energy Academy takes a unique approach and that no other travel management company is giving its staff such extensive training which is specific to the oil and gas sector,” he added.

 

 


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