RTITB expands into Oman after accrediting TATI to provide RTITB workplace transport training.

Technical and Administrative Training Institute (TATI), a private training organisation, has become the first organisation in Oman to become accredited to provide RTITB workplace transport training.

TATI has been providing training qualifications, including technical national vocation qualifications, business related health and safety, driver training, forklift operator training and plant equipment operator training, since 1993.

"The RTITB courses are very detailed and have rigorous requirements," says TATI general manager Mani Sankar. "They definitely have value and are not like other courses, particularly in the practical elements and demonstrations."

RTITB accreditation ensures that companies provide training that meets certain safety standards. The accreditation is recognised internationally. Employees with RTITB-accredited training are automatically listed on the RTITB database. They can then use this international certificate to prove their skills when seeking work in other companies or countries.

According to RTITB, accredited training is a relatively new concept in Oman. Quality standards are set by the sultanate's oil companies; but recently, expectations in training have risen. There is now legislation in place to help regulate training and check forklift licenses, so accreditation has become a vital requirement of the Oman oil industry.

TATI is approved to deliver RTITB training to over half of the sultanate's major oil companies including Shell, BP and Oman Oil.

RTITB (formerly the Road Transport Industry Training Board) is the UK and Ireland's largest workplace transport training accrediting body and leading Driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) Consortium.

Separately, Laura Nelson has been appointed managing director of RTITB, following over nine years of service.

"I will continue to help drive safety and strongly believe that accredited training benefits the industry by significantly reducing workplace transport operation risk," says Nelson. "We aim to strengthen our partnerships with accredited organisations and strive to educate those purchasing training to help them and, ultimately, their customers, to heighten safety."

Nelson has been operations director since 2010. She has studied business growth and development at the Cranfield School of Management and her qualifications include a Certificate of Professional Competence in National Road Haulage and ISO9001 Lead Auditor.