Wholly owned by the Government of Bahrain, Bahrain Petroleum (Bapco) is involved in exploration and drilling for oil; production, refining and distribution of petroleum products and natural gas; and sales and exports of crude oil and refined products. English is the common currency of communication which helps Bapco to thrive.
Since 2002, Bapco has used BEC (Business English Certificates) to ensure that staff, who are working at a range of levels and in very different disciplines, have the English language skills they need to be effective for the business.
‘BEC meets our needs very well,’ said Keith Gardiner, Superintendent - Communication Skills and Information Systems Training, Bapco.
‘The business-based content means skills transfer to the workplace is more likely. The widespread international recognition of Cambridge ESOL exams and the consistency and availability of teaching and testing materials are also important factors for us.’
The BEC pass rate among staff at Bapco is 80%, putting the organisation well ahead of international averages.
Keith Gardiner added: ‘There’s no doubt that higher standards of English are directly linked to the success of the organisation. Besides everyday communication, English is needed for everything from dealing with external suppliers and training and development, to ensuring health and safety, and feedback from managers and supervisors has suggested that the English language programme and BEC have led to improved performance from staff.’