Texco Group

Texco does the heavy lifting when it comes to training

Texco Group is a proud, family-owned business and has been operating in the Canterbury region for 35 years.

Texco Group has a staff of 130 who work across its four companies which specialise in excavating, drilling, steel and engineering. This breadth and diversity of work means Texco is well resourced and each operational branch regularly gives support to the others so as to provide complete client solutions.

When it comes to workplace training, Texco has a record matched by few. In fact, the Texco Group won the 2014 Contractors’ Federation Training Award. But that doesn’t mean it’s resting on its laurels and it’s clear it works hard to equip its staff with the right qualifications and training to be competent in the jobs they perform.

All staff take part in training and are actively encouraged to have input into company training needs. Owner of the Texco Group of Companies John Townshend says they want staff to be equipped to not only get the job done, but to improve in their careers and the company’s competencies.

“All our staff take part in training and are actively encouraged to have input into our company training needs,” he says.

When developing training plans, each staff member is looked at individually across five categories, which include: • Compliance: Health and safety, first aid, confined space, welder qualifications and chainsaw operation. • Longterm: National certificates in civil construction, heavy vehicle operation, crane operation and drilling. This category also includes apprenticeships in heavy fabrication and drainlaying. • Shorterm: PE pipe welding, survey and setout courses. • Driver licensing: Class 1F to Class 5F, endorsements and bess tickets. • Personal development: English and maths tutoring, supervisory and leadership training, budgeting advice and support.

Texco’s success in training stems largely from its ability to create a culture where those with experience are willing to help those without.

“We wouldn’t be able to achieve the high level of completion with our trainees if it were not for the commitment and dedication of our senior staff,” John says.

Some of the more visible examples of this include verifying workbooks for national certificates, providing on-the-job training, mentoring and preparing staff for heavy truck driving tests.

Texco also employs a dedicated training coordinator whose role is not only to facilitate training compliance but also ensure each individual trainee is in the best position to successfully complete their training. In some cases, this can even include one-to-one tutoring.

Another part of the training coordinator’s role is to provide complete support for staff. Due to the nature of the industry, this can often include settlement support for migrants and budgeting advice.

Ultimately, the company looks at training in two ways – to meet requirements and to improve company capabilities.

One recent example of the latter was when Texco analysed its height safety training for drilling crews.

“We needed specific training at heights on our cranes and drill rigs and we worked closely with a provider to give us a unit standard customised to be carried out onsite and our own drill rigs,” John says.

During 2015, Texco will continue with its tradition of strong development with three core focus areas: helping migrant staff up-skill, greater mentorship of trainees (particularly for heavy truck licences) and transitioning senior operators and site supervisors into leadership roles.

“We’re not just ticking boxes. We’re doing what’s right for the team and for us,” John says. l