Sparrows and ITI Announce Strategic Partnership

Sparrows Group and Industrial Training International (ITI), the respective offshore and onshore crane and rigging training leaders, will collaborate to form a powerhouse of associated industry training solutions for clients.

Customers with operations in the Gulf of Mexico will gain additional benefits as both parties have agreed to partner at Sparrows’ training center in Houma, Louisiana. The facility located at 298 Thompson Road, is a key offshore hub and is less than sixty miles from New Orleans, eighty-five miles south of Baton Rouge and one hundred miles from Lafayette to the west.

The New Orleans Training Center will be the eighth North American training center for ITI, along with locations in:

• Woodland, Washington
• Houston, Texas
• Memphis, Tennessee
• Cleveland, Ohio
• Chicago, Illinois
• Anchorage, Alaska
• Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

“The partnership with Sparrows is huge for ITI customers in Louisiana, the Gulf and those involved with offshore operations around the globe. We are excited to work with Sparrows, whose offshore prowess speaks for itself, and our collaboration has already made an impact for key customers by coming together on a few projects involving training, field services and ITI VR simulators,” said Justin Meade, Training Centers Manager, ITI.

Having worked in the offshore industry since 1975, Sparrows Group has unrivaled experience in offshore lifting operations, competence assessment, and training. Their goal is to help build a strong safety culture in the workforce, reducing the frequency and severity of incidents which could cause harm to people or property. Training programs are accredited to ISO:9001, OPITO and NFPC in the UK, and API RP2D in the United States.

The strategic fit between the two training leaders will benefit the entire industry according to Sparrows Training Manager, Sheila Deroche, “Sparrows is excited about working with ITI. Similar visions and values make the collaboration a great fit. The ‘One stop shop’ approach for offshore and onshore lifting and hoisting training will benefit both Sparrows and ITI customers. Our goal is to help create a competent and safe work force.”

The New Orleans Training Center will be the eighth North American training center for ITI.

Susan Fraser, Global Head of Training & Competence adds, “Our partnership with ITI is a great opportunity for both companies to increase training foothold in the United States. Successful collaboration will, I’m sure, lead to further opportunities for us to work together on global projects.”

Starting in October 2017, ITI will host select courses at the New Orleans Training Center including:

• Intermediate Rigging
• Rigging Gear Inspector
• NCCCO Mobile Crane Operator
• NCCCO Rigger Level 1 & 2
• NCCCO Signal Person
• Basic Rigging & Inspection
• Overhead Crane Operator
• Lift Director & Critical Lift Planning

In addition to Sparrows’ courses:

• Qualified API Crane Operator/Rigger – API RP2D 7th Edition
• Qualified API Rigger – API RP2D 7th Edition
• Qualified Crane Inspector – API RP2D 7th Edition
• Sparrows Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3 Assessments

For a full listing of course dates at all ITI Training Center locations, visit www.iti.com/calendar.