Technical training in Ølen, then the world awaits
Published: 02.08.07
Haugesunds Avis (Kjetil Østrem)
The world-spanning, Ølen-based Omega AS has started an international trainee programme. Singapore natives Neo Wei Ling (23) and Hoon Tian Hsiung (28) are clear in their ambitions.
“We hope to develop in every area of Omega’s business – from programming and product development to management and administration,” says Tian Hsiung.
Hoon and Wei Ling came to Norway and Ølen on July 17. Now they’re stationed at Omega’s headquarters in Ølensvåg for three months, before they go to Houston for three months, and finally return for another three months in Ølen. At that point they’ll be set for bigger tasks in the company that does business around the world. In addition to the Singaporeans there are also people from Venezuela, Lithuania and India stationed in Ølen for training. Johnny Vik, Technology and Products Manager at Omega says:
“This is the first time we have tried running a trainee program for this duration. Trainees have typically spent a couple of months with us, and that may have been too little time.”
“There’s a lot to get acquainted with and a lot to learn. We’ve never worked in the oil industry before, so every day is very exciting,” the Singaporean duo says.
Cows in the backyard
They admit that Ølen is a long way from Singapore. They come from a country in the tropical Southeast Pacific with 3.1 million people crammed into just 650 km². Ling and Hsiung are moving from that to the cooler climate in Ølen, a modest town with 1600 inhabitants.
“I wouldn’t call it a culture shock, but it’s a very special and exotic situation for us. We’re living in an idyllic house and we even have cows in our backyard. Fortunately for us there’s a fence around them,” says Wei Ling, smiling. She has good things to say about their reception at Omega. “It’s apparent that Omega has experience hosting international trainees. Everything has been running like clockwork since we arrived at the airport in Stavanger. They’ll do anything to take care of us – such as buying breakfast,” she tells us.
So the Norwegian food is alright?
“The selection isn’t quite the same as home. Singapore has a highly-developed culinary culture and around every corner you could find anything you desired in a matter of seconds. I miss that a little, but we’re not close to starving, mind you.”
Both Wei Ling and Tian Hsiung became interested in computers through playing computer games. Later, they got into web-based programming, applications, coding and graphics.
“I learned a lot about computing when I, embarrassingly enough, created a web site for my favourite band at age 11. Today my interests are more serious,” Wei Ling is quick to add.
Good cycle
The two Singaporeans have arrived at a strong company. Omega had an exceptional year in 2006, with growth of 57.5 per cent compared to the year before. There were operating revenues of 390 million NOK, which gave a 31 million NOK profit. CEO Petter Aalvik is obviously pleased.
“We’re in a good cycle where we’re constantly acquiring new customers for our project systems. That gives us a bigger network that also improves our project services. More people hear about us through others and they find out that we’re doing a good job. Concurrently the market is flourishing, so we’re not the only ones doing well,” Aalvik points out.
The company has come a long way since founder Sigmund Lunde started the company as Futura Datasenter in 1987.
“At that time we focused on selling drawing software, computers and general software. In 1991 we changed our name to Omega. Our hardware division was discontinued, and we focused more towards the oil and supply business, and the selling of our own systems and database solutions.”
Aalvik tells us the timing couldn’t have been better.
“In regard to database technology, we entered the scene at exactly the right time. This was the technology a lot of companies were looking for. This is definitely one of the reasons behind our continuous growth, ever since the start.”
15 new employees in June
The exception is a single year with an economic loss at the end of the '90s, when the price of oil plummeted to $10 a barrel, and investments stopped business-wide.
“We obviously also felt this change.”
Today, however, the recession is history. Omega has 446 employees, and in June 15 new people were hired. Business is very good.
“If our access to qualified and skilled people were unlimited, the growth rate could have been even stronger, but we’re still very happy with what we’ve achieved so far,” Petter Aalvik concludes.