The STCIC will soon advertise the opportunity for small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) serving the energy sector to receive grant funding to become certified to the STOW HSE Minimum Prequalification Requirements. For the purposes of the STOW project, SMEs are defined as companies owned, controlled and financed by citizens of Trinidad & Tobago with gross annual sales less than US$5 million.
The grant funds are to be used to offset the fees of Independent Assessors or consultants who will advise the SMEs on approaches to meeting the STOW HSE requirements and who will audit the SMEs for compliance to the requirements. An Independent Assessor cannot advise and audit the same SME.
The grant is available to energy contracting service companies with low, medium and high risk operations e.g. simple landscape gardening and grounds maintenance in non-hazardous areas, painting contractors, installers of plant and equipment for use in office and companies that undertake electrical isolation.
Approximately 30 SMEs will be selected to participate in the STOW initiative and it is expected that upon certification, these contracting companies will be able to competitively position themselves in the local energy sector through enhanced operational efficiency derived from sustained HSE performance.
SMEs will be selected through a competitive process outlined in a Logistics Manual which is to be uploaded to the STOW website. Companies interested in accessing the grant can routinely visit the STOW website for details.
For more information on STOW-TT you can contact the Project Implementation Unit at 652-5613 or email Natalie – Natalie@stcic.org or Keina – Keina@stcic.org
