WorldEmp's business partner, Peter van Wessel, shares his insights on the challenges faced by tank terminal companies in a changing industry. He explains how WorldEmp supports businesses by providing access to high-quality international talent, enabling them to comply with stricter regulations, embrace technological innovation, and operate more efficiently.

With his extensive experience in the sector, Van Wessel understands the importance of finding innovative staffing solutions to successfully address these challenges.

Companies in the tank storage and infrastructure sector face significant challenges, such as increasingly stringent safety standards and the pressures of the energy transition. They must comply with tighter regulations, invest in technological innovations, and compete on a global stage.

In addition, operational flexibility and logistical complexity demand constant adaptation. These factors force companies to continually innovate and operate efficiently to remain competitive, despite a growing shortage of qualified personnel. “WorldEmp can provide support here,” says experienced expert Peter van Wessel.

Van Wessel brings an impressive career of over 20 years in the tank storage industry, including roles at companies such as Advario and Oiltanking. His experience in improving operational efficiency and driving innovation within the energy and chemical sectors enables him to identify critical bottlenecks.

As an independent consultant in a sector he knows inside and out, Van Wessel explains that traditional methods of recruiting personnel are no longer sufficient to address these challenges. “I believe that WorldEmp’s innovative remote work strategies offer the solution to deliver highly skilled international talent for this sector,” he states.

WorldEmp, founded by CEO Frank Korf, goes beyond the familiar and focuses on finding, training and connecting highly skilled professionals from countries such as India with European companies. Using modern technology, these ‘digital knowledge workers’ work remotely from their home countries while being fully integrated into their employer's team.

Van Wessel says: ‘WorldEmp offers solutions by connecting companies with qualified international talent, precisely at a time when the local labour market is tight. You can no longer rely on hiring colleagues who live in the region of your terminal, simply because the world has changed. We have a shortage of young people graduating into technical professions, we have a shortage of housing for those willing to move to fill the gaps, and on top of that, competition from other regions for the same professionals is fierce.'

In addition, WorldEmp has the great advantage of not only providing staff, but also the right support. This means that companies get help not only in recruiting, but also in integrating new employees into their existing workflow and working culture, partly through the WorldEmp platform. This allows companies to smoothly transition to a more international and digital way of working.

WorldEmp may be a new name in the tank storage industry, but it has already proven its worth in other sectors. A good example is SEW Energy, a supplier in the Dutch industrial market. SEW Energy was facing a staffing problem, especially in preparing work packages for projects involving industrial pipelines and maintenance services for oil and gas operators.

After meeting at a networking event, SEW Energy got in touch with WorldEmp. Soon after, they hired their first employee in India. Ganesh, a highly skilled professional, soon became an indispensable part of the team. ‘In the beginning, we were sceptical about how we would integrate him,’ says Pascal Kool, director of SEW Energy. 'But with WorldEmp's guidance, we found a way to fully integrate Ganesh into our processes. He now independently prepares work packages and delivers them directly to our production manager.'

The success of Ganesh led SEW Energy to seek more talent in India. While they are still hiring locally, the addition of international staff through WorldEmp has helped them expand their workforce in an innovative way. ‘When we can't find people locally, it's great that we can access a global talent pool through WorldEmp,’ Kool explains.

In addition, data security plays an important role. SEW Energy ensures that all employees work within their company networks, so that critical knowledge stays within the company.

The collaboration between SEW Energy and WorldEmp shows how international employees contribute to the success of companies in the oil and gas industry. Moreover, using remote teams through WorldEmp offers a more sustainable alternative by reducing commuting. Employees stay in their home countries and can keep their families close by, while still contributing to projects in Europe.